About Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia: facts and curiosities
What makes Alba Iulia special — briefly, in verified facts, so you know where you’re staying.
Alba Iulia is the county seat of Alba County, in Transylvania — a city with over 2,000 years of history, built on the site of the ancient Roman fort of Apulum. It is known as the “capital of the Great Union”, because it was here, on 1 December 1918, that the union of Transylvania with Romania was proclaimed, and it is home to the imposing star-shaped Alba Carolina Citadel.
What it’s known for
- The Alba Carolina Citadel — a Vauban-style star fortress with seven bastions (18th century).
- The “capital of the Great Union” — the city of the Union Resolution of 1 December 1918.
- The Coronation Cathedral, where King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie were crowned in 1922.
- St Michael’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, the oldest and longest cathedral in Romania.
- Ancient Apulum, an important Roman centre in Dacia (the 13th Gemina Legion).
Why it matters historically
- Antiquity: the city stands on the site of the Roman fort of Apulum, headquarters of the 13th Gemina Legion.
- The 16th–17th centuries: capital of the Principality of Transylvania (from 1541).
- 1599: Michael the Brave enters Alba Iulia and unites Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania under his rule.
- 1 December 1918: the Great National Assembly proclaims the union of Transylvania with Romania.
- 15 October 1922: King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie are crowned sovereigns of Greater Romania.
Curiosities
- The Alba Carolina Citadel is the largest Vauban-style bastion fortress in Romania (around 110 hectares).
- It was built in the first half of the 18th century (1715–1738), with the labour of over 20,000 serfs.
- John Hunyadi, Regent-Governor of Hungary, is buried in St Michael’s Cathedral.
- The Union Resolution of 1918 was voted in what is now Union Hall, the former hall of the military casino.
- Within the Citadel, the Roman Catholic cathedral and the Orthodox Coronation Cathedral stand face to face.
- The Citadel Guard re-enacts the changing of the guard in 18th-century Austrian uniforms.
When to visit
The best time to visit is from spring to autumn (May–September), when the Citadel is lively and the Citadel Guard performs the Changing of the Guard ceremony at weekends. Around 1 December — National Day — a visit holds a special meaning, Alba Iulia being the place of the Great Union.