Hunedoara county is home to Corvin Castle, which is widely considered the most beautiful and well-preserved gothic fortress in the land. You cross the wooden drawbridge to enter a world of tall towers, deep moats, and grand stone halls. It looks exactly like a place where medieval knights once lived, and the legends of the castle are as dark as its dungeons. It is an essential stop on any road trip, providing a fascinating look at the military architecture of the middle ages. The inner courtyard is a masterpiece of stone arches and winding stairs that are perfect for photography. Head high into the **Orăștie** Mountains to find the ancient Dacian ruins of **Sarmizegetusa Regia**. This was the capital of the local tribes thousands of years ago and features giant stone circles and thick walls hidden in the old forest. The site feels very spiritual and quiet, as it sits far away from any modern towns or noisy roads. It is a long drive through the woods, but the sense of peace and history you find there is well worth the effort. You can see the remnants of the ancient water systems and the sacred areas where the ancients held their ceremonies. The **Retezat** peaks offer the wildest and most rugged nature for hikers who want to see the true heart of the mountains. You find deep blue lakes that were formed by glaciers and are surrounded by grey, jagged rocks and rare alpine flowers. Wild goats and eagles are common sights in the high cliffs, far above the tree line where the wind is always cold. It is a paradise for those who want to escape the city and experience nature in its most raw and powerful form. The mountain huts provide a basic but warm place to rest after a long day on the high trails.

Hunedoara (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Hunedoara (county)

Hunedoara is the cradle of the Dacian and Roman civilizations where the very foundations of the nation were laid. High in the Orăștie Mountains the sacred capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia remains a place of mystery with its stone solar altars and massive defensive walls built in the first century. This was the heart of the kingdom that fought the Roman Empire in two epic wars before the region was turned into a gold rich province. The local soil is so saturated with history that new archaeological finds are still discovered every year in the deep mountain forests. The county is dominated by the Corvin Castle which is widely considered the most spectacular gothic fortress in the world built in the fifteenth century. It features massive drawbridges and knight halls where the fate of the central European defense against the Ottomans was decided. The region also holds the history of the Jiu Valley which became the industrial engine of the country through its deep coal mines in the nineteenth century. The rugged Retezat Mountains offer the first national park in the land with over eighty glacial lakes that look like the blue eyes of the peaks. Driving through the Hațeg valley takes you to the Densuș church which was built using Roman stones and lion statues from the nearby ruins in the thirteenth century. It is one of the oldest and strangest religious sites in the land where the pagan and Christian worlds meet. You can explore the ruins of the Roman capital at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa to see how the victors built their theaters and baths on the conquered land. Hunedoara is a powerful journey through the ages of stone and iron where the legends of kings are etched into the mountain rock.

Hunedoara (county)