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Hunedoara - Strada Voinei Nr. 2A
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In the heart of Transylvania, nestled in the Carpathian Mountains and halfway between Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, lies Hunedoara, a town of around 60,000 inhabitants that has long featured on Romania’s tourism map. The reason is straightforward: it’s home to the magnificent Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle, one of Europe’s largest castles, built in Gothic-Renaissance style at the beginning of the 14th century.
Beyond the fame bestowed by its castle, Hunedoara has developed over the years and established itself as an industrial and metallurgical centre, whilst also serving as the main commercial hub for the small towns and mountain villages in the surrounding area. Today, Hunedoara is the perfect base for exploring Transylvania, the Western Carpathians, and a range of attractions nearby, such as Lake Cincis or Prislop Monastery.
Hunedoara is a small town and attractions are limited. However, it’s an essential destination for a tour of Romania, thanks to Corvin Castle, the stunning surrounding mountains, and its strategic location in the heart of Transylvania.
Corvin Castle, or Hunyadi Castle, is undoubtedly the main reason to visit Hunedoara. It’s one of Europe’s largest castles and ranks among the seven wonders of Romania. Built in 1446 on a rocky outcrop above the small Zlasti River, the castle was destroyed several times throughout its history. The structure you see today is the result of an extensive restoration that followed a devastating fire and decades of complete abandonment.
According to legend, Corvin Castle is where Vlad the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, was imprisoned by John Hunyadi, a Hungarian military leader. Some claim the castle inspired Bram Stoker as the setting for Dracula’s Castle, though many credit Bran Castle, near Brașov, with this distinction.
Another attraction in the Hunedoara area well worth visiting is Prislop Monastery, one of Transylvania’s most important Orthodox monasteries for at least seven centuries. The church inside dates from the 16th century and has been declared a national historical monument.
The monastery’s origins are largely unknown, yet it attracts numerous visitors and is deeply revered by locals, who make pilgrimages to the tomb of Father Arsenie Boca, buried here. He is considered one of Romania’s most important 20th-century spiritual figures.
Less than 30 kilometres from Hunedoara lies Lake Cincis, one of Transylvania’s largest lakes covering almost 1,000 hectares. Nearly half of the lake’s shoreline is sandy, whilst the other half features forest and hills. Various fish species inhabit the water, and during summer, in addition to fishing, the shores are used by tourists and locals alike to relax and swim. Indeed, Lake Cincis is colloquially known as “Hunedoara’s sea“.
Saint Nicholas Church, known as Bisterica Sfantul Nicolae in Romanian, stands in Unirii Square in Hunedoara and is one of the town’s principal monuments. It’s among the few medieval Orthodox churches built in the area; construction used stone and brick, along with sand and limestone from the nearby river. Saint Nicholas Church is now among Romania’s historical monuments.
Inside the nave, you can admire beautiful frescoes, the dome is richly decorated, and behind the altar are numerous icons in Byzantine style.
Colț Fortress (Cetatea Colț in Romanian) dates from the 14th century and stands near the village of Suseni in Rau de Mori commune. Built in a commanding position on a rocky spur, it comprises a main square tower, later enhanced with a fortification wall and several additional towers.
Constructed for defensive purposes, it was never used as such, as it soon became clear the fortress was too small to withstand large armies. Consequently, it was abandoned, and today lies in ruins. However, its remains are genuinely worth visiting, and the Rau de Mori commune is currently seeking funding for its full restoration, to transform it into a historical monument.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Hunedoara is a small town and its old town centre, Centrul Vechi, sits at the foot of Corvin Castle. It’s advisable to stay here to have everything within reach. Hotels in the town are few but good quality. However, there are plenty of apartments, often rented to tourists directly by locals. Prices for all types of accommodation are very reasonable, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
As mentioned, Hunedoara is practically equidistant from both Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara, so you can use either airport to reach it. Both are small but well connected to major European cities by numerous budget airline direct flights. Once you land, the distance to cover by road is just under 200 kilometres, taking approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Those starting from Bucharest should allow around 5 hours of travel for just over 400 kilometres, passing through Pitesti, Sibiu and Sebes. You can make the journey by car hire or by using public buses.
What's the weather at Hunedoara? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Hunedoara for the next few days.
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