Severin Fortress

THE MEDIEVAL FORTRESS OF SEVERIN
– BASTION OF ANTI-OTTOMAN RESISTANCE –

The first stone fortress in Romanian territory, a bastion of anti-Ottoman resistance, and the crown jewel of the rulers of Wallachia, the Medieval Fortress of Severin was the capital of the Banate of Severin (Terra Zeurini) for three centuries, starting in 1233. Voivode Litovoi, and likely Vlaicu Vodă and Mihail I (son of Mircea the Great), died defending it.

From the beginning, the fortress was a constant military and religious dispute between the Hungarian crown, Bulgarians, and Wallachian voivodes—specifically between Catholics and Orthodox.

In 1247, the Kingdom of Hungary brought the Knights Hospitaller into the country, giving them residence in Severin, where they contributed to building the Medieval Fortress (Castrum Zeurini), mentioned in the Knights’ charter of 1247.

The fortress’s commander bore the title of “ban,” a title adopted by many Wallachian rulers.

In the second half of the 14th century, Severin became the second most important center in Wallachia after the capital at Argeș, evidenced by the establishment of the second Orthodox Metropolitanate in 1370, during the reign of Vladislav Vlaicu.

By the early 15th century, Severin was no longer a rural settlement or mere market town but a proper city. A strong Catholic and Orthodox Christian community existed, as evidenced by three churches, including one whose ruins can still be seen today in the archaeological park of the Iron Gates Region Museum (known as the church with buttresses).

For over 300 years, Severin Fortress was the gateway from the Danube into Central Europe and part of a broader defensive system on both sides of the river.

The fortress was conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1524, and after the Battle of Mohács in 1526, he ordered its demolition. The carved stones were reused to build southern Danube fortresses, like Fetislam Fortress (today in Serbia, at Kladovo).

After its fall, Severin’s inhabitants relocated to Cerneți, a safer settlement about 5 km away.

The fortress was not a peaceful aristocratic residence but a military outpost. There were no artistic treasures, only weapons: large quantities of stone cannonballs, iron rods, bullets, and arrowheads, indicating its defensive purpose and local weapons production.

It featured a massive keep (donjon), six defensive towers, two concentric stone walls, and a deep water-filled moat.

In 2010, the Drobeta Turnu Severin City Hall secured European funding through the project “Rehabilitation of Theodor Costescu Cultural Palace and Severin Fortress,” totaling 57.879 million lei, with 42.489 million lei being non-reimbursable. The project, under the Regional Operational Program (2007–2013), Axis 5, focused on restoring and sustainably promoting cultural heritage. It funded the restoration of parts of the fortress walls, construction of a tourist pavilion, two courtyard pavilions, the enclosure, bridge, and adjacent park.

Thus, an almost forgotten “ruin” (for nearly 600 years) was revived and is now one of the most appreciated tourist attractions in the region, hosting large-scale cultural and artistic events. Such projects have reshaped tourism in Drobeta Turnu Severin.