A Maros völgye / Valea Mureşului

Festival 4R ROMAN la Calugareni / Mikhazi 4R ROMAI Fesztival

        During the research of the roman defensive system (limes) from Mureş County the need to preserve and present the sites belonging to it emerges. In 2012 the Mureş County Museum initiated the ROMAN LIMES ROUTE project. In 2013 the second stage of this cultural project financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) and the Mureş County Council started already. The aim of the project is to identify new sites along the limes section found on the territory of Mureş County, and the thorough mapping of the already known sites with the help of field walking, aerial photography and geophysical surveys. The processing of the GIS data allows a more exact definition of the extent of the sites to be protected and their presentation.

         On one hand, our hope is that, through the propagation of the sites pertaining to the limes and the collaboration with the local community the further destruction of these sites can be prevented. On the other, it becomes possible to work out strategies which aim to utilize the limes for touristic purposes. We wish to present the limes in the form of an itinerary, which we plan to familiarize with the visitors through free maps and a brochure as well as through the more detailed information published on the web page of the project. Marked tourist tracks and signposts would guide the visitors to the locations that are more difficult to access; about the sites explanatory boards would furnish information.

         Along the limes section in Mureş County three auxiliary camps are known (Brâncoveneşti, Călugăreni şi Sărăţeni), in the vicinity of which settlements (vicus) were established, where next to the families of soldiers, merchants and craftsmen servicing them had settled. The camps were connected by the limes road thus facilitating the supply and the fast movement of the troops. The duty of the soldiers stationed here was the protection of the border running parallel, which was achieved through a complex system of watchtowers and signal posts but also with defensive ditches. As a result of the project beside the three auxiliary camps five watchtowers will be presented, which can be found in the outskirts of Vătava, Ibăneşti, Chiherul de Jos and Eremitu.