Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara)
Cigmău, Hunedoara County · Transylvania
About Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara)
On the high terrace on the right bank of the Mureș, on Urieșilor Hill, the Romans built a stone fort in the 2nd century to guard the imperial road linking Micia with Apulum and the routes towards the gold-mining area of the Apuseni Mountains. The coins found here cover the period from the early 2nd century to the middle of the 3rd. The garrison was a unit of infantry of British origin (numerus Britannicianorum), alongside detachments of the Legio XIII Gemina. Locals call it "the Giants' Fortress".
The fort does not have the usual rectangular shape: its plan follows the edge of the plateau, in an elongated trapezoid up to 320 m long. The archaeological excavations of 2000–2002 uncovered the perimeter wall, gates and towers, the earth rampart and the ditch, as well as two main roads with drainage gutters. Until 1990 the land was farmed, and part of the walls was lost, with the stone taken for local households.
What you can see
On the plateau you can see traces of stone walls and foundations rising from the grass, and between them cobbled lanes almost 1,900 years old. The most important building is the headquarters (principia), about 35 × 34 m, with an inner courtyard surrounded by a portico; under the standards sanctuary there is an underground room for the unit's treasury, unique among the auxiliary forts of Dacia. Further west, two granaries (horrea) have been identified. From the top, the view runs across the Mureș valley to the surrounding hills.
Good to know
The site is open-air and unfenced. Visitors' accounts describe few markers on the ground: information panels that are rare or missing, and an access track that climbs through bushes and tall grass in the warm season. The Roman baths of Germisara at Geoagiu-Băi are a different site a few kilometres away; the name Germisara is used for both, but the fort is visited separately. A paved Roman road 165 m long, which linked the fort to the baths, has been cleared of vegetation by a local association.
Information verified on 12 October 2026.
- The headquarters building (principia), about 35 × 34 m, with its inner courtyard and standards sanctuary.
- The underground treasury room beneath the sanctuary, unique among the auxiliary forts of Dacia.
- Roman cobbled lanes and drainage gutters, visible between the foundations.
- The view from Urieșilor Hill over the Mureș valley.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the fort stands on Urieșilor Hill, next to DJ107A, about 2 km from the town of Geoagiu and a few kilometres from the spa resort of Geoagiu-Băi. A track climbs through bushes from the road to the fort.
Public transport: there is no confirmed route to the site; the nearest place with connections is Geoagiu.
- Fees & discounts
Free entry (the site is open-air, with no ticket office). No fee is published.
- Rules
A site protected by law: stay on open ground, do not climb on the walls, do not take anything from the ground and do not use metal detectors.
- Facilities
No toilets · no full information panels · on foot from the road
Frequently asked questions about Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara)
- How long does a visit to Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara) take?
- A visit to Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara) takes about 45 min (estimate; ruins and view).
- Can you visit Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara) with kids?
- Yes, Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara) is suitable for children (open ground, no fencing).
- How do I get to Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara)?
- Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara) is located at DJ107A, about 2 km from Geoagiu, Cigmău, Hunedoara County. By car: the fort stands on Urieșilor Hill, next to DJ107A, about 2 km from the town of Geoagiu and a few kilometres from the spa resort of Geoagiu-Băi. A track climbs through bushes from the road to the fort. Public transport: there is no confirmed route to the site; the nearest place with connections is Geoagiu.
- When is the best time to visit Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara)?
- The best season for Roman Fort of Cigmău (Germisara): April – October (best without tall grass).
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