The gates of the Alba Carolina bastion fortress

The gates of the Alba Carolina bastion fortress are ways to access the great fortress but also beautiful monuments and tourist attractions. The eastern gates can be considered true artistic creations. The western ones are not as decorated as the eastern ones but they are also beautiful. It is worth walking through all the gates.

The 1st Gate – The Gate of the Gods
The 2nd Gate – Gate of the Atlanteans
The 3rd Gate – The biggest gate
The 4th Gate
The 5th Gate and the 6th Gate – The Royal Gates
The 7th Gate
Alba Carolina in the evening

The first 3 gates are located in the east of the fortress (1st Gate, 2nd Gate and 3rd Gate).

The other three gates are located on the opposite side, in the west of the fortress (4th Gate, 5th Gate and 6th Gate).

The last gate, the 7th Gate, is located in the north and is the only gate that takes you directly to the ditch of the fortress.

The 1st Gate – The Gate of the Gods

The 1st Gate is decorated with scenes from Greek mythology and statues of the god Ares and the goddess Aphrodite.

The 1st Gate of Alba Carolina fortress, the Gate of the Gods

The 1st Gate of the fortress is the gate with representations from Greek mythology. This gate is the first one you pass through if you come from the east of Alba Iulia.

The 2nd Gate – Gate of the Atlanteans

As soon as you pass the First Gate and look up, you see the Second Gate, the Gate of the Atlanteans. This gate is very beautiful. It is worth staying down the sloping street and taking some pictures with the second gate.

The 2nd Gate, Alba Carolina Citadel, Romania

The 2nd Gate of the Alba Carolina Fortress – Atlanteans’ Gate

The 2nd Gate is located on the road that leads from the first gate to the third gate, at the top of a sloping street that was meant to make it difficult for potential invaders to enter the fortress.

The 3rd Gate – The biggest gate

Then climb the sloping street, go through the second gate and you will have the 3rd Gate on the right. The third gate is the one through which you will enter the fortress.

The 3rd Gate Alba Carolina Citadel Romania

The 3rd Gate, the largest gate of the Alba Carolina fortress

The 3rd Gate of Alba Carolina Citadel is also known as “Horea’s Gate” because on the top of the gate there is a cell in which it is said that Horea was imprisoned. The cell can be visited as part of the circuit “The route of the 3 Fortifications”

After entering the fortress, the beauty of the place will capture you and surprise you. If you cross the center of the fortress you will reach the Fourth Gate. Between 3rd Gate and 4th Gate are 450 m and can be cross on foot in just 5 minutes.

The 4th Gate

As soon as you pass the St. Michael’s Cathedral you will reach the 4th Gate which is the only decorated gate on the west side. The 4th Gate is a tunnel gate.

The 4th Gate of the Alba Carolina Citadel – Bishop’s Gate

The 4th Gate of the Alba Carolina Citadel is also called Bishop’s Gate. The 4th Gate is the only ornate gate on the west side. The name is due to the fact that it is located next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael.

The 5th Gate and the 6th Gate – The Royal Gates

Then follows the 5th Gate and the 6th Gate (the gate through which King Ferdinand and Queen Mary passed).

The 5th Gate of the Alba Carolina Citadel

The 5th Gate is a simple gate. In the past, the gate was used by the soldiers to exit the training field.

The 6th Gate of the Alba Carolina Citadel

The 6th Gate is the gate through which King Ferdinand and Queen Maria entered the Citadel when they were crowned, in 1922.

The 7th Gate

The 7th Gate is on the Northside. You can reach it, from inside, if you walk through the ditch of the fortress.

The 7th Gate of the Alba Carolina Citadel

The 7th Gate is located in the north part of the fortress. It was closed for 300 years and during the restoration works the gate was reopened and can be used.

Alba Carolina in the evening

In the evening, the fortress becomes a magical place. The gates, museums, streets, monuments and the two cathedrals are illuminated and the atmosphere is very nice.