Simeria, Vețel and the wooden churches along the Mureș
The Dendrological Park, the castles at Simeria and Mintia, Micia fort and five churches and fortifications in Ilia, Șoimuș, Beriu and Dobra.
Beyond its larger towns, the Mureș corridor hides parks, castles and wooden churches. Day one stays around Simeria and Vețel; day two follows the Mureș towards Ilia and the surrounding villages.
Day 1 — Simeria and Vețel
- Simeria Arboretum Dendrological park · Simeria
Romania's oldest and largest dendrological park, with over 2,100 tree and shrub species on about 70 hectares.
- Béla Fáy Manor Historic monument · Simeria
The manor of the Gyulay, Kun, Fáy and Ocskay families, at the heart of the Simeria Arboretum.
- Gyulay Castle, Mintia Castle · Vețel
The Gyulay family's castle from 1641, rebuilt in Classicist style in 1834, in a 5-hectare park by the Mureș.
- Micia Roman Fort optional Roman fort · Vețel
The ruins of a large fort and a Roman settlement with a street grid, baths, amphitheatre and port, on the Mureș bank.
Day 2 — Towards Ilia
- Red Bastion — Gabriel Bethlen's Birthplace Historic monument · Ilia
The 1582 bastion of Ilia's border fortress, known as the birthplace of Prince Gabriel Bethlen.
- Wooden Church, Bretea Mureșană Wooden church · Ilia
A wooden church consecrated on 3 March 1653, with two inscriptions in Romanian written in Cyrillic letters.
- Wooden Church, Șoimuș optional Wooden church · Șoimuș
An oak-log church built in 1705, with an iconostasis of icons painted on glass in 1830.
- Church of the Dormition, Beriu optional Church · Beriu
Beriu's village church, rebuilt in 1894–1897 after a fire, with a massive tower and a Baroque-style cap.
- St Paraskeva Church, Lăpușnic optional Historic monument · Dobra
A 17th-century stone church with a vault painted in 1726 on a lining of wooden boards.
Where to eat or stay
- Pensiunea Phoenix Accommodation · Simeria
- Hotel Sarmis Accommodation · Deva
The itineraries are indicative and only use the information in the guide. They do not include distances or travel times between stops. Check opening hours and prices before you go.