Trajan's Bridge
About Trajan's Bridge
Trajan's Bridge was built between 103 and 105 AD, between the two Dacian wars, so that the Roman army could cross the Danube into Dacia without boats. It was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, the architect of Trajan's Column in Rome, on which the bridge is carved. It was about 1,135 m long and linked Drobeta, on the northern bank, with Pontes, today Kostol, near Kladovo in Serbia. The timber arches and deck rested on 20 massive piers of masonry and stone, bound with a mortar that sets under water, and monumental gateways stood at both ends.
The timber part was dismantled in antiquity; the historian Cassius Dio attributes this to Emperor Hadrian. The piers remained in the riverbed for centuries: during the droughts of the 19th century and of 1932 many of them could still be seen, and in the early 20th century two piers near the Romanian bank were demolished, under archaeological supervision, so that they would no longer hinder shipping. After the Iron Gates hydroelectric dams were built, the level of the Danube rose, and today only the ruins at the two ends can be seen, on the banks. Since 2024 the ruin on the Romanian bank, together with the neighbouring fort, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia".
What you can see
On the Romanian bank a massive block of masonry survives from the northern end of the bridge, with courses of Roman brick between the layers of stone and mortar. The ruin stands in a concrete basin at the edge of the Danube, in the archaeological park of the Iron Gates Region Museum, close to the Roman fort of Drobeta. The park is cut in two by the railway, and a pedestrian footbridge links the two parts; from above, the ruin is seen with the Danube and the Serbian bank behind it. The southern end, with the ruins at Kostol, is on the opposite bank, in Serbia. A model of the bridge is displayed in the museum, showing what the whole structure looked like.
Good to know
The ruin has stood for years in the concrete basin, sometimes filled with water, awaiting restoration. Mehedinți County Council has prepared the EU-funded "File de istorie" project to restore and showcase the remains of the bridge and the Roman amphitheatre, and in December 2025 the local press announced that work would start in 2026. While work is under way, close access may be restricted; ask the museum before you go.
Information verified on 21 October 2026.
- The Roman masonry of the northern end, with courses of brick between the layers of stone and mortar.
- The view from the footbridge over the railway, with the ruin in the foreground and the Danube behind.
- The model of the bridge in the Iron Gates Region Museum, showing the whole structure.
- The Serbian bank opposite the ruin, where the southern end of the bridge stood at Kostol.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the ruin is in the centre of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, in the archaeological park of the museum at Independenței Street no. 2, on the corner with Carol I Boulevard, by the Danube. From Craiova it is about 113 km on the DN6 (E70), roughly 2 hours; from Orșova, about 29 km on the DN6, roughly 40 minutes.
Public transport: Drobeta-Turnu Severin railway station is about 2 km west of the archaeological park; from there you can walk or take city transport or a taxi.
- Where to park
Public parking on the streets around the museum; parking hours and fees are set by the city hall.
- Fees & discounts
The museum lists a full ticket of 40 lei for adults and 10 lei for children; it does not say whether the archaeological park has a separate ticket. Confirm the price at the museum desk.
- Rules
A historic monument protected by law: stay on the paths and the footbridge, do not climb down into the concrete basin and do not take anything from the ground.
- Facilities
Iron Gates Region Museum next door, with the model of the bridge · pedestrian footbridge over the railway
Frequently asked questions about Trajan's Bridge
- What are the opening hours of Trajan's Bridge?
- Opening hours at Trajan's Bridge: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 17:00. Hours of the museum, which manages the archaeological park: Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:30; closed on Mondays. The museum's website gives no separate schedule for the park, and a local guide lists 08:00–16:00 for the sites in the park. Check by phone before you go.
- How long does a visit to Trajan's Bridge take?
- A visit to Trajan's Bridge takes about 20 min (estimate, bridge ruin only).
- Can you visit Trajan's Bridge with kids?
- Yes, Trajan's Bridge is suitable for children (open space, no shade).
- Where can I park at Trajan's Bridge?
- There is paid parking at Trajan's Bridge (in the town centre). Public parking on the streets around the museum; parking hours and fees are set by the city hall.
- How do I get to Trajan's Bridge?
- Trajan's Bridge is located at Independenței Street no. 2 (archaeological park of the Iron Gates Region Museum), Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Mehedinți County. By car: the ruin is in the centre of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, in the archaeological park of the museum at Independenței Street no. 2, on the corner with Carol I Boulevard, by the Danube. From Craiova it is about 113 km on the DN6 (E70), roughly 2 hours; from Orșova, about 29 km on the DN6, roughly 40 minutes. Public transport: Drobeta-Turnu Severin railway station is about 2 km west of the archaeological park; from there you can walk or take city transport or a taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Trajan's Bridge?
- The best season for Trajan's Bridge: April – October (open-air site).
Reviews
Other attractions nearby
The closest attractions to Trajan's Bridge, sorted by distance.
0 km from Trajan's Bridge
0 km from Trajan's Bridge
1 km from Trajan's Bridge
