Historic Sites in Mehedinti
Trajan's bridge (Romanian: Podul lui Traian) was the first bridge built by Romans over the lower Danube.
It was this bridge which allowed the entire Latinity-with its splendor and complexity- to cross the Danube and reach its Northern banks.
Its construction took only three years (103-105 A.D.), after the plans drawn by Apollodorus of Damascus,
the craftsman of Trajan's Column and Trajan's Forum in Rome.
This permanent passage over the Danube was of great military importance during the campaigns in Dacia.
Trajan's bridge bridge was estimated to be 1,135 m long, 14,55 m wide and 18,6 m high.
For over a thousand years it would be the longest arch bridge in the world to have been built. Massive blocks of stone and oak wood from 200 ha of forest were used to build only its piers.
The bridge was destroyed, by the order of Emperor Aurelian, after he withdrew the Roman legions from Dacia (270 A.D.).
Nowadays, only the entrance pillars are visible on both banks of the Danube, but even so the bridge remains work visitors into enthusiasm.
While Trajan's bridge was being built, The Roman Camp of Drobeta (Romanian: Castrul Roman Drobeta) was also erected. This was the first
Roman fort built in Dacia, rather small-sized camp (137.5 x 123 m) but able to defend the Northern end of the bridge.
The foundations of the Roman Camp (restored by Constantine the Great) can be seen today
nearby the ruins of the Trajan's bridge.
Remains of altars, baths, rooms and warehouses can be traced among the ruins.
The ruins of the Trajan's bridge and the Roman Camp of Drobeta are under the care of The Iron Gates Museum in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Mehedinti.
Another historical landmark of Mehedinti is the Medieval Severin Fortress (Romanian: Cetatea Medievala Severin), built at the end of 13th century over the remains of an older Roman fort. This fortress was an important part of the defensive system of the region, early on, against the Tatar and Bulgarian migrations and later, against the Turks. When the feudal state Walachia or "Tara Romaneasca" (the South part of modern Romania) was founded in the 14th century, the Severin Fortress became a Walachian military possession of strategic importance in its defense against Turks. Two centuries later, in 1524, the fortress was destroyed by Turks conquering their way towards Central Europe. The ruins of the Medieval Severin Fortress are about 1 km West of The Iron Gates Museum, on the left bank of the Danube.