Deva Fortress, Deva, Hunedoara

Let's climb to Deva Fortress!

Where? When? How much does it cost?

Deva Fortress can be seen from a distance dominating the hill rising near the town Deva, named Citadel Hill. Deva Citadel is located on the Citadel street. Access to the citadel is free of charge and can be made between 9 - 20:30.

About Deva Fortress

Deva Citadel was built in the mid-13th century on the hill near the city of Deva, which today bears the name of Deva Citadel Hill. It is part of the medieval Transylvanian fortresses, being considered a historical monument and secular architecture. The fortress had a strategic role of observation of the Mures Valley in the area.

A history of the citadel you can read here http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetatea_Deva.

1. Access

Access to the citadel can be by cable car, by car or on foot. The cable car, which is actually a gondola, starts near the stadium, where the sculpted busts of our golden gymnasts are located. For those who opt for other options, there are signposts in town to guide you to the citadel.

My recommended option is a walk to the fortress.

Deva Fortress

to the citadel

homage to Romanian gymnastics

citadel and gondola line

indicator

2. Let's climb Fortress Hill!

The main path leaves next to Cetate Park. In the small park mentioned above is not allowed access with animals, but neither with bicycles, a strange thing I do not understand. You can leave your car in the parking lot next to the park or in the parking lot of the cable car.

We set off at walking pace. At the beginning the road follows an asphalt staircase uphill through the forest, then it continues with a path. Actually there are several paths going up to the fortress. If you want to reach the gate of the fortress - Gate I - and not at the fortress wall, it is recommended to follow the main path, not the various secondary variants that branch off from it. The main path is also the most easily accessible. If you want a bit more adrenaline and want to work your way through the ravines on the ravine lips and manage to get past the reconstructed fortress wall 3 to 10 meters high when you finally reach the top, then climb up on inspiration. The main path goes at one point through an artificial tunnel. Along the way we met many garbage bags placed from a greening action, which made me happy because it was clean compared to what I found on my last visit to the site.

In a few turns we found ourselves under the cable car line, admiring it as it ascends and descends smoothly from the foothills to the fortress. The climb through the forest takes about 30-45 minutes and is an easy one. The path is not marked. In fact there are some markings, but they are painted on the trees only for those coming down! During wet periods, you will encounter a lot of mud in the forest. We enjoyed our decision to walk up to the fortress. The descent was also on foot.

Cetate Park

gondolei line

watching the city through the trees

path to the fortress

stone tunnel

poteca

3. In the citadel

In the fortress the access ways are paved with irregular stone after the restoration works (partially unfinished) or are secured by wooden corridors / walkways or concrete stairs. Looking at the walls, the citadel is built on 3 levels. On the first level there is a large landscaped space, where several benches are located and from where you can admire the view of the city and the surrounding area. The landscape can be admired from place to place and through the windows of the fortress wall. At the top of the fortress waves the tricolor flag.

Reflectors are fitted in places on the lighting installation built during the restoration.

There are also a number of warning signs on the fortress walls with the message "Beware, vipers!". Vipers show their presence in the rocky areas discovered especially on sunny days. Now in October when we visited the area, there was no such danger.