Drobeta-Turnu Severin Romania
Romania
Frequently Asked Questions
A short distance from the centre, right at the exit of the Iron Gates gorges. The city of 90,000 can then be explored on foot, among ancient remains, a medieval fortress and shaded avenues.
Yes, when the Danube is low: two massive piers still emerge near the Romanian bank. You can also reach them on foot from the landing by following the shore.
The structure built between AD 103 and 105 by Apollodorus of Damascus, the emperor Trajan's architect. It crossed the river over more than 1,100 metres, the longest span in the Roman world, and let the legions conquer Dacia.
The Roman fortified camp that guarded this strategic bank and gave the city its name. Its foundations lie beside the bridge remains: low walls trace the plan of the barracks and baths on the ground.
A model reconstructing Trajan's bridge in full, Dacian and Roman archaeological pieces, and enough context to understand the long relationship between the population and its river. It adjoins the Roman site and takes an hour or two.
Yes, it stands near the water in the city centre. Its 13th-century walls were raised when the Kingdom of Hungary held this frontier. Restored, it offers a fine view over the Danube from its curtain walls, with walkways and stairs up the towers.
An elegant century-old tower that has become the local emblem, on the way up toward the centre. It now houses exhibitions and a viewpoint over the rooftops. Around it, lime-lined avenues lead to flowered squares and cafés.
The piers of Trajan's bridge and the castrum, the regional museum, the medieval fortress and the water tower. All of it on foot from the landing, with no coach or paid excursion needed.
The Romanian leu, not the euro. Cards work in museums, cafés and downtown shops. A little cash stays handy for small purchases and the market.
The riverside promenade, with its benches, lawns and patient anglers, and the central park where chess players and families gather late in the afternoon. It is a Romanian river town without tourist bustle, and that is what makes it likeable.
