Iron Gates Region Museum
About Iron Gates Region Museum
The Iron Gates Region Museum is the main museum of Mehedinți County and stands right next to the ruins of Roman Drobeta, on the bank of the Danube. It grew out of the history collection that the teacher Alexandru Bărcăcilă set up at the Traian High School in 1912; in 1926 the collections moved into the school's boarding house, which in time came to be used by the museum alone. Under its present name, the museum opened on 15 May 1972 with history and natural sciences sections, including an aquarium, and ethnography was added in 1982. Its holdings number more than 90,000 items.
The white building, with its three-arched loggia above the entrance, has been restored, and the old displays, kept until 2010, have been replaced by a new route with reconstructions, panels and multimedia equipment.
The museum itself is not a UNESCO site, but its grounds hold an archaeological park with the Roman fort of Drobeta, the abutment of Trajan's Bridge, the baths and the amphitheatre. The fort and the bridge remains form the "Drobeta" component of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024. The museum manages them.
What you can see
The archaeology and history section has nine rooms in chronological order: the Mesolithic Schela Cladovei settlements on the banks of the Danube, a replica of the Hinova jewellery hoard (12th century BC), a replica of the gilded silver rhyton from Poroina, then finds from the Roman fort. Room four holds the model of Trajan's Bridge at a scale of 1:50, alongside two original oak beams from a caisson used to build the bridge. A 3D reconstruction of the Roman amphitheatre can be explored on touch screens and with VR headsets.
The ethnography section, on two floors, shows village life in Mehedinți from the late 19th century to the 1980s, with folk costume, textiles and pottery. The natural sciences section presents the nature of the Iron Gates, with dioramas, fossils and the aquarium of Danube fish. The museum also has a planetarium, with a separate ticket.
Good to know
The Iron Gates I Hydropower Plant Museum and the museum in Orșova are branches located in other places, with their own opening hours.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The 1:50 model of Trajan's Bridge, with the two original oak beams from one of the bridge's caissons.
- The aquarium of Danube fish in the natural sciences section.
- The replicas of the Hinova hoard and of the gilded silver rhyton from Poroina, in the archaeology rooms.
- The 3D reconstruction of the Roman amphitheatre at Drobeta, on touch screens and with VR headsets.
- The archaeological park in the grounds, with the fort of Drobeta and the abutment of Trajan's Bridge, part of the UNESCO site.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the museum is in the centre of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, on Independenței Street, close to the Danube. From Craiova it is ~110 km on the DN6 (E70), about two hours; from Orșova, ~30 km on the DN6, about half an hour.
Public transport: Drobeta-Turnu Severin station, with trains on the Bucharest–Craiova–Timișoara line, is ~2 km from the museum, about 25 minutes on foot; you can also take a taxi.
- Where to park
The museum has no announced car park of its own for visitors; you park on the surrounding streets in the town centre, under the rules set by the city hall.
- Fees & discounts
The full ticket costs 40 lei for adults and 10 lei for children. The planetarium has a separate ticket of 20 lei. Groups are advised to book by phone.
- Rules
Do not touch the exhibits. Photography for personal use is generally allowed; photo shoots or filming need the museum's approval. Group visits should be booked in advance.
- Facilities
planetarium · virtual tour on the website · multimedia and VR equipment in the displays · bookings by phone
Frequently asked questions about Iron Gates Region Museum
- How much is a ticket to Iron Gates Region Museum?
- A ticket to Iron Gates Region Museum costs 40 lei (children 10 lei). The full ticket costs 40 lei for adults and 10 lei for children. The planetarium has a separate ticket of 20 lei. Groups are advised to book by phone.
- What are the opening hours of Iron Gates Region Museum?
- Opening hours at Iron Gates Region Museum: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 17:00. Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:30; closed on Mondays. Bookings on +40 252 317 377.
- How long does a visit to Iron Gates Region Museum take?
- A visit to Iron Gates Region Museum takes about 1½ – 2 hours (estimate, without the archaeological park).
- Can you visit Iron Gates Region Museum with kids?
- Yes, Iron Gates Region Museum is suitable for children (aquarium, planetarium, models).
- Where can I park at Iron Gates Region Museum?
- There is paid parking at Iron Gates Region Museum (on the surrounding streets). The museum has no announced car park of its own for visitors; you park on the surrounding streets in the town centre, under the rules set by the city hall.
- How do I get to Iron Gates Region Museum?
- Iron Gates Region Museum is located at Strada Independenței 2, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Mehedinți County. By car: the museum is in the centre of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, on Independenței Street, close to the Danube. From Craiova it is ~110 km on the DN6 (E70), about two hours; from Orșova, ~30 km on the DN6, about half an hour. Public transport: Drobeta-Turnu Severin station, with trains on the Bucharest–Craiova–Timișoara line, is ~2 km from the museum, about 25 minutes on foot; you can also take a taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Iron Gates Region Museum?
- The best season for Iron Gates Region Museum: All year round (indoor museum, all year round).
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