Sarmizegetuza Regia (or ‚Royal’) is part of UNESCO world heritage. However its is not well known. This gives you an optimal opportunity to discover a true hidden gem of Romania!
If you ever wanted to visit the ruins of a roman contemporary civilization, hidden on the top of a hill, in the middle of a forest: Sarmizegetuza is your answer! It’s a truly impressive place.
A bit of history…
Sarmisegetiza was the capital and the most important military, political and religious center of the Dacic state. The Gauls, were a developed civilization, even before entering in contact with the Romans, and reached their apogee in the 1st century B.C. The Gauls were polytheists, their main god being called Zalmoxis and their priests used to have high raking positions in the state leadership.
Sarmizegetuza Regia was constructed around the mid of the 1st century B.C and is situated on ‘Dealul Gradistii’, at an altitude of 1200 meters. It is composed out of 3 distinct parts: the fortress, which was surrounded by with walls reaching 4-5 meters, the religious sanctuary and the housing of the civilians.
The religious sanctuary is one of the most fascinating things to see in Sarmizegetuza. There are many types of sanctuaries, mostly quadrilaterals or circular. The most important and spectacular religious construction from Sarmizegetuza si the Sun from andesine rock, and the ‘Big Sanctury’ which is a stone representation of the Dacic Calender.
The civilization leaving around Sarmizegetuza had a high standard of leaving, also indicated by the fact that the noblemen used to have water inside their residence, brought through ceramic pipes.
According to historians, around the year 108 AD, the Romans destroyed the capital city of Dacians and all their temples. The new capital, under the roman reign, was moved 40 km away, and was called Sarmizegetuza Ulpia Traiana.
Intrigued?
If you are intrigued by what you read above, you are not the only one.. I also love chasing down old, long gone civilizations. I was always fascinated by their developed living standards and fascinating religious rituals. Believe me, this will also a be a journey that will leave you deeply inspired and impressed.
How can you get there?
You’re in luck! Sarmizegetuza Regia is really not far from Sibiu. It is about 133 km from Sibiu, which takes you about 1h 40 with a car. This is the most convenient one. However, don’t me discourage if you don’t have a car or didn’t borrow one, as there are a couple of options available via public transport. The shortest route via public transport is 2 hours and a half and will cost you around 30 EUR: You can take 1 bus from Sibiu to Orastie and then change to another bus from Orastie to Sarmizegetuza Regia. Check here for available public transport option.
You can visit Sarmizegetuza between 9:00-20:0, from 1 Mai to 30 September; from 09:00-18:00, from 1st of 30st of April and 1st October to 30 November. In winter it is open only from 10:00-15:00. The entry fee is 10 Lei (2.1 EUR) and an audio guide is 20 Lei (4.2 EUR).
Now you’re all set for a perfect trip into the past, following the footsteps of a very interesting civilization. If you want to find out more about what you can see and do in Sibiu and around it, check out my articles on this topics. Let me know your thoughts and suggestions in the comment boxes below. I am happy to hear from you.