Alba Iulia (Belgrade) is a city of just over 60,000 inhabitants, situated at the crossroads of Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu. Today, Alba Iulia is a secondary city of Transylvania, although for a long time it was a political and religious capital of the region. The city is located near the Apuseni Mountains, which are among the wildest in Romania.
Alba Iulia is one of the oldest cities in Romania; it was established before the arrival of the Romans in the early 2nd century. In the 11th century, the city’s influence began to increase, and it became the home of the first Bishop. During the 16th century, Alba Iulia became the capital of Transylvania, under Austrian influence. It retained this status from 1542 through 1690. It was during this period that the Palace of the Princes (Palais des Princes) was built.
Despite the gradual decline of the city, it was the main scene of political life in Romania. The Romanian state was established on December 1st, 1918, following the unification of Transylvania, Banat and the Romanian territories. In 1922, King Ferdinand I and Queen Mary were crowned in the city’s cathedral.
The citadel Vauban Alba Carolina (White Caroline) in the center of town houses most of the historical monuments of the city. It was built by the Habsburg Empire to defend the city from the Ottomans, and had a large influence on the organization and shape of the city. This citadel is particularly well-preserved.