Capidava Fortress
On the right bank of the Danube, in the village of Capidava in Topalu commune, Constanța County, lie the ruins of a fortress that defended the Roman border. The fortification was organized during the time of Emperor Trajan, on the route between the current towns of Cernavodă and Hârșova. The position by the river linked the military defense to the movement of people and goods on the water.
The archaeological trail includes walls and towers, the southern gate and traces of some buildings inside. The Constanța Museum of National History and Archeology highlights the headquarters building, the economic district and the basilica in the northeast corner. Outside the premises, the traces of the baths are preserved, and towards the Danube are the port facilities. Systematic research began in 1924, under the direction of Grigore Florescu. The visit thus brings together the remains of military life, of the settlement and of activities on the riverside.
The vestiges of Capidava. Archive photo (uploaded in 2007; date of photography unknown): Elerium at Romanian Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized.
