Hațeg Royal Trail

Hațeg Royal Trail is a trail running race in the hills around Hațeg, in Romania's Hunedoara county, a land the organisers sum up as Retezat, dinosaurs, bison and Sarmizegetusa all close at hand. Its centrepiece is the Royal Citadel of Hațeg: the courses climb through the town forest to the Tronul Străbunilor and run straight through the old citadel.

The hills are not high, but past runners describe the courses as technical and quick, with a constant rhythm of short climbs and descents through the woods. The longer routes head on past the villages of Subcetate and Covragiu and around the Bucium Orlea reservoir, with wide views over Țara Hațegului, and runners regularly praise the marking, the volunteers and the cold beer with lemon at the finish.

The race is run by the ZMBR association from Hațeg, and alongside the main distances it adds kids, family and inclusive races so the whole town can join in.