About Hoghiz Roman Fort
The fort lies at the place called "La Cetate", on a high terrace on the left bank of the Olt, close to where the Homorod streams flow into the river, about 2 km west of the village of Hoghiz and facing the village of Ungra on the opposite bank. The Romans built it at the beginning of the 2nd century to guard the crossing of the Olt, on the border between the provinces of Dacia Superior and Dacia Inferior. At 220 × 165 m, or almost 3.6 ha, it is the largest auxiliary fort in eastern Dacia.
The first fort was of earth and timber, with an 11 m wide rampart and a defensive ditch. It was later rebuilt in stone, with a double wall tied together by cross walls, rounded corners and gates flanked by rectangular towers on the south and east sides. Stamped tiles and inscriptions mention several units, among them the ala I Asturum, the cohors III Gallorum and a numerus of Illyrians. A civilian settlement grew up around the fort, and the geophysical surveys of 2016–2017 found a circular Roman bath about 120 m north-west of the fort. The site appears as "Rudera" on the Josephinian map of the 1780s and was excavated in 1949 by Kurt Horedt and in 1965–1967 and 1975–1979 by Dumitru Protase. Since 2024 it has been part of the UNESCO site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia".
What you can see
The fort lies in open fields, among crops, with nothing rebuilt. The enclosure can be recognised by its grassy earth bank, clearest on the east and south sides, which traces a large rectangle with rounded corners. In the middle, the pits of the old excavations have been left open, and on the north-east side a few large stone blocks from the wall can be seen, in two courses. Stones from the walls, turned up by the plough, also show through the grass. From the terrace you look out over the Olt floodplain, with the village of Ungra on the hill across the river.
Good to know
The site is not set up for visitors: there are no opening hours, tickets or staff. It is reached along an unsurfaced farm track, which can turn muddy after rain. Rupea Fortress, about 11 km to the north-west, is a separate, medieval attraction.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The grassy earth bank of the enclosure, clearest on the east and south sides, which shows as a strip among the crops.
- The open pits of the old excavations in the middle of the fort, with stones from the walls exposed.
- The large stone blocks from the wall, laid in two courses, on the north-east side.
- The view over the Olt floodplain towards the village of Ungra, from the terrace where the Romans guarded the river crossing.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Hoghiz is on the DN13 (E60), about 57 km north of Brașov (about an hour) and 11 km south-east of Rupea (about 12 minutes). From the village, head to its south-western edge, where an unsurfaced farm track runs west, over the railway (level crossing), for about 1.8 km to the fort.
Public transport: no public transport reaches the site. From the bus stop in the village of Hoghiz it is about 2.5 km on foot along the farm track.
- 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 stones or objects from the ground and do not enter the excavation pits. The surrounding land is cultivated, so keep to the existing tracks.
- Facilities
No facilities on site · no toilets · shops in Hoghiz, restaurants in Rupea
Frequently asked questions about Hoghiz Roman Fort
- How long does a visit to Hoghiz Roman Fort take?
- A visit to Hoghiz Roman Fort takes about 45 min (estimate; banks in fields).
- Can you visit Hoghiz Roman Fort with kids?
- Yes, Hoghiz Roman Fort is suitable for children (outdoors, excavation pits).
- How do I get to Hoghiz Roman Fort?
- Hoghiz Roman Fort is located at "La Cetate", about 2 km west of the village of Hoghiz, towards the Olt, Hoghiz, Brașov County. By car: Hoghiz is on the DN13 (E60), about 57 km north of Brașov (about an hour) and 11 km south-east of Rupea (about 12 minutes). From the village, head to its south-western edge, where an unsurfaced farm track runs west, over the railway (level crossing), for about 1.8 km to the fort. Public transport: no public transport reaches the site. From the bus stop in the village of Hoghiz it is about 2.5 km on foot along the farm track.
- When is the best time to visit Hoghiz Roman Fort?
- The best season for Hoghiz Roman Fort: April – October (farm track muddy in winter).
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