Sona Mounds

The Mounds of Șona Rising silently from the rolling meadows near the village of Șona, just a few kilometers from Făgăraș in Brașov County, these enigmatic earthen mounds are one of Romania's most mysterious and overlooked landmarks. Known locally as guruiețí, the mounds number seven to eight in total, arranged in two nearly parallel rows, ordered by size, and reaching heights of up to 30 meters — an impressive sight against the sweeping backdrop of the Făgăraș Mountains. Their origin remains a puzzle even for specialists. Archaeological findings on the site include ceramic fragments dating to the Late Bronze Age and the Hallstatt period, leading historians to suggest they may be the burial tombs of Celtic or Scythian chieftains who passed through Transylvania long before the Dacians. According to this theory, additional mounds were created deliberately to confuse would-be grave robbers — a practice found across Scandinavia and Central Europe. Yet science competes here with legend. Locals say the land was once ruled by a princess named Șona, whose kingdom was attacked by giants descending from the Făgăraș Mountains. Crossing the Olt River, the giants shook the mud from their feet — and so the mounds were born. Whether ancient tombs, sacred markers, or the footprints of giants, the Mounds of Șona offer a rare and contemplative experience: wide open skies, the quiet of the Olt valley, and a deep sense of standing somewhere time has not quite let go.