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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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Targoviste – A Capital’s Charm
Targoviste is the largest and most important city in Dambovita County (Muntenia) and, for a long time (1396-1714), it was the capital city of Wallachia.
The first mention of Targoviste as the capital city of Wallachia was in 1396, when the Bavarian Johannes Schiltberger wrote in his travel diary that the rulers of the Romanian country had two main residences: Agrich (Arges) and Turcoich (Targoviste). Mircea the Elder’s heir, Mihai I made Targoviste the center of his administration and power.
The ruins of the Royal Court can be seen today and are a proof that the Romanian rulers did not lack the ambition to strengthen their prestige through monumental buildings.
The court consists of more bodies, dating from different periods. The cellars and a no longer functional small church were built by Mircea the Elder. Some repairs were executed during the reign of Vlad Dracul, Vlad Tepes’ father, but the most significant contributions to the development of the Targoviste Royal Court belonged to the short period of Petru Cercel (1583 – 1585).
He was a very interesting figure of his time, he was born and spent a great part of his life in exile, he travelled a lot and he was close friend to the king of France, who gave him a big pearl, which the Romanian ruler wore as an earring (which is the translation of his “Cercel” surname). He was very influenced by all the benefits of the Renaissance he experienced in the Western countries and he tried to introduce some innovations in Wallachia. The roof of his personal mansion had colored brick tiles and the court was surrounded by luxurious gardens and fountains.
Matei Basarab united the two parts of the Royal Court through a corridor, but the monument was no longer of interest for the Romanian rulers, as Targoviste lost its status as capital city. There was only one exception – the extraordinary cultural development during the time of Constantin Brancoveanu, who ordered a thoroughly restoration process.
Among its many historical buildings, the one that has become the symbol of Targoviste is the Chindia Tower. It was built in the XVth century by Vlad Tepes for military purposes, but it was also used as a treasury. Gheorghe Bibescu, ruler of Wallachia between 1843 and 1848, initiated its restoration, which began in 1847 and ended in 1851.
The name “Chindia” hasn’t been explained precisely yet; the generally accepted theory is that it comes from an old Romanian word which can be translated as “sunset”, the moment of the day when the soldiers from the tower gave the signal that the city’s gates should be closed.
After that signal, the city’s inhabitants were forbidden to walk on the street during night and to start open air fires that would make Targoviste visible from long distances.
Initially, the tower was built over the porch of Mircea the Elder’s church and it had two levels, of which, first was connected through a mobile bridge to a nearby house. Its present design dates from the time of Gheorghe Bibescu, when the tower gained 5 more meters in height and reached 27 m. The basis is a stone truncated pyramid, while the rest has the shape of a cylinder with a 9 m diameter and it is made of red bricks. The building has three levels and the access to the higher ones can be made using an interior spiral wooden staircase. The last level hosts an exhibition of documents and maps dating from Vlad Tepes’ time.
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