Iron Gates Region Museum, Drobeta-Turnu Severin

1. The entrance space

The first museum room, where entrance tickets are purchased, displays the exhibit of the month, ceramics and weapons. From here you exit into the huge courtyard of the museum complex, where arrow pointers direct you to the different areas.

2. History Section. Ancient period before the Roman invasion.

We enter the large building of the museum complex.

Here we follow the thread of history. On the time scale we learn about the evolution of man from Paleolithic (15,000 BC) to more recent times. We see ceramic vessels from the Bronze Age (4th millennium BC) and representations of Mesolithic life. Archaeological relics from the Bronze Age are on display in the transparent floor arranged in an entrance. The Hinova hoard containing several gold ornaments and objects is also on display

3. History Section. Roman Age.

Roman Age left a major imprint on the area. We learn about Roman legions, we see silver coins. Apollodorus of Damascus is presented as the architect of the bridge over the Danube at Drobeta, called Traian Bridge. The Trajan's Bridge designed by Apollodorus was the largest bridge built in antiquity with a length of 1,135 m, a height of 19 m, and legs of 33 x 19 m.

We also read about Dacia and those 2 Dacian wars from 101 - 102 and 105 - 106. To conquer Dacia, the Romans crossed the Danube on the Trajan's Bridge at Drobeta and later developed at Drobeta an important Roman castle.

4. History Section. Middle Ages.

In Middle Ages was built here and a medieval fortress. Several archaeological finds dating after the 6th century are presented. We learn about the history after the Roman retreat, the formation of the Romanian people and the Romanian Country (Wallachia) established on these lands. The army of Walla Wallachia developed, the weapons were developed.

5. History Section. Modern Era.

After the Middle Ages came Modern Age. They played an active role in this territory Tudor Vladimirescu's pandurii through their revolutionary movement in 1821.

In the year 1877 War of Independence has swept these lands.

6. History Section. Kingdom of Romania.

The history of Romanians is presented on period of royalty. Both the commercial activity with shops and stores and the world wars are depicted.

7. History Section. Socialist Era.

A realization of socialist era near Drobetei is the Danube hydropower plant at Iron Gates I built in collaboration with R.S.F. Yugoslavia, the largest Romanian hydroelectric power plant. The Romanian Anti-Communist Resistance Movement in Mehedinți is not forgotten, nor the communist press or the words of comrade Nicolae Ceausescu.

8. Folk Art Section

Section Folk Art is a separate part of the museum also in the main building. You can see folk harbors, bark (carpets), wooden gates, water mill, loom, old iron, objects, etc. The handicrafts and people's occupations such as pottery, blacksmithing, fishing, bee-keeping, etc. are also depicted.

9. Ecosystem

Next is the presentation of information in the area of geology. I've categorized it ecosystem. Here we find various stones, including very spectacular fossils. This part of the museum also includes an artificial cave, and then we see dioramas of the flora and fauna ecosystems of the region. An endemic species of plant that grows in the region is the Cazane tulip.

10. Aquarium

In another part of the museum's large building is the Aquarium. Catfish, catfish, wrasses, xifo and other fish swim in it.

11. Drobeta Castle

After the interesting and long visit inside, we breathe in the fresh air outside. In front of the museum is the Bust of Apollodorus in Damascus, which makes us continue to the left as we came out towards the Drobeta Castle.

We enter the well-preserved ruins of Roman Castle Drobeta through the Principalis Dextra Gate, located to the right of the fortress and opening 3 meters. This leads onto the Via Principalis, which joins the Porta Principalis Dextra with the Porta Principalis Sinistra.

We admire and differentiate Roman columns, officers' quarters and soldiers' barracks, We arrive on another artery, called Via Sagularis, built on the inner perimeter of the citadel.

The Roman Drobeta Castle is very well preserved and invites and invites to a leisurely stroll through the ruins, ending with a photo of the Danube.

12. Foot of Trajan's Bridge

We reach the Danube flank, where we enjoy a generous view. We turn slightly to the right where we recognize Foot of Trajan's Bridge. We are separated from it by the railroad line, which runs right under the fortress wall. There is a footbridge to the bridge, but we found access restricted.

The foot of Trajan's Bridge can also be reached by an undeveloped road, which is not part of the museum complex and which runs along the Danube bank coming from the harbor.

13. Roman Baths and Roman Amphitheater

A metal bridge leads us on the shortest route to Roman Baths of Drobeta. The construction of the Thermae began at the same time as the castle and the bridge in the 1st century AD. Detachments from the 5th Macedonian legion were used. The baths were rebuilt 2 centuries later.

The following terms follow Roman Amphitheater. Here is an active area of archaeological excavations. It is located at the southern gate of the castle.