# Aiud Citadel

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Alba County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/alba) › [Aiud](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/aiud)

> A medieval citadel in central Aiud, with stone walls, guild towers and two places of worship within the enclosure. Bethlen Castle stands on the north side.

**At a glance:** Fortresses and fortifications in Aiud, Alba County. The visit takes 35 min. Information verified on 10 November 2026.

## Key facts

- **Visit duration:** 35 min — exterior tour
- **With kids:** Yes — town centre walk
- **Address:** Piața Consiliul Europei, Aiud, Alba County
- **Coordinates:** 46.30966, 23.71761
- **Website:** https://www.aiud.ro/index.php/aiud/detaliu/227
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetatea_Aiudului
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12723860
- **Categories:** [Fortresses and fortifications](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/fortresses-and-fortifications)

## About Aiud Citadel

In Council of Europe Square, the walls of Aiud Citadel enclose a small group of historic buildings. The stone fortifications were built over earlier earthworks identified by archaeologists. The citadel grew in stages from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. A water-filled moat once ran around the walls, and a drawbridge led to the entrance.

Along the enclosure, the names of the towers recall the town's tradespeople: butchers, tailors, coopers, potters and locksmiths. Bethlen Castle, also known as the Princely Palace, stands by the north gate and formerly housed the Aiud History Museum.

### What you can see

From the square you can follow the line of the curtain wall and see the towers projecting from it. Firing slits are visible high in the wall, and the clock tower of the Reformed church rises behind it. The Lutheran chapel stands beside the Reformed church in the citadel courtyard.

### Good to know

Public visits to the History Museum at Bethlen Castle stopped in 2012. The local council approved moving the museum to a different building.

## Don't miss

- The guild towers projecting from the defensive wall.
- The clock tower of the Reformed church, visible from the square.
- Bethlen Castle beside the gate on the north side of the enclosure.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** it is about 33 km and 35–40 minutes from Alba Iulia. The citadel is in the town centre, in Council of Europe Square (Piața Consiliul Europei).

**Public transport:** CFR Călători trains stop at Aiud. The citadel is about 1.6 km from the station, around 20 minutes on foot.

### Rules

If you enter either place of worship, keep quiet and follow the posted guidance.

## Details

- **Construction period:** 13th–17th centuries
- **State of preservation:** surviving walls and towers

## Frequently asked questions about Aiud Citadel

**How long does a visit to Aiud Citadel take?**

A visit to Aiud Citadel takes about 35 min (exterior tour).

**Can you visit Aiud Citadel with kids?**

Yes, Aiud Citadel is suitable for children (town centre walk).

**How do I get to Aiud Citadel?**

Aiud Citadel is located at Piața Consiliul Europei, Aiud, Alba County. More under “Getting there”.

## Nearby attractions

- [Bánffy Castle in Sâncrai](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/banffy-castle-in-sancrai) — Castles and palaces · Sâncrai, AB · ½ – 1 hours · 4 km
  An eclectic manor on a hill near Aiud, with an octagonal tower and a Baroque gable, restored by Alba County Council and now a cultural centre, open to visitors during events.
- [Ocna Mureș Salt Baths](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/ocna-mures-salt-baths) — Resorts and thermal baths · Ocna Mureș, AB · 80 lei · 3½ – 4 hours · 19 km
  A modern spa complex in Ocna Mureș, opened in 2023, with heated salt-water and fresh-water pools, saunas and treatments. It is above ground only: the old salt mine cannot be visited.
- [Râmeț Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/ramet-monastery) — Monasteries · Râmeț, AB · ½ – 1 hours · 20 km
  A convent at the mouth of the Râmeț Gorge in the Trascău Mountains, with an old stone church whose murals go back to around 1300, and a new church dating from 1992.
- [Roman Fort of Războieni-Cetate](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/roman-fort-of-razboieni-cetate) — Monuments and historic sites · Ocna Mureș, AB · 30 min · UNESCO World Heritage · 21 km
  A Roman cavalry fort in the Mureș valley near Ocna Mureș, the second largest in Alba County, lying under farmland and houses; its remains show up only in aerial photographs.
- [Transapuseana](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transapuseana) — Scenic roads · Alba County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · 23 km
  County road DJ107I, 78 km through the Trascău Mountains between Aiud and Bucium, near Abrud: villages scattered along the ridges, thatched houses and views from over 1,100 m.
- [Colțești Fortress (Trascău Fortress)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/coltesti-fortress) — Fortresses and fortifications · Colțești, AB · 1 – 1½ hours · 24 km
  A 13th-century medieval ruin on a rocky spur above the village of Colțești, with its walls and two towers consolidated in 2026 and views towards Piatra Secuiului.

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Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/aiud-citadel
Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/cetatea-aiudului.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/kirchenburg-strassburg.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/cittadella-di-aiud.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/citadelle-d-aiud.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/ciudadela-de-aiud.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/nagyenyedi-var.md
Last updated: 10 November 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania