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- Targoviste – A Capital’s CharmDrobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The AgesSearching For Tranquility Around BucharestCalimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health SpringsAlba Iulia and Codex AureusIasi – A City Imbued With History and CultureThe Deva Fortress – Active Witness to Transylvania’s HistoryRupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov CountyScarisoara Cave, Glacier Chill in Summer TimeMuierilor Cave, Symbol of Fertility and HolinessOrsova – Heavy Industry Meets the Roman EmpireThe Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in CetateleCurtisoara Museum – a Cradle of SpiritualityBaile Felix – a Balneary Resort for All AgesIzei Valley – Maramures Finest Traditions and LocationsHarman – A Small Part of Brasov’s CultureMuseums and places to visit in OradeaVidraru Dam and Lake, a Wonder of Nature, Confined by ManAncient Cities in the Constanta AreaSfantul Ioan Domnesc Monument-Church – The Shadow of Stefan cel MarePutna Monastery – The Spiritual Center of MoldaviaOcnele Mari: Salt Mines, Spa and Rich HistoryBaile Govora – One of The Oldest Romanian SpasCraiova – The Heart of OlteniaRules for Visiting the Protected Nature AreasArad – One Millenia on the Banks of MuresTargu Jiu and the Endless ColumnBucura Lake – The Largest Glacier Lake in RomaniaTraveling to Sfantu GheorgheLipscani – “The Old Leipzig” of BucharestCule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous PastVatra DorneiCluj NapocaDobrudja and the Danube DeltaBucharest – an european capitalBrasov – Part of the “Heart” of RomaniaTimisoara, Little ViennaRosia MontanaPeriam “Rock la Mures” FestSinaiaVama VecheSighisoara, medieval heavenHunedoaraSighisoaraSibiu – modernity with a German touchA visit in Piatra-NeamtVama Veche versus MamaiaThe mountain tourism in RomaniaA trip to Muntii ApuseniAn incursion in legends – BranTrips and winter sports on Valea PrahoveiTransilvania – The medieval land of StrongholdsBucovina and Northern MoldaviaMaramures – A Land From TalesTan and Fun at the Black SeaA wild land – The Danube Delta
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Drobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The Ages
The city’s present name is a legacy of all these moments from its ancient history – Drobeta (its initial name), Turnu (which means tower in Romanian) and Severin (in the memory of Septimius Severus, who granted it the greatest title possible).
Drobeta Turnu Severin reappeared as an important strategic point in the Middle Ages; the fortress was supposed to have been built at the beginning of the Xth century and, in 1247, a document of the Knights Hospitaller recorded the fact the king of Hungary had granted them the Severin country. After the retreat of this monastic and military order in 1529, the fortress was disputed and alternatively controlled by Romanians, Hungarians, Tartars, Bulgarians, Ottomans and Austrians, until the dawn of modern age.
Today, the medieval fortress can be visited in the Dragalina Park, situated in the city center. There were two courtyards, an interior and an exterior one. Rectangular shaped towers are flanking the interior courtyard’s walls; the best preserved of them has a height of 11 m, a length of 9 m, a width of 2.5 m and it was provided with shooting holes. The interior courtyard also hosts a church consisting of a single body, built in the XIIIth century, very similar in design and construction techniques (walls made of bricks mixed with stone) to those found in Bulgaria, especially at Veliko-Tarnovo. Some claimed that there was an underground tunnel, starting from the south-eastern gate, but some tragic events during excavations in the XIXth century have discouraged its search. The exterior courtyard is located at a distance of 6 or 7 m from the interior one and has circular towers, which were used as artillery platforms.
The modern age also exercised its benefits upon Drobeta Turnu Severin, which preserved its status as a gateway between East and West. In 1915, the city’s emblematic building was inaugurated – the Water Castle, designed by the architect Elie Radu. Today, it no longer functions as the main water supply and any visitor can admire the surroundings of Drobeta Turnu Severin from its top.
Author: Iulian Fira
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