Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului
About Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului
Rimetea (Torockó in Hungarian) is an ironworkers' village in the Trascău Mountains, set in a narrow valley at 678 m between Turda and Aiud. First recorded in the 13th century, it lived for centuries from the iron mines around it, to which Austrian miners were also brought; its prosperity earned it privileges and even the rank of a town. The mostly Hungarian community converted to the Unitarian faith in the 16th century, and the Unitarian church still dominates the square today.
After the fire of 1870 the centre was rebuilt with solid stone houses, whitewashed, with decorated gables, green-shuttered windows and dates inscribed on the façades. When iron mining died out at the end of the 19th century, the village stayed almost unchanged. Since 1996 a restoration programme coordinated by the Transylvania Trust Foundation has restored more than 160 buildings; it won the Europa Nostra medal in 1999, and since 2000 the whole village has been a protected area.
Above the village rises Piatra Secuiului (Székelykő), a limestone massif with two crags separated by a deep ravine. Because in summer the sun first clears one crag, then hides and reappears over the second, locals say that in Rimetea the sun rises twice.
What you can see
The main square holds the Unitarian church, with its white 17th-century tower, and rows of white houses with wooden gates, the finest along the surrounding lanes. The Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1952, shows the local costume, painted furniture, the blacksmiths' tools and objects from village households. An old water mill still works on the stream.
From the square the trail marked with a blue cross leads to Piatra Secuiului: a dirt track, then a steep path to the saddle between the crags and up to the summit, from where you can see the whole village with its terraces and, on clear days, Turda. You can return along the ridge, on the red stripe, towards Colții Trascăului.
Good to know
The massif has sheer walls accessible only to climbers, and Salvamont Alba is often called out here: climb only on the marked trail, wear hiking boots and avoid descending on the red stripe when it is wet.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The main square with the white Unitarian church and the stone houses with gables and green shutters.
- The Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1952, with Torockó costume, painted furniture and the blacksmiths' tools.
- The climb on the blue cross up Piatra Secuiului, with the village and its terraces below.
- The summer sunrise, when the sun appears twice, first over one crag of the rock, then over the other.
- The descent along the ridge, on the red stripe, towards Colții Trascăului, in dry weather.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Cluj-Napoca ~60 km (~1 hour): A3/DN1 to Turda, then the DN75 towards Buru and, at Buru, the DJ107M for another 7 km to the village. From Turda it is ~28 km, from Aiud ~24 km on the DJ107M over the hill, from Alba Iulia ~75 km (~1h30). Turda Gorge (~25 km), Turda Salt Mine and Colțești Fortress (~5 km) combine well on the same day.
Public transport: the village has no railway station; the nearest is at Aiud. There are infrequent buses between Buru and Cluj-Napoca, and from Buru it is another 7 km to Rimetea; check the timetable with the operators beforehand. In practice, without a car you need a taxi from Turda or Aiud.
- Where to park
You park in the main square and along the lanes, with no barrier; at summer weekends and on holidays the village gets crowded and the spaces in the square fill up quickly. Do not block the gates of the houses.
- Fees & discounts
The village and the Piatra Secuiului trail are free. Ethnographic Museum (town hall notice, 2026): adults 15 lei, children 8 lei; groups of more than 10: adults 12 lei, children 5 lei. The restored traditional houses in the neighbouring village of Colțești can be visited free of charge, daily 10:00–19:00, when the owners are at home.
- Rules
The houses in the village are lived in: do not enter yards without permission and take photos discreetly. Modest dress in the church. On the mountain keep to the marked trails, with well-soled footwear, water and spare clothes; the rocks near the summit are steep and the descent on the red stripe is slippery when wet. Dogs on a lead near flocks. In an emergency, call 112 (Salvamont Alba).
- Facilities
Many guesthouses and restaurants with local food in Rimetea and Colțești · grocery shop in the village · Ethnographic Museum near the square · no facilities on the trail or at the summit · the village lanes are tarmacked or cobbled, the trail is not pushchair-accessible · good mobile signal in the village, patchy on the mountain
Frequently asked questions about Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului
- How much is a ticket to Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului?
- Admission to Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului is free (museum: 15 lei adults). The village and the Piatra Secuiului trail are free. Ethnographic Museum (town hall notice, 2026): adults 15 lei, children 8 lei; groups of more than 10: adults 12 lei, children 5 lei. The restored traditional houses in the neighbouring village of Colțești can be visited free of charge, daily 10:00–19:00, when the owners are at home.
- What are the opening hours of Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului?
- Opening hours at Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului: daily open 24 hours. The village and the trail to Piatra Secuiului are open to visit freely at any time; climbing in the dark is not recommended. The Ethnographic Museum has no opening hours published on the town hall's website: ask at Rimetea Town Hall (0258 768 001) before you come.
- How long does a visit to Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului take?
- A visit to Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului takes about 4½ – 5 hours (the village plus the summit climb).
- Can you visit Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului with kids?
- Yes, Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului is suitable for children (steep climb, older children only).
- Where can I park at Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului?
- There is free parking at Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului (in the main square). You park in the main square and along the lanes, with no barrier; at summer weekends and on holidays the village gets crowded and the spaces in the square fill up quickly. Do not block the gates of the houses.
- How do I get to Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului?
- Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului is located at Main square, next to the Unitarian church, Rimetea, Alba County. By car: from Cluj-Napoca ~60 km (~1 hour): A3/DN1 to Turda, then the DN75 towards Buru and, at Buru, the DJ107M for another 7 km to the village. From Turda it is ~28 km, from Aiud ~24 km on the DJ107M over the hill, from Alba Iulia ~75 km (~1h30). Turda Gorge (~25 km), Turda Salt Mine and Colțești Fortress (~5 km) combine well on the same day. Public transport: the village has no railway station; the nearest is at Aiud. There are infrequent buses between Buru and Cluj-Napoca, and from Buru it is another 7 km to Rimetea; check the timetable with the operators beforehand. In practice, without a car you need a taxi from Turda or Aiud.
- When is the best time to visit Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului?
- The best season for Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului: May – October (summer, for the double sunrise).
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