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Alba Iulia
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In County Alba
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 Important
Alba Iulia!
Alba Iulia is a city in County Alba in western Transylvania.
It's really quite important to Romanians, being the site of two unifications
of Transilvania through history.
With a population of 66,369 with the pleasant Mureş
River running through it, Alba Iulia is historically important for both
Hungarians and Romanians. In 1921 Romania's second King
and Queen were crowned in the Orthodox Cathedral here.
From a tourist point of view the city holds pride
of place. There are many places of interest but the Citadel is undoubtedly
the most important one.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral can be found here. It
is the oldest and most valuable monument of architecture in Transylvania.
The Unification Cathedral stands next to it and symbolizing the Romanian
people's ideal of unity
1 December, Alba's Day
The First of December, the Romanian National Holiday, is a super
time for visiting Alba and seeing all the potential of the city!
Even since ancient times Alba's territory has been
a heart of human civilization. Indeed, the local Transilvanian folklore,
traditions and customs have always been great attractions for Romanian
and foreign tourists. Hungarian for Alba Iulia is Gyulafehérvár,
and Germans refer to it as either Karlsburg or Weißenburg.
Union Hall
This symbolic building galvanizes
Romanian ethnic and nationalist spirits, and is marked on the
consciousness of Romanian people as the place of one of the
most important events of the national history, the Union or
Transilvania with Romania (again) on the 1st of December 1918.
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Photo: Govt Source
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It was in Union Hall that Transilvania was once again reunited with
Great Romania in 1918.
In this hall, the session of the great national Assembly
took place, on the 1st December 1918, and decided the unification of
Transylvania with Romania, and therefore of the Unitary National state.
The original documents of the Union are exhibited
here together with the flags carried by the delegates from the whole
country for this great event. See
More in History below
Some great offers for tourists have been financed
through EU projects such as: "Alba Iulia-The Gate to the Wine Citadel",
and the "Hunting circuit on Sebes valley" - pattern projects that managed
to certify about 82 guest houses which provide accommodation for 370
guests.
If you have some information for us about Alba Iulia
or County Alba, please
Let us know about it now! We appreciate all of your efforts!
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The Unification Cathedral
Enjoy the colourful frescoes inside painted
by Constantin Petrescu
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The Fortress of Alba Iulia
Check out
this great interactive map thoughtfully provided by the
city of Alba Iulia
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Image:
Govt Source
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The Batthyaneum Library
The Bathyaneum library is a former church,
built in baroque style.
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In 1780, Ignatiu Bathyany, bishop of Transilvania and a
passionate bibliophile, transformed the inside of the former
church to outfit it for it's present use as a library.
It is famous all over the world for its
ample series of manuscripts, incunabula and rare books, such
as Codex Aureus (9th century), also known as the Lorsch Gospel,
containing Marcu and Matei Gospel, David’s Psalter, Codex Burgundus
(15th century), Biblia Sacra (13th century) the Pentateuch from
Orastie (1850), Serba Cantacuzino`s Bible, the New testament
from Balgrad (1648). The first astronomical observatory
was founded here in 1792.
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The Apor Palace
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Photo: Govt Source
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The Apor Palace is situated nearby the Bathyaneum Library.
It belonged to the prince Apor, and had been built in the second
half of the 17th century.
At the beginning of the 18th century it
was the residence of the Austrian army leader, prince Steinville.
In the same historically period, the building had been added
some excellent interior baroque decorated portals.
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The Upper City
The main historical area of Alba Iulia is the upper city, developed
extensively by Charles VI of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Habsburgs renamed the city Karlsburg in honor of Charles. The
upper city's fortress with 7 bastions, in a stelar shape, was constructed
between 1716-1735 by Giovanni Morando Visconti, using the Vauban system
- the largest of this kind in south-eastern Europe, containing the Gothic
Catholic cathedral and the Batthyaneum, a library of rare manuscripts
founded in 1794.
The tomb of John Hunyadi is also located in the cathedral
- which is the most reprezentative building for the Medieval Gothic
style in Transylvania, as is that of the Polish-born Isabella Jagello,
Queen of Hungary.
The Unification Cathedral
A rather grandiose building, the Unification Cathedral was built
between 1921-1923, following the project drawn by the architect D.G.
Stefanescu, leaded by the engineer T. Eremia.
The Romanian monarchs were crowned here on the 15th of October 1922
under the wonderful frescoes painted by Constantin Petrescu in the colourful
and vibrant traditional iconography style.
Shaped as a Greek cross, with an open porch in front, you can get
inside through a right-angled narthex with three round headed vault
units, a narrow nave and a sanctuary.
 The
City of Alba Iulia is one of the few localities in Romania that have
been fated to gain an important position in the history of human settlings
and fortifications, from pre-history to modern ages.
The bulwark fortress of Alba Iulia has been set up between 1714
and 1738 and it is considered to be the most representative of Vauban
type in Romania.
The fortress was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Morando
Visconti.
