About Cumidava Roman Fort
The Cumidava fort lies on a low terrace on the east bank of the Bârsa, at the place called Grădiște or "La Cetate", known in Saxon records as Erdenburg, "the earth fort". The Romans built it after the conquest of Dacia to watch the road that came down through the Bran Pass into the Bârsa Land. Its ancient name, taken from the Dacian settlement of Comidava mentioned by Ptolemy, is known from an inscription from the reign of Severus Alexander (222–235), dedicated to the Empress Julia Mamaea by the cohort of Vindelici stationed here, which bore the epithet Cumidavensis.
Research has identified several phases. The first is a small fort of 73 × 50 m, discovered by geophysical survey in 2016, east of the large fort. It was followed by an earth-and-timber fort of 110 × 114 m from the time of Trajan, later rebuilt in stone at 118 × 124 m, with walls 1.5–1.7 m thick, gates flanked by towers and up to three defensive ditches. Inside, archaeologists have identified the headquarters building, the commander's house, a granary, barracks and the traces of a metalworking workshop. The site has been known since 1856; excavations took place in 1939, in 1969–1974 and, led by the Brașov County History Museum, almost every year since 2006. 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 fort lies on farmland, with no rebuilt structures. The enclosure shows as a grassy earth bank with rounded corners, framing a square of more than a hectare; inside there are bumps in the ground and the pits of the archaeological trenches. Around it are crops and a few rows of trees, and to the south you can see the mountains between Bran and Brașov. The finds from the site, including the fragments of the inscription bearing the name Cumidava, are at the Brașov County History Museum.
Good to know
The site is not set up for visitors: there are no opening hours, tickets or staff. It is reached along a farm track, and the land around it is cultivated. Râșnov Fortress, on the hill above the town, is a separate, medieval attraction; on the same hill stood the Dacian settlement from which the fort took its name.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The earth bank of the enclosure, with the rounded corners of the stone fort, easy to follow in the grass.
- The pits of the archaeological trenches inside, where barracks and a metalworking workshop were found.
- The view towards the mountains at the entrance to the Bran Pass, the road the fort kept watch over.
- The fragments of the inscription bearing the name Cumidava, on display at the Brașov County History Museum.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Râșnov, head north on the Râșnov–Cristian motorway (A3) to the junction near Cristian, then take the DJ112B towards Vulcan for about 200 m and turn left onto a farm track of about 1.7 km heading south to the fort (about 11 km and 20 minutes in total). From Brașov it is about 16 km on the DN73 and DN73G to the same junction (about 30 minutes). The site lies west of the motorway, between Râșnov, Cristian and Vulcan.
Public transport: no public transport reaches the site. The nearest is Râșnov station, on the Brașov–Zărnești line, about 3 km away as the crow flies, with no direct path.
- Where to park
There is no car park; leave the car at the side of the farm track without blocking access for farm machinery.
- Fees & discounts
No fee is published and there is no ticket office; the site is in open fields.
- Rules
An archaeological site protected by law and a UNESCO monument: do not dig, do not use metal detectors, do not take anything from the ground and do not enter the open trenches. The surrounding land is cultivated, so keep to the existing tracks.
- Facilities
No facilities on site · no toilets · shops and restaurants in Râșnov and Cristian
Frequently asked questions about Cumidava Roman Fort
- How long does a visit to Cumidava Roman Fort take?
- A visit to Cumidava Roman Fort takes about 30 min (estimate; banks in fields).
- Can you visit Cumidava Roman Fort with kids?
- Yes, Cumidava Roman Fort is suitable for children (outdoors, uneven ground).
- How do I get to Cumidava Roman Fort?
- Cumidava Roman Fort is located at Grădiște ("La Cetate"), about 3 km north-west of the town, Râșnov, Brașov County. By car: from Râșnov, head north on the Râșnov–Cristian motorway (A3) to the junction near Cristian, then take the DJ112B towards Vulcan for about 200 m and turn left onto a farm track of about 1.7 km heading south to the fort (about 11 km and 20 minutes in total). From Brașov it is about 16 km on the DN73 and DN73G to the same junction (about 30 minutes). The site lies west of the motorway, between Râșnov, Cristian and Vulcan. Public transport: no public transport reaches the site. The nearest is Râșnov station, on the Brașov–Zărnești line, about 3 km away as the crow flies, with no direct path.
- When is the best time to visit Cumidava Roman Fort?
- The best season for Cumidava Roman Fort: April – October (muddy ground in winter).
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