About Roșia Montană
Roșia Montană (Goldbach in German, Verespatak in Hungarian) is a commune in the Apuseni Mountains, at about 800 m, where gold has been mined for almost two thousand years. After the conquest of Dacia the Romans founded the mining settlement of Alburnus Maior here, mentioned on a wax tablet dated 6 February 131, and dug kilometres of galleries into the surrounding massifs, some of which survive today. In 2021 the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and, at the same time, placed on the list of sites in danger.
The landscape gathers traces of every era of mining: the Roman galleries, the tăuri (reservoirs built in the 18th and 19th centuries to supply water to the stamp mills), the old centre with stone houses from the Austro-Hungarian period and churches of several denominations. In 1970 the Cetate open-cast quarry was opened, destroying part of the old galleries, and the state mine closed in 2006.
The Roșia Montană Gold Corporation project, an open-cast mine with cyanide processing of the ore, was opposed by large protests in 2013. Parliament rejected the project's special law in 2013–2014, and in March 2024 the ICSID arbitration tribunal dismissed the claims of the majority shareholder, Gabriel Resources, against the Romanian state; the company then applied for the award to be annulled.
What you can see
The Mining Museum, at the entrance to the village from Abrud, is run by the state company Minvest Deva through its Roșiamin branch. From the portal bearing the inscription "Alburnus Maior" you descend an inclined passage 53 m long, with 157 steps, roughly ten storeys, to 170 m of original Roman galleries on two levels, lit by electric lamps. They have the trapezoidal cross-section typical of Roman galleries, 1.8 m high, and the temperature is 7–10 °C all year. On the surface there are wooden and iron stamp mills, a flotation plant and a lapidarium with Roman funerary stelae and altars found in the commune, and in a pavilion the "Aurarii" photograph collection by Iosif Bazil Roman.
The historic centre, about 1.5 km further up, has houses with arched gateways, some restored through the "Adopt a House" volunteer programme, and Roman Catholic, Reformed, Unitarian and Orthodox churches. On the surrounding hills, paths lead to ponds such as Tăul Mare and Tăul Brazi and to the natural monuments of Piatra Despicată and Piatra Corbului, with views over the Cetate quarry.
Good to know
The gallery is visited in groups of at least 5 people, so you may have to wait for a group to form. Underground it is cold and damp, and the galleries are low and narrow: bring a jacket and good shoes. The descent is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or who dislikes enclosed spaces.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The descent down 157 steps to the Roman galleries of the Mining Museum, dug almost 1,900 years ago.
- The portal with the inscription "Alburnus Maior" and the lapidarium of Roman funerary stelae and altars in the museum courtyard.
- The wooden and iron stamp mills, which show how gold ore was crushed before modern plants.
- Tăul Mare and Tăul Brazi, mountain ponds made by the miners, with paths all around.
- Piatra Despicată and the view over the Cetate quarry from the path to Piatra Corbului.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Roșia Montană is about 11 km from Abrud, on the DJ742. From Alba Iulia it is about 80 km on the DN74, via Zlatna and Abrud, and from Cluj-Napoca about 135 km. The Mining Museum is right on the DJ742, at the entrance to the village, and the historic centre is about 1.5 km further up.
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.
- 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. Entry is free 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. These prices are valid from 1 May 2026.
- Rules
Pets are not allowed in the museum. 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. Do not enter the old, unprepared galleries in the hills, which are unstable. On the trails, leave no litter and keep dogs on a lead.
- 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
- How much is a ticket to Roșia Montană?
- A ticket to Roșia Montană 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. Entry is free 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. These prices are valid from 1 May 2026.
- What are the opening hours of Roșia Montană?
- Opening hours at Roșia Montană: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 16:00. Mining Museum hours, valid from 1 May 2026: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–16:00, with 16:00 the last entry underground; closed on Mondays. The gallery is visited in groups of at least 5 people. The official source does not give separate winter hours, so phone ahead in winter. The village, the ponds and the surrounding trails can be visited at any time.
- How long does a visit to Roșia Montană take?
- A visit to Roșia Montană takes about 2½ – 3 hours (museum at least 1 hour, plus village).
- Can you visit Roșia Montană with kids?
- Yes, Roșia Montană is suitable for children (157 steps, low galleries).
- How do I get to Roșia Montană?
- Roșia Montană is located at Strada Minei no. 1 (Mining Museum), on the DJ742, Roșia Montană, Alba County. By car: Roșia Montană is about 11 km from Abrud, on the DJ742. From Alba Iulia it is about 80 km on the DN74, via Zlatna and Abrud, and from Cluj-Napoca about 135 km. The Mining Museum is right on the DJ742, at the entrance to the village, and the historic centre is about 1.5 km further up. 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.
- When is the best time to visit Roșia Montană?
- The best season for Roșia Montană: May – October (trails nicest in summer).
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