Drobeta Turnu Severin City – Asociaţia Pro-Mehedinţi

Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: Drobeta Turnu Severin City

Location: Located in the western part of Oltenia, in Mehedinţi County, on the road that connects Bucharest to Timişoara. The city is situated on the left bank of the Danube River, in the place where the river leaves the defile, on the European Road E70, at 220 km southeast of Timișoara, 113 km west of Craiova and 353 km west of Bucharest.

Description: Drobeta Turnu Severin is the residence of Mehedinţi County. It is a town with a vast history, which was born near the Drobeta Roman Camp. In a short time it became a strategic point, at the confluence of both land and water roads. The most important and known tourist attractions in Drobeta Turnu Severin are the Iron Gates Hydropower Plant Museum, The Water Castle, and the vestiges of Severin’s Medieval Fortress located in Dragalina Park, as well as various museums and cultural institutions. One of the city’s emblematic buildings is the Teodor Costescu Cultural Palace. The building is imposing due to the architectural style. Emblematic is also the Radu Negru Hall that now hosts a shopping center, built at the beginning of the 20th century between 1904 and 1907, located in the Radu Negru Square.

Legend / Story / Impressions / Recommendations: This town dates back in the period when Dacia was a Roman province, and this fact is highlighted by the existence of some historical vestiges such as the Roman Camp, Traian’s Bridge, made by the famous architect Apolodor from Damascus, the Drobeta Thermae, which were considered to be the most complicated thermal installations in Dacia and even a Roman amphitheater discovered in 2010. During the Roman dominion, Drobeta was the most important urban center of Roman Oltenia, after Romula-Malva. The city occupied the area that is today between streets Smârdan and Călăraşi, and in the north it stretched to Tudor Vladimirescu Boulevard. As for the name of Drobeta (Drubeta), some explorers consider it meant “Despicata” or “The settlement from the cleft”, because here the Danube “splits” forming two arms. Nicolae lorga explains the name “Drobeta” as meaning “Stejareț” or “Stejaris”. Other voices claim that the name would derive from the name of the god “Deus Dobrotes”, or that it would come from the Dacian name “Drebita”. The ancient literary sources mention the town under the name “Drubetis.” As for the name “Severin”, some historians believe that it would come from the Roman Emperor Alexandru Sever, who fought the Goths in these lands and others say that the name is from the Roman consul Septimiu Sever. Later in the first half of the 13^th century, The King of Hungary, Andrew II, took control of the territory between Cerna and Olt. Thus, around 1233, the Banat of Severin was born. The residence of the “Banat” was chosen to be the fortress of Severin. It was built on the spot of the old settlement Drobeta and meant to supervise the roads that were going to Transylvania and Banat. Mircea the Elderly (Mircea cel Bătrân) founded in the Fortress of Severin, a special dominium with a military character, called “Bănia Severinului”. After the death of Mircea cel Bătrân, the Hungarians occupied Severin. In 1438, the King of Hungary entrusted Iancu de Hunedoara with the defense of the kingdom on the Danube, against the Turks, designating him the Leader of Severin.

In 1479, the fortress of Severin was devastated by the Turks, and in 1524 it was destroyed definitively. Thus, Bănia moved to Strehaia and then to Craiova, which led the inhabitants to refuge in the nearest locality, Cerneți. After a century, in the place where once was situated Severin, there was only a ruin. After the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the Principalities, in 1834, on the throne of Wallachia ascended Alexandru Ghica, the one who was constantly concerned with the development of Severin. He is considered to be it’s it’s second founder.

Information and Contact:

Drobeta Turnu Severin City Hall: +40252-314379, http://www.primariadrobeta.ro

Route close to other thematic routes:

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