The Dacian Ruins
hese witnesses of the oldest Romanian history are remnants of a sophisticated and powerful defense system built by the Dacian people in the time of the kings Burebista and Decebalus. We can see that this defense ring was a series of fortresses and fortified cities around the capital of the Dacian kingdom, Sarmizegetusa Regia, situated high up in the mountains, close to the present-day cities of Deva and Hunedoara. The fortresses were Sarmizegetusa, Costesti, Blidaru and Piatra Rosie. These were the last points of resistance of the Dacians, during the conquering campaign of the Roman emperor Traianus (105 AD). The story goes that the Dacians fought fiercely, but they were finally defeated by treason.
oday, you can rediscover these great fortresses, by taking a 2-day backpack hike to their ruins. We are left with very scarce documents and data from those times, so you can let your imagination take over. After all, it is said that part of the treasure of the Dacian king is still hidden somewhere in these mountains. Guided by a treasure-hunter's thrill or just by the beauty of the places, you will soon come across the ruins of the capital city, Sarmizegetusa. Here, the spirit of this mysterious old civilization comes alive in the remnants of the old temple. Nobody knows for sure who this temple was dedicated to, but we suppose it was a Sun deity.
The hiking trail will take you to the other Dacian cities.
Th
e Roman Ruins
fter conquering Dacia, the Romans started developing the country to suit their needs. They were especially interested in the gold, for which the Dacian mountains were legendary. So they expanded the mines that the Dacians were using for centuries and started some new ones. The new Roman administration and the quite large army needed to ensure the peace in the newly conquered region needed new cities and camps. So the Romans built dozens of them all over Dacia. The most important of them was the capital of now Roman Dacia, Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa. The similarity with the name of the former Dacian capital is not an accident. The new town was built a few kilometers from the old one. It was a big town, with all the features of a Roman town. It has streets, aqueducts and temples. The Romans had a long period of flourishing in Dacia, but after less than 200 years they had to abandon the region, due to the weakening of the Empire. Inevitably, the town of Ulpia Traiana fell apart.
owadays, you can still explore the ruins of this ancient city, on the road, about 20km. from the city of Hateg. The place is now an archeological site, and a small museum shelters some of the beautiful sculpted columns and statues discovered here. The bulk of the sculptures uncovered here now lies in the Museum of History in Bucharest.