About Carsium Fortress
Carsium was one of the forts of the Roman frontier on the Danube, built on the rocky bank at Hârșova; its name, of Thracian or Illyrian origin, is thought to describe the stony site itself. The first fortification, of timber and earth, belonged to a cavalry unit in the second half of the 1st century. The stone fortress is linked to the reign of Trajan by a dedication inscription, traditionally dated to AD 103.
The fortress was rebuilt under Constantine the Great and under Justinian, and in the 10th century the Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes built a smaller fortification here. It was probably held next by the Genoese, then by the Ottomans, who kept it until the 19th century and repaired it after every war with Russia. After the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829 the fortifications on the Danube were pulled down, and the ruins became a stone quarry for the modern town. That is why many of the walls visible on the hill today are medieval rather than Roman.
Between 2023 and 2025 Constanța County Council restored the site with EU funds, and it was inaugurated on 30 May 2025; it is run by the Museum of National History and Archaeology in Constanța. Carsium is part of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Romania)" nomination, on the UNESCO Tentative List since 2020.
What you can see
On Citadel Hill (Dealul Cetății), between Strada Cetății and the Danube, the visit takes in the ruins of the medieval fortification built over the Roman one: the massive tower known as the "commander's tower", stretches of the enclosure walls and the harbour wall, walls of late Roman buildings, including part of a Christian basilica, and the harbour works on the riverbank. From the top you can see the Danube, with the forest on the far bank, and the canarale, the steep limestone banks protected as a nature reserve. Elsewhere in town, the 4th-century north gate of the fortress, uncovered in 2009, a tower of the medieval fortress and the fortification on Belciug Hill are also listed monuments.
Good to know
The Carsium Museum in town, which displays the finds from the fortress, is temporarily closed for refurbishment and its move to the old school building. The site is in the open, with little shade, and care is needed near the edge of the rocks above the Danube.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The massive tower of the medieval fortress, known as the "commander's tower", restored in recent years.
- The harbour wall, rising on the rock above the bank of the Danube.
- The view from Citadel Hill over the Danube and the floodplain forest on the far bank.
- The canarale of Hârșova, steep limestone banks protected as a nature reserve.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Constanța it is ~91 km (~1 hour 25 minutes) on the A4 and then the DN2A. From Bucharest it is ~184 km (~2 hours 30 minutes) on the A2, then the DN21 via Slobozia and the DN2A to Hârșova. From Cernavodă it is ~56 km (~1 hour) on the DJ223 and DN2A, and from Capidava ~33 km (~40 minutes). The site is at the edge of the town centre, between Strada Cetății and the Danube.
Public transport: coaches and minibuses run to Hârșova from the Autogara Sud bus station in Constanța, several times a day, taking ~1 hour 20 minutes. From the town centre to the fortress it is a ~10-minute walk.
- Fees & discounts
Tickets cost 14 lei for adults, 8 lei for seniors and 4 lei for pupils and students. Free for children under 7, people with disabilities and their companions. A guided tour costs 70 lei. Tickets can also be bought online. The MINAC multi-access card (75 lei adults, 18 lei pupils and students) includes one entry each to Carsium, Capidava, Histria, Adamclisi and Axiopolis and is valid until 31 December. On days announced on minac.ro (for example 1 June, Dobruja Day and 1 December) admission is free.
- Rules
Photography and filming for personal use are included in the ticket; photo shoots and commercial filming carry a separate fee and must be approved by the museum. Do not climb on the walls and ruins, and keep well back from the edge of the rocks above the Danube.
- Facilities
Online tickets · guided tours on request
Frequently asked questions about Carsium Fortress
- How much is a ticket to Carsium Fortress?
- A ticket to Carsium Fortress costs 14 lei (reductions for seniors, pupils). Tickets cost 14 lei for adults, 8 lei for seniors and 4 lei for pupils and students. Free for children under 7, people with disabilities and their companions. A guided tour costs 70 lei. Tickets can also be bought online. The MINAC multi-access card (75 lei adults, 18 lei pupils and students) includes one entry each to Carsium, Capidava, Histria, Adamclisi and Axiopolis and is valid until 31 December. On days announced on minac.ro (for example 1 June, Dobruja Day and 1 December) admission is free.
- What are the opening hours of Carsium Fortress?
- Opening hours at Carsium Fortress: daily 09:00 – 19:00. Summer hours (1 May – 30 September 2026): daily 09:00–19:00. Winter hours (1 October 2026 – 30 April 2027): daily 09:00–17:00. Holidays may bring special hours, announced on minac.ro.
- How long does a visit to Carsium Fortress take?
- A visit to Carsium Fortress takes about ½ – 1 hours (citadel hill and the riverbank).
- Can you visit Carsium Fortress with kids?
- Yes, Carsium Fortress is suitable for children (free under 7).
- How do I get to Carsium Fortress?
- Carsium Fortress is located at Strada Gheorghe Doja, on Citadel Hill, above the Danube, Hârșova, Constanța County. By car: from Constanța it is ~91 km (~1 hour 25 minutes) on the A4 and then the DN2A. From Bucharest it is ~184 km (~2 hours 30 minutes) on the A2, then the DN21 via Slobozia and the DN2A to Hârșova. From Cernavodă it is ~56 km (~1 hour) on the DJ223 and DN2A, and from Capidava ~33 km (~40 minutes). The site is at the edge of the town centre, between Strada Cetății and the Danube. Public transport: coaches and minibuses run to Hârșova from the Autogara Sud bus station in Constanța, several times a day, taking ~1 hour 20 minutes. From the town centre to the fortress it is a ~10-minute walk.
- When is the best time to visit Carsium Fortress?
- The best season for Carsium Fortress: April – October (hot in summer, little shade).
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