Ighiu: Churches, Roman Fort and History

Ighiu’s history can be traced through an Orthodox church, a Reformed church complex and a Roman earthwork fort. Its story spans the Roman province of Dacia and church buildings from the 18th century. In the commune, the Iezerul Ighiel nature reserve and Piatra Poienii also offer opportunities for nature watching and sport climbing. Historic architecture, an ancient site and activities elsewhere in the commune provide different focal points for planning a trip.

Churches and historical building phases

The Orthodox Church of Sfânta Parascheva was built in 1724. The Reformed Church of Ighiu was constructed between 1781 and 1783 and is classified stylistically as late Baroque and Rococo. This makes two distinct religious landmarks and clearly dated building phases part of Ighiu’s history.

The Reformed Church complex includes the church building, the ruins of its fortified enclosure and the former Protestant vicarage of the Reformed congregation. The church is surrounded by the remains of a 15th-century fortification, which retain some Gothic elements. The entrance bastion and Gothic gate of the complex are incorporated into a two-storey building erected in 1712. Together, these features link the histories of the church and the fortifications, while reflecting more than one building phase.

A historic organ in the Reformed Church was made by Johan Han the Younger in 1796. The church cemetery is also the site of the grave of Péter Bod, a pre-Enlightenment scholar, former Reformed pastor, historian and Transylvanian writer. The organ and the grave add specific musical and biographical connections to the building’s history.

Roman heritage on Măgulici

Ighiu’s earthwork fort was a small Roman fortification that guarded the entrance to the gold-bearing region of the province of Dacia. It stood on the summit of the 492-metre-high Măgulici hill, with good views in every direction. Its elevation and panoramic views are part of the site’s story, alongside its former military role. Recent archaeological research at the fort also uncovered a coin from the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The Gemina Victrix themed trail, created in 2023, recreates the march of Legio XIII Gemina towards the Ampoi Valley and the construction of the Roman fort at Măgulici. On site, it is marked with the TA trail symbol, a blue triangle. Route conditions and markings may change, so check both again before your trip.

Nature and climbing in the commune

Near Ighiu, Piatra Poienii is within the commune’s administrative territory, close to the village of Ighiel. There are more than 19 equipped sport climbing routes there. The Iezerul Ighiel nature reserve is also located in the territory of Ighiel village, in Ighiu commune, and is a destination for hiking and nature watching. The activities available for trip planning differ: hiking and nature watching at Iezerul Ighiel, and sport climbing routes at Piatra Poienii.

Culinary competition 2026

At the 2026 edition of “Aventuri Culinare,” a traditional gastronomic competition in Ighiu commune, Alba County, more than ten teams from Romania and neighbouring regions prepared traditional recipes outdoors. They cooked in cauldrons over open fires. This offers a different focus from the history of churches and forts: here, the emphasis is on traditional recipes and how they are prepared.

Discover more destinations: Pianu De Jos, Pianu De Sus, Sebeş, Sohodol, Câlnic, Scărișoara, Arieşeni, Pleșcuța

For the wider travel overview: Alba.