Destinations for history lovers

Artifacts found in this area date from the Neolithic. In the building of the Magna Curia Palace (the XVIth century), historical monument built in Renaissantist style, you can visit the Museum of Dacian and Roman civilization, where there are sheltered “pieces of history, confessions” passing step by step from the Neolithic to today’s written history."

The Dacian citadels (21 – 22 miles from Banpotoc) prove the high level of cultural knowledge of the Dacians. The main citadels were discovered at: Costesti (11 miles from Orastie), Blidaru (13 miles from Orastie), Piatra Rosie (18 miles from Orastie), Gradistea Muncelului (24 miles from Orastie) and Sarmisegetusa Regia (in the mountains of Orastie).

The roman citadel of Dacia Sarmisegetuza Ulpia Traiana (15 miles from Hateg) was the residence of the highest and most important imperial institutions and clerks. The city was built in 107 AD, at Emperor Traian’s command, its complete name being Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa.

The Colt citadel (the XIVth century), situated on a rock at 720 m height, was a source of inspiration for Jules Verne when writing his novel The Carpathian Castle.

The Corvins' Castle in Hunedoara, 11 miles from Vila Castelul Maria, through its architectural beauty manages to be in the top most important monuments of feudal art in Romania and the South-East of Europe. The castle’s past is mostly related to the Corvinilor family that reigned for a long time. Iancu de Hunedoara redecorated and modified it (1446-1453), organizing the “Knight’s hall” and “The Clergical hall”… . Renewed in the next centuries, the castle unites the gothic style with elements characteristic to the Renaissance or the baroque style.

The citadel of Deva was raised in the XIII century on a volcano cone that dominates the city from 184 m height. Documentary attested in 1269, it was one of the most powerful citadels in Transilvania. You can chose to get there by foot or with the cable car (the length of the pathway is 278m, difference of level of 158 m – the first in Europe).

The memorial museum “Aurel Vlaicu”, at 18 miles from Vila Castelul Maria, in the memory of this pioneer of Romanian aviation. It is his birth’s place and the place where he built his first aeromodels.

The historical museum of mining – an interesting collection of mineralogics in Brad, including gold.

Destinations for nature lovers

Starting point: the garden and park of Vila Castelul Maria, then the surroundings, the Banpotoc village from which, following the river, you can get to the Varmaga village (6 miles) by foot or by bicycle with mountains, waters and forests as friends. Also, bird-watching.

The Dendrological Park in Simeria with a collection of wooden and exotic plants – 550 species – covers 148 acres

In the Retezat National Park peaks of over 8202 feet are waiting for you to conquer them, the 80 glacial lakes and wild landscapes lead you in the “charmed land with blue eyes”.

The Gardiste Park in Ciclovina with fantastic caves.

Starting point for visiting cities outside the county

  • Banpotoc – Sibiu ~61 miles
  • Banpotoc – ALBA Iulia ~31 milesm

Pilgrimage to religious buildings

  • The Ortodox Church in Strei – 6 miles
  • The Prislop Monastery – 12 miles to Hateg
  • The wooden church in Almasu Mic – 3 miles
  • The “Sfanta Fecioara” reformed church in Santamaria Orlea
  • The citadel church in Colt
  • The stone church in Densus is a unique monument in medieval Romanian architecture, having been build probably during the 13th century
  • The ortodox church in Ostrov, built in the 14th century, with one mural painting from the 1365.

These churches can be visited in only one day following this track:

Banpotoc-Simeria-Hunedoara - Calan, Streisângiorgiu - Strei - Sântamarie Orlea - Nucsoara - Suseni, Cetatea Colt - Ostrov - Pesteana - Densus - Hateg - Prislop – Hunedoara-Simeria –Banpotoc

Taking the road to Arad: the medieval church Lesnic from the 14th century ~ 21 miles from Banpotoc; the medieval church in Gurasada in the 12th ceuntry ~ 26 miles

On Brancusi’s tracks

  • on mountain paths to the travertine quarry in Banpotoc, from which the great sculptor chose his materials for The Gate of the Kiss and The Table of Silence
  • the birthplace and memorial house of Constantin Brancusi: Hobita
  • the park in Targu Jiu
  • we can organize stone scabbling/ carving classes at request/li>