Alba Iulia Fortress at a glance
The Italian architect Giovanni Morando Visconti has made the project
of the fortress. He was guided by the general Stefan de Steinville and
later by general Weiss.
The work at the fortification of Alba Iulia has began on the 4th
of November 1715, when the foundation of Carol bulwark, dedicated to
the emperor and situated on the Northern side was made. Weiss named
his project, the fortification, "Alba Iulia's major fortress in the
Principality of Transylvania".
Military HQ for Transilvania
Between the 18th and 19th centuries the fortress has served as the
military center of Transilvania and also as general armament dump. The
perimeter of the walls is about 12 km; 20.000 serves built the walls.
- A ravelin is a triangular
fortification or detached
outwork in
front of the
bastions of a fortress. Originally called a
demi-lune, after
lunette, the ravelin is placed outside a castle opposite a
fortification curtain. The edges of the ravelin are placed so
that the guns there can sweep fire upon the troops that have to
run along the fortification curtain.
The wall facing the castle or fort is low and the angles of the others
such that the ravelin provides no shelter to attacking forces if
taken or abandoned by defenders.
-- From Wikipedia
The fortress has seven bulwarks or ravelins (dedicated to Eugene of Savoia, St.
Stephen, The
Trinity, St. Michael, King Carol, St. Capistrano and Romania's Queen Elizabeth) that
make it a star shaped one, common to Vauban style fortresses. The biggest
bulwark is the Trinity one, measuring 116 and 135 m and being decorated
in the centre with a blazon crowned by outlines and acanthus leaves.
Early Baroque Walls
The walls were made of bricks, quarry stones, or out of the Roman
ruins, measuring at the base and at the top, being sustained
by abutments in order to neutralize the earth's force.
The six gates
of the bulwark fortress have been a model for the 18th century Transylvanian
architecture. They are looked upon as extremely valuable samples of
early baroque.
The planning and the building of the fortress led to the modification
of the street texture; that is why the six gates had been placed three
towards the town and the other three towards the western drill field.
All the roads and the fitted gates were functional. The fortress
is outstanding both for its decorative elements and for the beauty of
its six gates, unique in European military architecture. Doubtless the
artists had been inspired by ancient mythology. Sculptors like Johann
Koning, Johan Vischer and Giuseppe Tencalla had made the decorations.
On the whole, the fortress stands out as the most important baroque
figurative plastic pile.
The Roman Camp
The Roman Camp and the Old Fortress is an important archaeological
site.
The 13th Legion, Gemina billeted here, in (106-275). It was adjusted
and used as a feudal fortress, During Middle Age also known as
Balgrad.
The walls had been preserved until the 18th century.
The Roman Catholic Bishop's Residence
This fine house is situated in the South west of the fortress and
in 17th -19th centuries. It was been constantly modified through time.
The building was a harmonious dovetailing of late Renaissance and
baroque elements, remarkable sobriety. Roman Camp and the Old Fortress,
an important archaeological site, the centre where the 13th Legion
Gemina (106-275) had established, has been fitted and used during Middle age
as a feudal fortress known under the name of Balgrad. Part of its walls
had preserved until the 18th century
Princely Palace
The building used to be Michael the Brave’s residence during the
first political Union of the Romanians; the Ottoman and Tatar invasions
destroyed it.
The foreign chronicles picture it was an extremely luxurious building,
richly adorned, with frescos, marble stairs. The building was placed
next to two guard ranges. Right after Hungary had been conquered by
the Ottoman Empire, it became residence for Ioan Zapolya's wife Isabella.
There had been made some adornment improvements during the rule
of princes Gabriel Bethlehem and Gheorghe Racozzi II. Since 1700 the
building changed its destination and was used as a barracks, and therefore,
the inside was adapted. The notifications led to the destruction or
covering of some important statue groups representing scenes from The
Bible.
The National Museum of Union in Alba Iulia is one of the finest
in Romania.
The museum is host in a building originally built for military purpose,
Babilon Building dates since the half of the 19th century (1851-1853).
Since 1968 the building has became the headquarters of the Union
National Museum.
Its two floors and over 100 rooms host the basic exhibition, the
warehouse, and the library and restorations laboratories.
This establishment was founded in 1887 and it occupies two important
buildings in the middle of the City: The Babilon Building, built up
in 1851 and The Union Hall Building, built up in 1906.
The museum exhibits over 130000 pieces of priceless works included
in its patrimony, starting with a pre-historia section, then Dacian-Roman
and feudal sections, the great battles with the Turks, the Revolution
in 1848, the unification of the Principalities in 1859, the unification
of Transylvania with Romania, and other great exhibits.
The Union Hall was appropriated in 1895 as the Military Casino of
the Garrison in Alba Iulia, but its distinctive historical signification
is given by the fact that it hosted, on the First of December 1918,
the Rally of the 1228 Romanian delegates from all Transylvania, who
decided the unification of this ancient province with Romania.
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The Union Museum
Great Daco-Roman remains, and some
good sections of 19th Century history.
