Drobeta-Turnu Severin

Drobeta-Turnu Severin is a border city in the Oltenia region of Romania, on the left bank of the Danube, opposite Kladovo on the Serbian side. It's close to the famous Iron Gates gorge on the Danube and the Iron Gate I dam/hydroelectric power station, which also serves as a bridge between the two countries. It's about 100 km (62 mi) west of Craiova.

Drobeta was the name of an ancient Dacian and Roman settlement that existed in this place between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE. The modern settlement's original name was just Turnu Severin ("Severin Tower"), the ancient name was added by Romania's communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu as a part of his efforts to connect the country's national identity to its ancient past.

With a municipal population of about 79 thousand (2021), Drobeta-Turnu Severin is the county seat of Mehedinți County, which also includes Orșova.

The core of the modern city was built on an almost regular rectangular grid, with a symmetrical arrangement of streets around the city's main square.

There are 11 trains daily from Timișoara and eight from Bucharest.

• 44.62208122.6443751 Drobeta-Turnu Severin Railway Station (Gara Drobeta-Turnu Severin). The town's main train station, a glass-clad modern building with a pair of covered pedestrian bridges crossing over the riverside boulevard in front of it.  

The historic remains of the bridge over the Danube built by Appollodor, in about 100 AD, can be found in the historic park of the local museum.

• 44.62983122.6521891 The Water Castle (Castelul de Apă). An 1910s water tower designed to look like a castle turret. Now an art institution.  
• 44.62522.6680562 Castra of Drobeta (Castrul roman Drobeta).  
• 44.62376922.667053 Trajan's Bridge Pillar (Piciorul Podului lui Traian). Remaining pillar from Trajan's bridge over the Danube  
• 44.62367822.6641724 Ruins of Severin Fortress (Ruinele Cetății Severinului).  
• 44.97522.7611115 God's Bridge (Podul lui Dumnezeu). The second-biggest natural bridge in Europe, and the biggest in Romania.  
• 44.81830622.5629446 Topolnița Cave (Peștera Topolnița). a karst cave with a huge entrance. Entry into the cave is only possible via specialised climbing gear.  (updated Sep 2024)
• 44.63822.1067 Iron Gates Natural Park (Parcul Național Porțile de Fier). A great place for hikes and natural beauty.  (updated Sep 2024)

• 44.63754422.5818861 Taverna Sârbului.  (updated Jul 2015)

Hotel Continental overlooking the Danube offers reasonable, clean accommodation. Lots of fish on the menu. Friendly and helpful staff

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