Alba Iulia

Alba Iulia sits along the Mureș River in central Transylvania. Bakeries here still bake bread in the mornings, children play in courtyards, and locals chat on benches. Fewer visitors come than to Brașov or Sighișoara, so the streets stay quiet.

The Alba Carolina Citadel

A fortress built in the early 1700s under Emperor Charles VI. Its seven bastions, moats, and drawbridges remain intact. Inside, arched barracks, an old arsenal, and two churches—Catholic and Orthodox—stand side by side. At night, lights illuminate the walls.

The citadel isn’t just a historic site. On weekends, reenactors in Habsburg uniforms march, blacksmiths work at forges, and bakers sell bread from wood-fired ovens. The entrance fee is low, and the place feels like a living history event.

The National Union Museum occupies the former palace of Transylvanian princes. Exhibits include Roman coins, medieval maps, and documents from the 1918 Great Union. The building itself, with its grand halls, is part of the experience.

Beyond the fortress

Unirii Street has vendors selling honey, dried peppers, and homemade wine. At La Ceaun café, coffee is brewed Turkish-style, and pies come with cherries. In summer, an orchestra plays in Mihai Viteazul Square; in winter, the square becomes an ice rink.

Some of the best moments here are unplanned. You might stumble upon a church where princes once married or end up by the river, watching the Mureș flow past the citadel. There’s no need to hurry—history and daily life blend naturally.