Hațeg Country: castles, stone churches and Sarmizegetusa
The Geopark, Densuș church, Ulpia Traiana, the castles at Săcel and Păclișa and Mălăiești fortress, over two days around Hațeg.
Hațeg Country packs geology, Roman remains and noble castles into a small area. Day one follows the Hațeg–Densuș–Sarmizegetusa line; day two links the castles and the fortress at the foot of the Retezat.
Day 1 — Dinosaurs and Romans
- Hațeg Country UNESCO Geopark UNESCO Global Geopark · Hațeg Country
The dwarf dinosaur geopark: over 1,000 km² of Țara Hațegului, internationally recognised since 2005 and a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2015.
- Densuș Church Historic monument · Hațeg Country
One of the oldest stone churches in Romania still in use, built from reused Roman materials.
- Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa Roman archaeological site · Hațeg Country
The capital of Roman Dacia, founded after the conquest of 106 AD — forum, amphitheatre and temples in the village of Sarmizegetusa.
Day 2 — Castles and fortresses
- Nopcsa Castle, Săcel Castle · Hațeg Country
The Nopcsa family seat, linked to the paleontologist baron Franz Nopcsa — restored and reopened to the public in 2025.
- Pogány Castle, Păclișa optional Castle · Totești
A two-storey Baroque castle with 22 rooms, in a park with a stream, built around 1800 6 km from Hațeg; a children's hospital now operates here.
Now a children's hospital: admire it from outside; visiting is not documented.
- Mălăiești Fortress Medieval fortress · Hațeg Country
A 14th-century noble fortress with a keep and curtain wall, restored with EU funds, at the foot of the Retezat.
- Prislop Monastery optional Monastery · Silvașu de Sus, Hațeg Country
Founded in 1564, a pilgrimage site linked to Father Arsenie Boca.
Where to eat or stay
- Pensiunea Avy Accommodation · Hațeg
- Avy Wine & Dine Restaurant · Hațeg
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.