Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress
Costești, Hunedoara County · Transylvania
About Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress
At a glance: Fortresses and fortifications in Costești, Hunedoara County. Ticket: 10 lei. The visit takes 1 – 1½ hours. Information verified on 7 October 2026.
The Costești fortress stands on Cetățuia hill, on the left bank of the Apa Grădiștii, just where the valley narrows and the road enters the Orăștie Mountains. The hill is not the highest around, but it has a wide view towards the Mureș valley and guarded the way to Sarmizegetusa Regia, further up the valley. Archaeologists count it among the oldest Dacian fortifications in the area.
The first earth ramparts with a palisade were raised around the end of the 2nd or the beginning of the 1st century BC. Later came the stone wall, the towers and the temples on limestone bases. The wall was built in the Hellenistic manner, probably by Greek craftsmen: well-dressed limestone blocks on two faces, tied together with timber beams and filled with stone and earth. The fortress burned in the first war with Trajan (101–102), was hastily rebuilt, with its gates blocked using, among other things, column bases taken from a temple, and fell for good in 106. Excavations began in 1924 and research continues today: in 2024 the remains of a previously unknown temple were found.
Since 1999 Costești-Cetățuie has been part of the "Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains", inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costești-Blidaru, Luncani-Piatra Roșie, Bănița and Căpâlna.
What you can see
On the way up to the plateau you pass between grassy earth ramparts, still several metres high, and along stretches of wall made of large limestone blocks, with the bastion towers on the south-eastern side. At the top, the long, narrow plateau was levelled by the Dacians; at either end are the stone foundations of the two tower houses. A monumental staircase of limestone slabs, with drainage channels along its sides, climbs to the southern tower. On the terraces of the eastern slope, rows of limestone temple bases show through the grass. From the plateau there are views over the Apa Grădiștii valley and the wooded hills around.
Good to know
The last stretch to the ruins is on foot, along a short path, and there is no shade on the plateau. Archaeological work usually takes place in summer, so some areas may be fenced off.
- The monumental staircase of limestone slabs, with channels along its sides, climbing to the southern tower house.
- The limestone foundations of the tower houses on the levelled plateau at the top of the hill.
- The Hellenistic-style wall of large dressed limestone blocks, with the bastion towers on the south-eastern side.
- The rows of limestone temple bases on the terraces of the eastern slope.
- Stopping, on the same road, at the Costești-Blidaru fortress and then at Sarmizegetusa Regia, also on the UNESCO list.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: leave the A1 motorway at Orăștie and follow county road DJ705A through Beriu and Orăștioara de Sus to Costești, ~20 km. At the end of the village, next to the tourist information centre and the chalet where the tarmac continues towards Grădiștea de Munte, a gravel road waymarked with a yellow cross heads for Cetățuia hill, passes the mountain gendarmerie post and climbs to a small car park (~10 minutes by car). From there it is ~200 m along a path to the ruins. Orăștie is ~30 km from Deva, ~40 km from Alba Iulia and ~85 km from Sibiu on the A1.
On foot: the yellow-cross trail starts at the tourist information centre in Costești: ~2.5 km and ~190 m of ascent, about 30–40 minutes uphill.
Public transport: we found no regular service to Costești. The nearest railway station is Orăștie, from where you continue by car or taxi.
- Where to park
Small car park at the end of the gravel road, ~200 m from the ruins; the road is narrow and only suitable for cars. If it is full, or the road is muddy after rain, leave the car in Costești next to the tourist information centre and walk up (30–40 minutes).
- Fees & discounts
2026 prices: adults 10 lei; pupils, students and seniors 5 lei; people with moderate or mild disabilities 5 lei, with severe disabilities (and their companion) free. Photography fee 10 lei (private individuals). Audio guide in Romanian, English, French, German or Hungarian: 20 lei for 90 minutes. Specialist guided tour for groups of up to 30 people: 100 lei in Romanian, 150 lei in English. Annual pass: adults 50 lei, family 100 lei, pupils/students/seniors 30 lei. Single ticket for all the sites of the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation, valid for 7 days: adults 150 lei, children 50 lei, family 300 lei (2 adults + 2 children) or 200 lei (1 adult + 2 children).
- Rules
Photography is charged separately (photo fee); commercial filming and photography have their own rate. Do not climb on the walls or on the limestone temple bases, and keep to the paths, especially near the excavation areas. Wear sports or hiking shoes: the path and the road are earth and stone, slippery after rain.
- Facilities
Tourist information centre and café at the start of the trail, in Costești · audio guide for hire · information panels at the ruins · no shade on the plateau · guesthouses and restaurants in Costești and the Grădiștea valley
Frequently asked questions about Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress
- How much is a ticket to Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress?
- A ticket to Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress costs 10 lei (pupils, seniors 5 lei). 2026 prices: adults 10 lei; pupils, students and seniors 5 lei; people with moderate or mild disabilities 5 lei, with severe disabilities (and their companion) free. Photography fee 10 lei (private individuals). Audio guide in Romanian, English, French, German or Hungarian: 20 lei for 90 minutes. Specialist guided tour for groups of up to 30 people: 100 lei in Romanian, 150 lei in English. Annual pass: adults 50 lei, family 100 lei, pupils/students/seniors 30 lei. Single ticket for all the sites of the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation, valid for 7 days: adults 150 lei, children 50 lei, family 300 lei (2 adults + 2 children) or 200 lei (1 adult + 2 children).
- How long does a visit to Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress take?
- A visit to Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress takes about 1 – 1½ hours (including the walk up from the village).
- Can you visit Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress with kids?
- Yes, Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress is suitable for children (short climb, no pushchairs).
- How do I get to Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress?
- Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress is located at On Cetățuia hill, at the edge of Costești village, reached from the DJ705A along a gravel road waymarked with a yellow cross, Costești, Hunedoara County. By car: leave the A1 motorway at Orăștie and follow county road DJ705A through Beriu and Orăștioara de Sus to Costești, ~20 km. At the end of the village, next to the tourist information centre and the chalet where the tarmac continues towards Grădiștea de Munte, a gravel road waymarked with a yellow cross heads for Cetățuia hill, passes the mountain gendarmerie post and climbs to a small car park (~10 minutes by car). From there it is ~200 m along a path to the ruins. Orăștie is ~30 km from Deva, ~40 km from Alba Iulia and ~85 km from Sibiu on the A1. On foot: the yellow-cross trail starts at the tourist information centre in Costești: ~2.5 km and ~190 m of ascent, about 30–40 minutes uphill. Public transport: we found no regular service to Costești. The nearest railway station is Orăștie, from where you continue by car or taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress?
- The best season for Costești-Cetățuie Dacian Fortress: April – October (snow on the road in winter).
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