Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia
About Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia
Apulum was the most important military base of Roman Dacia. Right after the conquest of 106, the 13th Legion Gemina settled here, the only legion that stayed in the province until the Romans withdrew in 271. Its fortress, almost square and measuring some 440 × 400 m, was first built of earth and timber and received stone walls up to 3 m thick in the time of Hadrian. Two towns grew up around it, and after the reform of Marcus Aurelius in 168–169 Apulum became the seat of the governor of the three Dacias.
The fortress walls were reused by the medieval citadel and later covered by the Alba Carolina bastion fortress, which has its own page on this site. What can be seen today came to light mostly during the citadel's rehabilitation works after 2010. Since 2024 the fortress, the Governor's Palace and the Roman house known as Domus I have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia".
What you can see
The most visible trace is the Porta Principalis Dextra, the south gate and the only one of the four to survive. About a third of its height remains; the restorers completed it with new, whiter blocks that are easy to tell apart from the Roman ones. It is presented on the Route of the Three Fortifications, in the southern part of the citadel.
In Citadel Square, the Principia Museum, a glass building, covers part of the legion's headquarters, a structure of 80 × 60 m. You can see the rooms for the treasury and the standards, original floors and the hypocaust, the Roman heating system. In the courtyard there are altars and statues dedicated by soldiers. Beside Mihai Viteazul Street a stretch of the Via principalis survives, with its paving slabs and drainage channel, and the façade of the Museikon building incorporates 15 m of the fortress's west wall.
Good to know
The Governor's Palace on Munteniei Street is a fenced archaeological site, still being researched, with no visiting hours; it opens only occasionally, on open days. In autumn 2025 the Principia Museum closed for a few weeks while its climate control was rebuilt.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The Porta Principalis Dextra, the fortress's only surviving gate, with the Roman blocks completed by new, whiter ones.
- The rooms of the headquarters in the Principia Museum, with the place of the treasury and the standards and the hypocaust beneath the floor.
- The stretch of the Via principalis beside Mihai Viteazul Street, with its original paving slabs and drainage channel.
- The altars and statues in the Principia courtyard, dedicated by the legion's soldiers, and the bronze statue of a legionary at the entrance.
- The west wall of the fortress, 15 m long and 4 m high, built into the façade of the Museikon building.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Alba Iulia is ~81 km from Deva (A1 and A10, ~1 hour), ~107 km from Cluj-Napoca (A3 and A10, ~1 hour 30 minutes), ~72 km from Sibiu (DN1, ~1 hour 20 minutes) and ~345 km from Bucharest (~5 hours 15 minutes). Follow the signs to the Citadel (Cetate); the Principia Museum is in Citadel Square, in the centre of the citadel.
Public transport: Alba Iulia railway station, with trains from Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Deva and Bucharest, is ~2.8 km from the museum, about 35 minutes on foot, or a few stops on the local buses.
- Where to park
Parking inside the citadel is paid, by SMS or app; larger car parks, also paid, are at Gate IV (Militari Street) and on Bulevardul Transilvaniei, from where it is a few minutes' walk up.
- Fees & discounts
Principia Museum: adults 15 lei, seniors 10 lei, pupils and students 5 lei (another official page gives 7 lei). Route of the Three Fortifications: adults 20 lei, children up to 14 5 lei, under 5 free. The Via principalis and the wall at Museikon can be seen free of charge.
- Rules
Do not climb on the ruins or take stones or fragments from the site. In the museum, keep to the walkways and marked routes above the exposed remains. Dogs must be kept on a lead in the citadel.
- Facilities
Information panels at the remains · tourist information centre at Militari Street 4 · cafés and restaurants in the citadel · good mobile signal
Frequently asked questions about Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia
- How much is a ticket to Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia?
- A ticket to Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia costs 15 lei (Principia Museum, seniors 10 lei). Principia Museum: adults 15 lei, seniors 10 lei, pupils and students 5 lei (another official page gives 7 lei). Route of the Three Fortifications: adults 20 lei, children up to 14 5 lei, under 5 free. The Via principalis and the wall at Museikon can be seen free of charge.
- What are the opening hours of Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia?
- Opening hours at Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 19:00. Principia Museum: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–19:00 (May–September) and 09:00–17:00 (October–April), closed on Mondays, according to the city's tourist information centre; the museum's own website shows Mondays as open, so phone ahead if you are coming on a Monday. Route of the Three Fortifications, with the fortress gate: daily 10:00–17:00, during the tourist season only. The Via principalis and the wall at Museikon can be seen from the citadel's public spaces. The Governor's Palace has no visiting hours.
- How long does a visit to Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia take?
- A visit to Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia takes about 1 – 1½ hours (the museum, the gate and the Roman road).
- Can you visit Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia with kids?
- Yes, Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia is suitable for children (legionary statue, level paths).
- Where can I park at Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia?
- There is paid parking at Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia (in the citadel, paid zone). Parking inside the citadel is paid, by SMS or app; larger car parks, also paid, are at Gate IV (Militari Street) and on Bulevardul Transilvaniei, from where it is a few minutes' walk up.
- How do I get to Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia?
- Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia is located at Piața Cetății 1 (Principia Museum), inside the Alba Carolina Citadel, Alba Iulia, Alba County. By car: Alba Iulia is ~81 km from Deva (A1 and A10, ~1 hour), ~107 km from Cluj-Napoca (A3 and A10, ~1 hour 30 minutes), ~72 km from Sibiu (DN1, ~1 hour 20 minutes) and ~345 km from Bucharest (~5 hours 15 minutes). Follow the signs to the Citadel (Cetate); the Principia Museum is in Citadel Square, in the centre of the citadel. Public transport: Alba Iulia railway station, with trains from Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Deva and Bucharest, is ~2.8 km from the museum, about 35 minutes on foot, or a few stops on the local buses.
- When is the best time to visit Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia?
- The best season for Apulum – the Roman remains of Alba Iulia: May – September (gate route in season only).
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