Costești-Cetățuie Dacian fortress

Costești-Cetățuie Dacian fortress
Cetatea Dacică Costești-Cetățuie
	Shown within Romania
Location	Cetățuie, Costești, Hunedoara, Romania
Coordinates	45°40′49″N 23°09′15″E / 45.680189°N 23.154285°E
Altitude	514 m (1,686 ft)
Area	Hunedoara County
History
Founded	1st century BC
Abandoned	2nd century AD
Cultures	Dacian
Events	Trajan's Dacian Wars
Site notes
Condition	Ruined
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Reference no.	906
Monument istoric
Reference no.	HD-I-s-A-03177

The Costești-Cetățuie Dacian fortress was a Dacian fortified town. Located near Costești village, Hunedoara County, Romania, it belongs to the Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains World Heritage Site. The fortress was built in the 1st century BC, during Burebista's rule, with the purpose of defending the area against the Romans.

Information about the fortress

The site is located in the river valley of Apa Grădiștei. The superior plateau of the hill where it is situated is 514 m above sea level. It was a strong fortress which had a defensive role. Apparently, it had a civilian settlement at the base and it was the regular residence of the Dacian kings. Another important role was the guarding of the road to Sarmizegetusa Regia.