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Mausoleum of Mateiaș: the hilltop memorial to the 1916 heroes

The Mausoleum of Mateiaș (Mausoleul de la Mateiaș), also called the Heroes’ Mausoleum, stands on Mateiaș Hill in Argeș County, 11 km from Câmpulung on the road towards Brașov. It honours the soldiers of the First World War, holds the bones of over 2,300 of them and is a listed historic monument.

The monument on Mateiaș Hill honours soldiers who held back a better-equipped enemy for weeks in autumn 1916 and then withdrew “undefeated”; today an eternal flame burns there in a cup of Albești stone.

WhereMateiaș Hill, Valea Mare-Pravăț commune, Argeș County, Romania

TypeFirst World War memorial and ossuary, built 1928–1935 and extended 1980–1984

Best forFirst World War history in the Carpathian foothills, monumental stairs and a hilltop memorial

Getting thereOn the DN 73 road (E574), about 11 km from Câmpulung towards Brașov; Curtea de Argeș Monastery is about 39 km away

The history of the Mausoleum of Mateiaș

The mausoleum recalls the fighting of autumn 1916, soon after Romania had entered the First World War. In the Mateiaș area the Nămăiești Group, led by General Traian Găiseanu and made up of the 22nd and 12th Infantry Divisions, managed to resist a clearly better-equipped and much better-prepared enemy from 8 October to 23 November 1916 (New Style). The fighting here stopped the advance of the Central Powers towards the Wallachian Plain. But the front was broken on the Jiu, far to the west, and the soldiers of the two divisions were ordered to withdraw, undefeated, towards Târgoviște on 16 November (29 November New Style).

The memorial itself was built later, between 1928 and 1935, to the plans of the architects Dumitru Ionescu-Berechet and State Baloșin, by the builder De Nicolo. Limestone from Albești was the main material. The building has two parts: a horizontal one, the ossuary, which holds the bones of more than 2,300 Romanian soldiers in 31 crypts, and a vertical one, shaped like a tower, with a spiral staircase leading up to a pavilion.

The limestone walls let water seep in, so from 1945 to 1976 the Monument to the Heroes of Mateiaș went through repair works. The earthquake of 4 March 1977 then caused many cracks, and consolidation work was carried out in 1978.

Between 1980 and 1984 the mausoleum was enlarged. A parade terrace, imposing access stairs and museum rooms were added, together with a bas-relief 16 m long and 3.5 m high by the sculptor Adrian Radu of Câmpulung. A cup made of Albești stone was also built, in which an eternal flame burns in memory of the soldiers who fell at Mateiaș. The monument is listed at position 1010 in the list of historic monuments, with the code AG-IV-m-A-14017. It is a place of remembrance, so a respectful visit is expected.

Curiosities about the Mausoleum of Mateiaș

The ossuary holds the bones of more than 2,300 Romanian soldiers, laid in 31 crypts.
The soldiers of the two divisions that fought here were ordered to withdraw “undefeated” on 16 November 1916 (29 November New Style), after the front broke far away on the Jiu.
The mausoleum has a vertical part shaped like a tower, with a spiral staircase leading to a pavilion.
Water seeping through the limestone walls kept the monument under repair from 1945 to 1976, and the 1977 earthquake cracked it again.
The bas-relief added in the 1980s is 16 m long and 3.5 m high, the work of Adrian Radu from Câmpulung.
An eternal flame burns in a cup carved from Albești stone, the same stone used for the building.

Tours near Mausoleum of Mateiaș

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Bran (Dracula) Castle, Bear Sanctuary, Rasnov Fortress & Palinca Distillery

★ 5 (51 reviews) · 6 h

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Bear Sanctuary, Bran (Dracula) Castle, Peles Castle From Brasov

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Horseback Riding Tour In Brasov - Ride Through Fields, Forests & Hills

★ 5 (25 reviews) · 5 h

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Transfagarasan amazing road trip from Brasov

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Visiting the Mausoleum of Mateiaș: what to see

The monument stands on Mateiaș Hill beside the DN 73 road (E574), 11 km from Câmpulung towards Brașov.
The approach is by imposing access stairs leading to a parade terrace, both added in 1980–1984.
Look for the tower with its spiral staircase and pavilion, the long bas-relief and the cup with the eternal flame.
The extension includes museum rooms; the sources give no details, so check the current opening hours before you go.
Curtea de Argeș Monastery (about 39 km), Cantacuzino Castle (about 34 km) and Sinaia Monastery (about 33 km) are the nearest other places on this site.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Mausoleum of Mateiaș is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Mausoleum of Mateiaș

Questions

Where is the Mausoleum of Mateiaș?

It stands on Mateiaș Hill in Valea Mare-Pravăț commune, Argeș County, on the DN 73 road (E574), 11 km from Câmpulung towards Brașov.

What does the Mausoleum of Mateiaș commemorate?

It honours the soldiers of the war of 1916–1918 and recalls the autumn 1916 fighting in which the Nămăiești Group held back the Central Powers here.

How many soldiers lie in the Mausoleum of Mateiaș?

The ossuary holds the bones of more than 2,300 Romanian soldiers, in 31 crypts.

When was the Mausoleum of Mateiaș built?

It was built between 1928 and 1935 and extended between 1980 and 1984 with a terrace, stairs, museum rooms and a bas-relief.

Who designed the Mausoleum of Mateiaș?

The architects Dumitru Ionescu-Berechet and State Baloșin drew the plans, and the builder was De Nicolo. The bas-relief of the 1980s is by Adrian Radu.

What can you see near the Mausoleum of Mateiaș?

Sinaia Monastery is about 33 km away, Cantacuzino Castle about 34 km and Curtea de Argeș Monastery about 39 km.