During the unveiling of a plate with a QR code engraved with an image of the steel crown of Great Romania’s sovereigns on the structure of the Orthodox Cathedral of the Coronation, built between 1921 and 1922 to provide a suitable setting for the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie, Alba Regalis, a new cultural tourist route, was officially launched on Friday, October 14, in central Alba Iulia.
Similar plates will also be placed in Blaj, Abrud, Câmpeni, and Roșia Montană, where royal visits took place after Romania’s Great Union. Researchers from the National Museum of the Union in Alba Iulia contributed to the creation of the route.
“A QR code that tells a story will be on each plaque. It will include a narrative outlining what transpired during those trips as well as some old photographs from the museum’s collection.” According to museum curator Ioana Rustoiu, the narrative must relate both the history of the city and the history of royal visits if it is to draw tourists.
Tudor Rosu, the deputy director of MNU Alba Iulia, indicated that Alba Regalis intends to redraw the map to include locations of exceptional significance. He named a few of them, including the first time King Ferdinand visited Alba Iulia on May 30, 1919, and the visit to the site of the future Cathedral in 1921, during the Coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie on October 15, 1922; ten years after the Great Union in 1929; and at the unveiling of the Horea, Closca, and Crisan Obelisk in 1937. Carol II visited a military drill in 1934 in Drambar, close to Alba Iulia, and Queen Maria was also present in 1923 at a gathering of ladies.
Visitors to Alba County can choose from a number of cultural tourism routes developed by the County Council, each of which has a number of lodging and dining options as well as a variety of recreation sites including adventure parks, water parks, beaches, and other attractions.
This summer saw the introduction of the Drumul Icoanei (the Icon Path), Transcultural Apuseni, National Unity, and Via Auraea pathways.
Father Oliviu Botoi, Cultural Advisor at the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, said, “We thank those who got involved in the realisation of this delightful project, and we are happy that, in Alba Iulia, in the citadel of the Great Union, in addition to the many stories of living and experienced history, today one more is added.”
The Route of National Unity 1848 – 1918 -1922, approved by the Ministry of Tourism in 2020, passes through a considerable portion of Alba County, home to several historical and cultural sites visited by the Kings of Romania throughout the unification process.
This was one of several celebrations honouring the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria as the first sovereigns of Greater Romania one hundred years ago.
Royal visits to Alba Iulia
May 1919 – the first visit of the Sovereigns of Romania to the united Transylvania: they participate in events in Ţara Moților, in Alba Iulia and Blaj. Among them was the inauguration of a bridge in Câmpeni.
1921 – King Ferdinand and Queen Marie visited the site of the future Coronation Cathedral
October 15, 1922 – The Coronation Ceremony at Alba Iulia.
April 1923 – Queen Marie participated with Princess Elena at the opening of the Congress of the Romanian Women’s Union from Transylvania, Banat, Crișana and Maramureș, held under the High Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Marie. The Romanian Women’s Union in Alba Iulia then celebrated a decade since its foundation.
1924 – the sovereigns of Romania participated in the centenary of Avram Iancu’s birth
May 20, 1929 – Queen Marie, Queen Elena and King Michael, Prince Nicolae, princesses Elisabeta and Ileana participated in the Union Celebrations in Alba Iulia when the museum in the Coronation Cathedral was also inaugurated.
1934 – King Carol II paid a short visit to Alba Iulia
1936 – King Carol II participated in the ASTRA Celebrations in Blaj together with his son, Michael, who also had the title of Grand Voivode of Alba Iulia.
October 14, 1937 – King Carol II and Prince Michael participated in the inauguration of the “Horea, Cloșca and Crișan” Obelisk in Alba Iulia.
December 23, 2007 – King Michael visited Alba Iulia, receiving the title of honorary citizen of Alba Iulia Municipality.
Photography courtesy of the Alba County Council
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