SARMIZEGETUSA REGIA AND THE DACIAN FORTRESSES

Some thirty kilometers south of the city, the Orăștie mountains are home to a complex of Dacian fortresses, erected between the ^1st century BC and the ^1st century AD around the kingdom's capital, Sarmizegetusa Regia, to protect it from Roman invasions. This complex of six fortresses, listed by Unesco since 1999, bears witness to the power and wealth of this civilization, then at its height. Built on valleys, hills and terraces at altitudes of between 500 and 1,200 m, they also have the advantage of being set in superb natural landscapes, making them even more attractive to visit.

Sarmizegetusa Regia, the ancient political, military, religious and cultural capital of the Dacians, is the most remarkable (and most accessible) site. Not to be confused with the Dacian-Roman city of Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, founded by the Roman emperor Trajan (see below). Located on the Grădiștea de Munte hill, at an altitude of 1,200 m, the site extends over 17 ha and several terraces. It comprises a fortress, a sacred area and a civilian quarter. The sacred zone, reached by a paved road, includes several rectangular and circular sanctuaries (where sacrifices were performed). These remains give an idea of the monumental appearance of the site before it was destroyed by the Romans. The civil quarter, which extended over more than a hundred artificial terraces, only a handful of which have been excavated, included houses and workshops (metalworking, pottery, glass, coinage, etc.). The Dacian capital was finally conquered in 106 by Trajan, marking the beginning of the Roman occupation of the territory. Sarmizegetusa Regia was sacked by the new masters of the territory, as were the other fortresses.

Other fortresses that were part of the Dacian capital's defensive system include Luncani-Piatra Roșie, in the village of Boșorod, and Blidaru, in Costești, whose ruins can be visited. These are a little way off the road linking Orăștie to Grădiștea. The Blidaru fortress was conquered in 102 by the Romans, rebuilt by King Decebalus, before falling again in 106. The other fortresses are: Costești-Cetățuie, Bănița and Căpâlna. The latter, a little further away, is located south of the town of Sebeș.