European approaches to the Roman limes between heritage and tourism: Examples of good practices for the Transylvanian limes

Archaeological tourism has developed unevenly across Europe, with Western countries demonstrating more advanced models of heritage valorisation compared to Romania. This study examines the potential of the Transylvanian sector of the former Roman province of Dacia Porolissensis to be integrated into sustainable archaeological tourism systems. The research employs a qualitative and comparative approach, combining spatial analysis of the North-western Limes (between Bologa and Porolissum) with the evaluation of established European models, including Hadrian's Wall and the German Limes system within the Frontiers of the Roman Empire. The analysis focuses on site distribution, accessibility, and the degree of integration into tourism networks. The results indicate that, despite a high density of archaeological resources, the Transylvanian Limes lacks functional integration, coordinated management, and tourism infrastructure. In contrast, international examples demonstrate that route-based organisation, institutional cooperation, and diversified visitor experiences generate significant economic benefits, including increased visitor flows and regional development. The study concludes that the archaeological heritage of Transylvania represents a substantial yet underutilised resource. Its valorisation requires the transition from a predominantly descriptive and archaeological perspective to an integrated, tourism-oriented framework capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.