Orăștie

Orăștie is a city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania.

Understand
The city is located in south western Transylvania, south of Mures river and west of the illustrious "Field of bread", at an average sea level distance of 220 m. Orăștie has a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of +9.8°C. January average -3°C and July +20°C.

Traces of human activities can be found since Paleolithic, with intense progress in the Dacian-Roman age. Orăștie city was at one point a Dacian-Roman fortification, and during the time suffered several transformations in relation to the strategical position. Orăștie was destroyed and rebuilt several times during the centuries due to firm attitude of its cohabitants, the Getae (named by the Greeks) or Dacians (by Roman definition). The city's first documented Diploma of the city in 1224 was granted by the Hungarian King, Andrei II to renew the privileges  to the German population brought here to populate the area and also to recognize the presence of  native population. In 14th century the population of Orăștie counted around 1,300 souls and commerce with other Romanian counties, Poland and Dalmatia flourished. At the end of 15th century the territory was declared "civitas" a city with the right to be represented in the Diet.

With the beginning of the 1853, the city was the Capital Region of the 10th administrative center of Transylvania, the Orăștie Region. Orăștie region was divided into 9 districts called "Plase". Those "Plase" where Deva, Halmagiu, Hateg, Baia de Cris, Ilia-Muresana, Soimus and Hunedoara. At the Great Union in Alba-Iulia on 1 December 1918, Orăștie city was represented by a delegation. In the year 1974 was the anniversary of 750 years from the first incorporation record.

By train
There are trains connecting Orăștie to Bucharest, Arad, Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Deva, etc. Check timetables here.



By car
To drive to Orăștie from Bucharest you must take A 1(E81) to Pitesti, then take E 81(DN 7) to Sibiu.From Sibiu you must take E 68 to Sebes and Orăștie.

To come to Orăștie from Arad you must take E 68(DN7) to Deva and Orăștie.

From Cluj-Napoca you must take E 60 to Turda, then E81 to Alba Iulia and Sebes. From Sebes you must take E 68 to Orăștie.

Get around
The city centre is relatively small with everything within walking distance. One can take also a taxi.

Connect
Orăștie area code is 254 or 354, for Romtelecom, respectively RDS. If you dial from Romania you must dial with 0254(0354) in front of the number. If you dial from abroad you must dial with +40254(+40354).

Go next

 * Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains - The ruins of fortresses Costești-Cetățuie, Costești-Blidaru, Piatra Roșie (listed under Hunedoara County) are part of the complex of fortifications that were intended to defend the capital of Dacia. Real administrative and religious center of the Dacians was Sarmizegetusa Regia (about 40 km from Orăștie), located on the right bank of the Grădiștea River. The ruins here reveal the three parts of the center: the fortress itself, sanctuaries and civil settlements.