Dacian fortress of Covasna

Dacian fortress of Covasna

Shown within Romania
Alternative name	Cetatea Zânelor, Fairies Fortress
Location	Dealul Florilor, Covasna, Covasna County, Romania
Coordinates	45°49′38″N 26°13′22″E / 45.827193°N 26.222660°E / 45.827193; 26.222660
Site notes
Excavation dates	1942 - 1943 [1] 1949 [1] 1998 [1]
Archaeologists	Al. Ferenczi [1] Constantin Daicoviciu[1] V. Sârbu [1] V. Crișan [1]
Condition	Ruined
Monument istoric
Reference no.	CV-I-s-A-13058 [2]

The Dacian fortress of Covasna served as a Dacian fortified town and is rated to have been built in the 1st century BC. It sits on a mountain in the Brețcu-Oituz Mountains above the town of Covasna, which is 227 km from the capital of Bucharest.^[3] The fortress is also known by the name of the Fairies Fortress, sitting atop of the Valley of Fairies.^[4]

The fortress consisted of a number of terraced fortifications sitting at an altitude of about 900 m above sea level with a command of the areas around south-east Transylvania, south Moldavia and east Wallachia. In all the fortress covered an area of 10,000 m². A number of defensive buildings were built as well as religious sites and the terraces had the effect of blocking and hampering advancing armies as they were bolstered by 1.5 m to 2 m high and 2m to 2.5 m thick solid sandstone slab walls.^[1]

The first terrace was 3,000 m² while the second was 3,700 m² and the third 150 m². Each was fortified by walls. Excavations lead to the possibility of other terraces further down.^[1]

The main acropolis was situated at the base of the plateau was a 700 m² circular solid stone building.^[1]

The fortress is assumed to have been a Dacian haven for over two centuries until the Roman–Dacian wars of the 2nd Century AD.^[5]

Three major excavation works have happened here through the last century:^[1]

• Al. Ferenczi (1942 - 1943)
• C. Daicoviciu (1949)
• V. Sârbu and V. Crisan, 1998

• Image gallery of Fairies Fortress
• Virtual reconstruction of Fairies Fortress