Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
About Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
The Gold Mining Museum in Roșia Montană is the place where you can go down into the Roman galleries of ancient Alburnus Maior. It opened in 1981 to mark 1,850 years since the wax tablet of 6 February 131, the oldest written record of the settlement and of mining here. The museum stands within the grounds of the former state mine and is run by the state company Minvest Deva through its Roșiamin branch.
The galleries in the Orlea massif are a historic monument of exceptional national value and part of the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 and, at the same time, placed on the list of sites in danger. Of the more than 7 km of Roman galleries documented in the area, the stretch in the museum is the only one fitted out for visitors. In 2022 the stairs, walkways, support posts and lighting were repaired through the "Historic Monuments Stamp" programme, with volunteers from the Roșia Montană in World Heritage Association.
What you can see
From the portal bearing the inscription "Alburnus Maior" you descend an inclined passage 53 m long, with 157 steps and a handrail, roughly ten storeys. Below, you walk through 170 m of original Roman galleries on two levels, lit by electric lamps: they are about 1.8 m high, 1.7 m wide at the base and only 1 m at the top, the trapezoidal profile typical of Roman workings. You return the same way.
On the surface, an open-air exhibition shows how the ore was processed: wooden stamp mills, iron stamp mills used until 1948 and a flotation plant from the 1960–2006 period. The lapidarium holds Roman funerary stelae and votive altars found in the commune, and a former office building houses the "Aurarii" collection of about 150 black-and-white photographs taken by Iosif Bazil Roman up to 1948.
Good to know
The gallery is visited in groups of at least 5 people, so there may be a wait for a group to form. Underground it is 7–10 °C all year with humidity above 85%: bring a jacket and good shoes. The galleries are low and narrow, unsuitable for anyone with walking difficulties or who dislikes enclosed spaces. The village, the mining ponds and the rest of the mining landscape are described on the Roșia Montană page.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The descent down the 53 m inclined passage, with 157 steps, roughly ten storeys below the portal.
- The 170 m of original Roman galleries in the Orlea massif, on two levels, with the trapezoidal profile typical of Roman workings.
- The "Alburnus Maior" portal, with plaques recalling the wax tablet of 6 February 131, the first record of the settlement.
- The wooden and iron stamp mills and the flotation plant in the yard, showing how gold ore was processed over the centuries.
- The lapidarium of Roman funerary stelae and votive altars, and the "Aurarii" photo collection by Iosif Bazil Roman.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is right on the DJ742, at the entrance to Roșia Montană, about 9 km (15 minutes) from Abrud. From Alba Iulia it is about 75 km (almost 1 h 45 min) on the DN74 via Zlatna and Abrud, then on the DJ742. From Cluj-Napoca it is about 127 km (about 2 h 30 min), via Turda and the Arieș valley on the DN75 to Câmpeni, then on the DN74A and DJ742. From Deva it is about 84 km, via Brad.
Public transport: there is no railway to the village and no regular bus connection is confirmed; the safest option is a car or a taxi from Abrud or Câmpeni.
- Fees & discounts
Adults 30 lei; seniors, students, pupils over 14 and people with moderate disabilities 20 lei; pre-school children and pupils under 14 15 lei. Free entry for children up to 5, children with moderate disabilities, people with severe or marked disabilities and their companion, holders of the European Disability Card, war veterans, guides and one teacher accompanying at least 10 pupils. There are no group discounts. Professional photography costs 1,000 lei per hour and professional filming 2,000 lei per hour, under contract. Prices valid from 1 May 2026.
- Rules
Pets are not allowed. Visitors' photos and videos are allowed for personal use only, and the museum's rules forbid publishing them online; professional shoots need a contract with Minvest, requested at least 48 hours in advance. Underground, stay on the prepared route. The old, unprepared galleries in the hills are unstable and cannot be visited.
- Facilities
Open-air exhibition of mining machinery · Roman lapidarium · pavilion with the "Aurarii" photo exhibition · guesthouses in the village
Frequently asked questions about Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
- How much is a ticket to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum?
- A ticket to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum costs 30 lei (reduced 20 lei, children 15 lei). Adults 30 lei; seniors, students, pupils over 14 and people with moderate disabilities 20 lei; pre-school children and pupils under 14 15 lei. Free entry for children up to 5, children with moderate disabilities, people with severe or marked disabilities and their companion, holders of the European Disability Card, war veterans, guides and one teacher accompanying at least 10 pupils. There are no group discounts. Professional photography costs 1,000 lei per hour and professional filming 2,000 lei per hour, under contract. Prices valid from 1 May 2026.
- What are the opening hours of Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum?
- Opening hours at Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 16:00. Hours valid from 1 May 2026: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–16:00, with 16:00 the last entry underground; closed on Mondays. Visits are in groups of at least 5 people. The official source gives no separate winter hours, so it is best to phone ahead in winter.
- How long does a visit to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum take?
- A visit to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum takes about ½ – 1 hours (at least 1 hour, per the museum).
- Can you visit Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum with kids?
- Yes, Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum is suitable for children (157 steps, low galleries).
- How do I get to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum?
- Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum is located at Strada Minei no. 1, on the DJ742, at the entrance to the village from Abrud, Roșia Montană, Alba County. By car: the museum is right on the DJ742, at the entrance to Roșia Montană, about 9 km (15 minutes) from Abrud. From Alba Iulia it is about 75 km (almost 1 h 45 min) on the DN74 via Zlatna and Abrud, then on the DJ742. From Cluj-Napoca it is about 127 km (about 2 h 30 min), via Turda and the Arieș valley on the DN75 to Câmpeni, then on the DN74A and DJ742. From Deva it is about 84 km, via Brad. Public transport: there is no railway to the village and no regular bus connection is confirmed; the safest option is a car or a taxi from Abrud or Câmpeni.
- When is the best time to visit Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum?
- The best season for Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum: All year round (7–10 °C underground all year).
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum, sorted by distance.
0 km from Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
22 km from Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
25 km from Roșia Montană Gold Mining Museum
