About Comolău Roman Fort
The Comolău fort lies on the north-western edge of the village of Reci, in the former village of Comolău (now part of Reci), on a high terrace above the Râul Negru, not far from where it flows into the Olt. The garrison kept watch over the roads that met here, in the eastern corner of Roman Dacia.
The fortification is unusually small and irregular: a pentagon with sides of about 70, 70, 40, 50 and 20 m, covering only about 0.2 ha. The wall was 1.5–2 m thick, and rectangular towers of about 7 × 9 m projecting outwards were found at three of the corners and on two sides. The excavations of 1909–1910 and 1942 mainly investigated the enclosure and the gates. The coins found range from Vespasian to Philip the Arab (244–249), and a brick stamped COHH has been attributed to the cohors I Hispanorum, the garrison of the fort at Brețcu, which is thought to have sent a detachment here. The atypical shape and the traces of later use, including a medieval fortification built over the fort, mean that the history of the site is still debated by archaeologists. The finds went to the Székely National Museum in Sfântu Gheorghe.
Since 2024 the fort has been one of the components of the UNESCO site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia".
What you can see
The walls are not visible: everything is covered by grass. What you can see very clearly are the high earth banks and deep ditches that trace the polygonal outline of the fortification. From the top you can see the houses of Reci, the plain of the Râul Negru and the surrounding mountains. On one side the bank has been cut through and eroded, and a dirt track runs along its foot.
Good to know
The site is open grassland, with no facilities, information boards or staff. The latest published description of its condition (2011) said it was unmarked and had no signposts; no newer information on signposting has been published. The photos below date from 2011.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The high earth banks and deep ditches enclosing the pentagon-shaped fort.
- The view from the bank over the village of Reci, the plain of the Râul Negru and the surrounding mountains.
- The side cut through by the dirt track, where you can see how high the bank is.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: The fort is about 500 m from the DN11, in the north-western part of the village of Reci: about 13 km (15 minutes) from Sfântu Gheorghe, on the DN13E and then the DN11, about 33 km (40 minutes) from Brașov and about 27 km (30 minutes) from Târgu Secuiesc, on the DN11. About 1.2 km from the roundabout where the DN13E joins the DN11, towards Brașov, a local road turns off to the south (on the right coming from Brașov, on the left coming from Sfântu Gheorghe and Târgu Secuiesc) and reaches the fort in about 500 m.
Public transport: The nearest major railway station is Sfântu Gheorghe, about 13 km away; from there you can continue by taxi or by local bus to Reci. Check times with the local operators.
- Fees & discounts
There is no ticket or published fee; the site is open land.
- Rules
An archaeological site protected by law and a historic monument (CV-I-s-A-13057): do not dig, do not use metal detectors and do not take anything from the ground. The slopes of the banks and the ditches are steep, so keep an eye on children and take care in wet weather.
- Facilities
Open-air site · no toilets or information boards · shops in the village of Reci
Frequently asked questions about Comolău Roman Fort
- How long does a visit to Comolău Roman Fort take?
- A visit to Comolău Roman Fort takes about 30 min (estimate; walk round the banks).
- Can you visit Comolău Roman Fort with kids?
- Yes, Comolău Roman Fort is suitable for children (outdoors; deep ditches).
- How do I get to Comolău Roman Fort?
- Comolău Roman Fort is located at on the north-western edge of the village, in the former village of Comolău, about 500 m south of the DN11, Reci, Covasna County. By car: The fort is about 500 m from the DN11, in the north-western part of the village of Reci: about 13 km (15 minutes) from Sfântu Gheorghe, on the DN13E and then the DN11, about 33 km (40 minutes) from Brașov and about 27 km (30 minutes) from Târgu Secuiesc, on the DN11. About 1.2 km from the roundabout where the DN13E joins the DN11, towards Brașov, a local road turns off to the south (on the right coming from Brașov, on the left coming from Sfântu Gheorghe and Târgu Secuiesc) and reaches the fort in about 500 m. Public transport: The nearest major railway station is Sfântu Gheorghe, about 13 km away; from there you can continue by taxi or by local bus to Reci. Check times with the local operators.
- When is the best time to visit Comolău Roman Fort?
- The best season for Comolău Roman Fort: April – October (the grass is short in spring).
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