Even if it is less visited compared to Sarmiezegetusa Regia, it is the most importation defence fortification in the area. It guards the mountains of Orăştie on the top of a steep climb on the riverbank of Grădişte. Even though the effort is quite considerable for non-hikers, the view is worth all the hassle.
A magic forest
After the Roman withdrawal, Sarmizegetusa will crumble to ruins. Because of this, the Slavs that occupied the place called the area „grădişte” (which means ruins of the past) and give the nearby river the same name. Firstly, the path crosses a glade and is lost afterwards in the dense woods. In some places, you can see the deep roots uncovered by the water on the path’s bank. After the forest clears there is not much left until the fortress, just a small wooden fence and you’re there.
An eagle nest with 6 towers
According to historians, the citadel was built decades before the birth of Christ as a defence point for the Roman invasion. The best fortification out of all 6, part of the world patrimony of UNESCO, the fortress is located at 750m altitude. It used to have six towers and two connected rooms which spanned over 6.000 metres squared. Archaeologists say that using a very ingenious tactic, the enemy troops would be forced to go around the fortress to enter it and thus keep them vulnerable for a long time.
The stone fortress from Măgura Călanului
Few people know that the fortress was constructed with stone brought from Măgura Călanului. The Dacians have carried tons of thousands of stone to build their fortresses against the Roman legions. The stone was transferred using a special road until Costeşti which is near to the fortress itself. The road is still used today by the locals from Valea Streisângiorgiului, Dâncul Mare Orăştioara de Jos, Orăştioara de Sus, Ocolişul Mic and Costeşti to transfer wood. The total distance between Măgura Călanului and the Costeşti fortress is of 19,6 kilometres while the altitude level difference is 835 metres, as explained by the historian Dan Oltean who also wrote the book „Burebista și Sarmizegetusa” in 2007.
11.000 kilometres for a stone fortress
According to him, the distance between the Blidaru and Costeşti fortresses is 2 kilometres long. The chalk blocks were transported with sledges which were used more than 500 times in order to construct the defence towers. Dan Oltean states that the Dacians have used the sledges 265 times and that the total distance of this route equals to almost 11.000 kilometres.
Foto Tiberiu Mariș
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