At Str. Mihai Viteazul
12-14, Tel. (258) 813 300
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Photo: Govt Source
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The Roman Catholic Cathedral
One of the oldest and most important edifices
combining Roman and Gothic features.
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Photo: Govt Source
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The Roman Catholic Cathedral
Built in 13th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral is considered
to be an important monument of early Transylvanian medieval architecture.
It harmoniously combines Gothic and Roman style elements with three
Trinitarian semicircular recesses in the transept. Undoubtedly, the
most important early Transylvanian Renaissance building is "Lazo" Chapel
situated on the northern side of the Cathedral. The Chapel has a late
gothic pointed arch, so characteristic of it's time.
The keystone is decorated with icons of some Transylvanian personalities.
Inside the cathedral there is Iancu of Hunedoara's sarcophagus next
to those of his elder son Ladislau (situated in the lateral southern
nave), of Queen Isabella and of son, Ioan Sigismund (situated in the
opposite lateral nave).
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Listed below are some local agents who can help you with bookings and organize local tours in the Alba Iulia area.
  +40 (258) 834747 FAX: +40 (258) 834747
+40 (258) 819885 FAX: +40 (258) 819885 +40 (358) 103352 FAX: +40 (358) 103352 +40 (258) 812140 FAX: +40 (258) 812385 +40 (258) 818028 FAX: +40 (258) 818028 +40 (258) 811099 FAX: +40 (258) 811099 +40 723647636 +40 (258) 816678
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Click on the map for details
of each location shown,
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46°4′1″N,
23°34′12″E
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See More Maps of Romania
and Alba Iulia at
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 See
More Street Maps of Alba Iulia at
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The Alba Iulia Train Station
Alba Iulia's main station showing the
curious castellation particular to Alba
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Trains
Cluj is just a couple of hours away by train, and with Sibiu just under
4 hours, Timişoara nearly 5 hours, and
Bucureşti, as well as other European destinations
such as Prague, Vienna and Budapest of course.
The CFR Ticketing office in town is
on Strada Moţilor (see Map
above), and you can get out to the train station by walking south
along B-dul Ferdinand (about 1.5km), or by taking a bus (#3, #4, check
locally for times, but they run very frequently on this popular route).
Maxi Taxis and Busses
Maxi-taxis leave from the main train station in Alba Iulia to all near
destinations such as Cluj-Napoca, Aiud, Oradea, Sibiu,
Abrud and Târgu Mureş.
You can also catch one into the town centre, and busses (numbers
14 and 15) run to the town centre (lower town) and of course to other
towns from the Alba Iulia bus station.
Air Service
The quickest way to get to Alba Iulia is via
a 90 minute maxi-taxi from the airport
at Cluj-Napoca. Cluj has
domestic non-stop flights
from Timişoara and Bucharest,
and non-stop international flights to Vienna, Budapest, Verona, Bologna,
and Milan.
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Communications
HotSpots in Historic Alba Iulia
Hotel Cetate at Unirii 3 and the Hotel Park on Str. Primaverii 4
both offer 54g Wi-Fi access, as does the Salon Magic on Dr. Aurel Lazar
7A, and in the old Alba
Iulia fortress, head to Pub13 for some free online time and a nice
beer!
Hotel Cetate, Strada Unirii 3
in Alba Iulia
Free wireless in a beautiful historical area near the old fortifications.
         
+40 258 815833
Hotel Parc, Strada Primaverii 4
in Alba Iulia
An acceptable hotel with free wireless
placed in a historical area of Alba Iulia.
 
+40 258 811723
Salon Magic, Str. Crizantemelor, nr.7 or Dr. Aurel Lazar 7A
in Alba Iulia.
Free wireless
+40
258 832 785 or
+40 (747) 417 709
Pub13, Strada Unirii 3
in Alba Iulia
Free wireless in funky pub type atmosphere
that will be heaven for Americans under 40. Fun, brash, with some
quiet areas too.
+40 258 839 555
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Hotel Transilvania, Piata Iuliu Maniu 22 in Alba IuliaAn acceptable accomodation, placed downtown Alba Iulia. 258 812157 Hotel Tara, Strada Alexandru Ioan Cuza 25 in Alba IuliaA hotel recommended only to those who are just passing through Alba Iulia. 258 814003 Hotel Parc, Strada Primaverii 4 in Alba IuliaAn acceptable hotel placed in a historical area of Romania. 258 811723 Hotel Cetate, Strada Unirii 3 in Alba IuliaA hotel placed in a beautiful historical area of Alba Iulia near the old fortifications. 258 815833 Pensiunea Mihaela, Strada Iederii 39 in Alba IuliaPlaced in a quiet zone, closed back yard, meadows. 258 833064 Hotel Hanul dintre Salcii, Strada Partos DN1 in Alba IuliaA hotel placed at the Alba Iulia's periphery, on the National Road no. 1. 258 812137
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See also County Alba
for accommodation in other nearby towns
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The area code for County
Alba is (258) or (358)
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