Cetatea Severinului a fost la origine fortăreaţă de margine a Regatului Ungariei. Este totodată strâns legată de Ţara Românească: în zorii întemeierii voievodatului, intrată în posesia lui Basarab I, cetatea era un măr al discordiei, un fel de Elena din Troia între voievodul român şi trufaşul rege Carol Robert de Anjou. Înfrânţi la Posada de Basarab I, maghiarii au trebuit să renunţe la cetate. Două secole mai târziu, puţin înainte de cucerirea Ungariei de către Soliman Magnificul, cetatea Severinului a fost asediată şi distrusă: stătea în calea invaziei otomane pe firul Dunării spre inima Europei.
Ruinele sale se află acum în mijlocul oraşului modern. Cetatea este bine integrată în viaţa oraşului: lumea se plimbă, joacă fotbal, stă de poveşti în cetate şi pe zidurile ei. Un singur turn se mai înalţă semeţ, contraforturile spre Dunăre impresionează, dar pot servi alternativ de jilţuri pentru cupluri îndrăgostite. Puţini îşi dau seama, când se aşează pe o veche piatră în cetate, că de fapt acolo era altarul unei biserici... Asta în lipsa, temporară sper, a unor tăbliţe informative care să explice tuturor de ce acest loc trebuie preţuit şi ocrotit. Poate odată cu lucrările de restaurare vor apărea şi elementele de identificare istorică a locurilor.
The Severin Castle
The Severin Castle was originally a fortress on the fringes of the Kingdom of Hungary. It is closely tied with the dawning age of Wallachia. It was an object of contention between Hungary and the young Principality. Hungarian King Charles Robert of Anjou invaded to depose the first Prince of Wallachia, Basarab I, but was ambushed and defeated in the mountains at Posada (an unknown location today). The castle had to be given up as well. Two centuries later, a few years before the conquest of Hungary, the Severin Castle was besieged and destroyed by the Ottomans. The Danube valley lay open for their march into the heart of Europe.
The castle ruins are now in the middle of the modern city. They are well integrated in the city life: people walk, play soccer or chat amid the ruins. A single tower is still standing and the buttresses impress by their strength. Alternatively, they can be used by couples to just lounge and enjoy the sun. However, few realize, when sitting on an old stone, that there may have been the altar of an ancient church. That is due to the - temporary I hope - absence of markings which should explain to tourists and locals alike the significance of the historical site.
The Severin Castle
The Severin Castle was originally a fortress on the fringes of the Kingdom of Hungary. It is closely tied with the dawning age of Wallachia. It was an object of contention between Hungary and the young Principality. Hungarian King Charles Robert of Anjou invaded to depose the first Prince of Wallachia, Basarab I, but was ambushed and defeated in the mountains at Posada (an unknown location today). The castle had to be given up as well. Two centuries later, a few years before the conquest of Hungary, the Severin Castle was besieged and destroyed by the Ottomans. The Danube valley lay open for their march into the heart of Europe.
The castle ruins are now in the middle of the modern city. They are well integrated in the city life: people walk, play soccer or chat amid the ruins. A single tower is still standing and the buttresses impress by their strength. Alternatively, they can be used by couples to just lounge and enjoy the sun. However, few realize, when sitting on an old stone, that there may have been the altar of an ancient church. That is due to the - temporary I hope - absence of markings which should explain to tourists and locals alike the significance of the historical site.
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