Răcarii de Jos: Roman Fort and Archaeological Traces

Răcarii de Jos combines a rural village character with an exceptionally multi-layered past. At its heart is the fort of Răcarii de Jos – Cetate, which has four construction phases: two earthwork phases and two stone phases. This creates a destination where military history, traces of settlement and the landscape around the Jiu come together as a concentrated cultural attraction.

A Roman fort with impressive dimensions

The Roman fort has a rectangular layout and measures 170 m × 141 m. After the fort of Slăveni, it is the second-largest stone fort in Oltenia. Its size gives the site a clear profile, while the various construction phases show that its architectural form changed over time.

The fort was permanently occupied by the military unit Numerus Maurorum. In antiquity, it also guarded a ford across the Jiu River. Today, these two aspects provide a particularly vivid understanding of the site's former function: the complex was associated with a military presence while also standing at an important crossing over the river.

Between the railway station, the Jiu and the E70

The fort of Răcarii de Jos – Cetate lies approximately 2 km east of the Jiu River, near the bridge at Scăieşti. The fort is located about 100 m southwest of the railway station. In addition, the Roman fort is a few dozen metres from Răcari railway station on the Craiova–Filiaşi railway line and a few dozen metres from the European route E70. These spatial connections help you view Răcarii de Jos as a starting point for a journey with a clear focus on culture and landscape.

Archaeological traces from several periods

The archaeological complex includes a 20-hectare civilian settlement outside the archaeological protected area. An open settlement from the Migration Period is also part of the complex. On the site there is a Hallstatt-period inhumation grave belonging to a child aged one to two years. The different finds give the site a historical depth that extends beyond Roman military history.

The Hallstatt-period grave contained three completely preserved vessels, an iron knife and a bronze bead. The building of the Roman fort headquarters is also part of the archaeological site. During your visit, this creates a link from early burial rites through the Roman fortification to later traces of settlement, without the individual periods losing their distinct character.

A rural setting for planning your trip

Răcarii de Jos is considered a terrace village. Together with its proximity to the Jiu, the bridge at Scăieşti and the archaeological site, this creates a village setting in which cultural history is not separated from the landscape.

The Roman settlement horizon of the fort ended around 251 or shortly thereafter. This dating makes clear that the site is interesting not only for its walls and dimensions, but also for the question of how long the Roman settlement context continued.

Romanian cuisine in Răcari

Vatra Romană – Răcari, a restaurant serving Romanian cuisine, offers a culinary addition. This allows your exploration of the fort and the traces of settlement to be complemented by a meal with a regional character. When choosing your accommodation, you can likewise shape your stay according to your preferred balance of culture, landscape and local cuisine.

To the higher-level travel overview: Comuna Brădești.