# Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Oltenia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/oltenia) › [Dolj County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/dolj) › [Răcari](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/racari)

> The most important Roman fort in the Jiu valley, beside Răcari railway station in Brădești commune, once home to a unit of Moorish horsemen; excavations go on, and the granary foundation was found in 2025.

**At a glance:** Monuments and historic sites in Răcari, Dolj County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 12 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** No published schedule. The site is an open-air archaeological site run by the local authorities; access may be restricted during excavation campaigns. Information is available from Brădești Town Hall or the Oltenia Museum in Craiova.
- **Visit duration:** 30 min — estimate; open-air site
- **Best season:** April – October — open-air site, no facilities
- **Address:** Next to Răcari railway station, on the edge of Răcari village (formerly Răcarii de Jos), Brădești commune, Răcari, Dolj County
- **Coordinates:** 44.51395, 23.57192
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castra_of_R%C4%83carii_de_Jos
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q612867
- **Categories:** [Monuments and historic sites](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/monumente-si-situri-istorice), [Fortresses and fortifications](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetati-si-fortificatii)

## About Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos

On the left terrace of the Jiu, about 6 km south of Filiași, the Romans built a temporary marching camp during Trajan's Dacian wars (101–102 and 105–106). After 157 it was followed by a large earth fort that housed a numerus of Moors, probably horsemen, known from a military diploma found in the late 19th century. Around AD 200 the enclosure was rebuilt in stone, then rebuilt again after destruction in the early 3rd century and the great Carpic invasion of about 247. Its position far behind the frontier shows that its main task was policing and keeping order in the centre of Oltenia. The fort was most likely used until the Roman administration withdrew, and a vicus of up to 40 ha spread around it, partly under today's railway station.

The rectangular enclosure measured about 170 x 141 m, with four gates, four corner towers and two intermediate towers on the long sides. The most imposing building was the headquarters (principia), 37 x 34 m, with a standards room braced by buttresses, a sign that it had an upper floor. The first excavations were made in 1897–1898 by Grigore Tocilescu and Pamfil Polonic, then by Grigore Florescu in 1928 and 1930; since 2003 research has resumed every year, run by the National History Museum of Romania and the Oltenia Museum in Craiova. Hundreds of fragments of bronze statues, tiles and bricks stamped with the unit's name, weapons, coins and pottery have come to light.

### What you can see

The site is in the open air, in farmland on the edge of the village. There are no reconstructions: the excavations have uncovered walls and foundations, and the dug areas are covered temporarily between campaigns to protect them. A visit suits those who want to see the setting of an important fort, with the line of the enclosure on the ground, next to the railway.

### Good to know

In 2025 archaeologists from the Oltenia Museum found the stone foundation of the fort's granary, about 180 m² with 18 buttresses. The site is not developed for tourism and has no published visiting hours; access depends on the state of the ground and on excavation campaigns.

## Don't miss

- The fort enclosure, about 170 x 141 m, the most important Roman fort in the Jiu valley.
- The granary foundation, found in 2025, with 18 buttresses.
- The site of the headquarters (principia), a two-storey building of 37 x 34 m.
- The story of the Moorish horsemen stationed here, attested by a 2nd-century military diploma.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the fort is next to Răcari station, on the edge of Răcari village, Brădești commune, about 6 km south of Filiași, on the left terrace of the Jiu. The enclosure is about 70 m south-west of the station.

**Public transport:** Răcari station is on the Craiova–Filiași line; check the CFR Călători timetable to see which trains stop.

### Fees & discounts

No entry fee is published; the site is in the open air.

### Rules

A site protected by law: do not climb on the walls, do not take anything from the ground and respect areas covered or fenced off for research.

### Facilities

Open-air site, no facilities

## Details

- **Construction period:** 2nd–3rd c.
- **State of preservation:** ruins
- **Historical period:** 2nd–3rd c. AD
- **Civilisation:** Roman

## Frequently asked questions about Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos

**How long does a visit to Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos take?**

A visit to Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos takes about 30 min (estimate; open-air site).

**How do I get to Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos?**

Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos is located at Next to Răcari railway station, on the edge of Răcari village (formerly Răcarii de Jos), Brădești commune, Răcari, Dolj County. By car: the fort is next to Răcari station, on the edge of Răcari village, Brădești commune, about 6 km south of Filiași, on the left terrace of the Jiu. The enclosure is about 70 m south-west of the station. Public transport: Răcari station is on the Craiova–Filiași line; check the CFR Călători timetable to see which trains stop.

**When is the best time to visit Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos?**

The best season for Roman Fort of Răcarii de Jos: April – October (open-air site, no facilities).

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Last updated: 12 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania