Roman Fort of Pietroasele
Pietroasele, Buzău County · Muntenia
About Roman Fort of Pietroasele
At Pietroasele, at the foot of Istrița Hill, the Romans kept a fortification on the defended line north of the Danube. The fort, about 124 × 158 m with walls nearly 3 m thick, is attributed by most sources to Emperor Constantine the Great, during his campaigns against the Goths around 330; the Legio XI Claudia, brought from Durostorum, was stationed in it. Some specialist studies, however, link it to an earlier phase from the time of Trajan, and the dating remains debated. The first trial excavations were made in 1866 by Alexandru Odobescu.
The fort itself can no longer be seen: houses and yards of the village now stand on its site. What can be seen is the baths, discovered in 1975 about 400 m east of the fort and investigated on and off between 1976 and 2014. The building, roughly 28 × 31 m, had six rooms, four pools and two heating areas, with a hypocaust system. The stamped bricks and tiles found here carry the mark of the Legio XI Claudia. Higher up on the same hill, the Gothic treasure known as the "Golden Hen with Chicks" was found in 1837; it is not part of the visitable site, but it made the place famous.
What you can see
Of the Roman baths, foundations and walls of stone and brick, pools and heating channels can be seen at ground level, some of them under the road bridge in the centre of the commune. The site does not yet have protective structures or visitor trails, and the walls are in a precarious state of conservation. In the park in the centre of the commune there is a documentary exhibition with panels on the history of the research, the architecture of the baths and the finds made here.
Good to know
The baths are not yet laid out for visiting. Buzău County Council is preparing a restoration project, with protective roofing, pavilions and trails, which would turn the site into an open-air museum; funding was not confirmed at the time of checking. The exhibition in the park, organised by the Buzău County Museum, opened in September 2026.
Information verified on 12 October 2026.
- The Roman baths with hypocaust in the centre of the commune, with pools and heating channels.
- The stone and brick walls under the road bridge, preserved on the spot.
- The documentary exhibition in the commune park, with panels on the research at the baths.
- The nearby place where the "Golden Hen with Chicks" treasure was found.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Pietroasele is in Buzău County, about 20 km west of the city of Buzău as the crow flies. The baths are in the centre of the commune, on Termelor Street, next to the road bridge on DJ 205; the fort itself lies under the nearby buildings.
Public transport: no published information on a direct connection; check the websites of the transport operators in Buzău County.
- Where to park
Parking is on the streets in the centre of the commune, free of charge. There is no car park laid out for the site.
- Fees & discounts
No information on fees has been published.
- Rules
A site protected by law: do not climb on the walls, do not take anything from the ground and respect any fencing.
- Facilities
Exhibition panels in the park · no toilets at the site
Frequently asked questions about Roman Fort of Pietroasele
- How long does a visit to Roman Fort of Pietroasele take?
- A visit to Roman Fort of Pietroasele takes about 30 min (estimate; ruins and panels).
- Can you visit Roman Fort of Pietroasele with kids?
- Yes, Roman Fort of Pietroasele is suitable for children (unequipped site, low walls).
- Where can I park at Roman Fort of Pietroasele?
- There is free parking at Roman Fort of Pietroasele (on the street, in the commune centre). Parking is on the streets in the centre of the commune, free of charge. There is no car park laid out for the site.
- How do I get to Roman Fort of Pietroasele?
- Roman Fort of Pietroasele is located at Termelor Street, centre of the commune, Pietroasele, Buzău County. By car: Pietroasele is in Buzău County, about 20 km west of the city of Buzău as the crow flies. The baths are in the centre of the commune, on Termelor Street, next to the road bridge on DJ 205; the fort itself lies under the nearby buildings. Public transport: no published information on a direct connection; check the websites of the transport operators in Buzău County.
- When is the best time to visit Roman Fort of Pietroasele?
- The best season for Roman Fort of Pietroasele: April – October (open-air site).
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