Alba Iulia

Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia) – The Former Capital of Transylvania

Gyulafehérvár (Romanian: Alba Iulia) is one of Transylvania’s most significant historical cities, located in the Mureș Valley and serving today as the seat of Alba County.

The town’s history reaches back to antiquity: in the 2nd century the Romans founded it under the name Apulum, making it one of their most important military and administrative centers. In the Middle Ages it became an episcopal see, and in 1542 it rose to prominence as the capital of the emerging Principality of Transylvania. From here the country was governed for nearly 150 years, until 1690, when the Habsburgs took control and converted the princely palace into barracks.

The city also holds a key place in Romanian history: in 1600, Michael the Brave briefly united the Romanian principalities here, and on December 1, 1918, the union of Transylvania with Romania was proclaimed in Gyulafehérvár.

The city’s population has changed significantly over time. In the 18th and 19th centuries it had a considerable Hungarian, Saxon, and Romanian population, but today the proportion of Hungarians has greatly diminished. At the beginning of the 20th century the town had only 10–15,000 inhabitants, whereas today nearly 70,000 people live in Gyulafehérvár, the overwhelming majority of them Romanian, with Hungarians making up only about 1–2%.

Gyulafehérvár’s rich historical landmarks – including the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Princely Palace, and the 18th-century Vauban-style fortress – continue to attract visitors. Its historical role and cultural heritage secure its prominent place in both the past and present of Transylvania.