"Targoviste - Residence of the Princes" Targoviste by codrutz

Targoviste Travel Guide: 13 reviews and 25 photos

Targoviste - Residence of the Princes

In the history of the Romanian people, the city of Targoviste has held a special place which was won three centuries ago when it was the residence of the Princes and the capital of Wallachia, main economic, military, political, cultural and religious center of the country. Being documentary attested in 1396 in the "Traveling Impression" written by Johannes Schiltberger, Targoviste will soon become a powerful capital, having an important influence and renown in Central and South-East Europe. This fact is proved by its presence on all the maps of the Middle Ages, by the numerous descriptions in the texts and pictures belonging to the respective period of time as well as by the documents existing in the great European libraries and museums.

Since the long period when it was the capital of Wallachia, Targoviste has preserved in time the memory of the great number of personalities and events that contributed to the appearance and maintenance of the national spirit of the Romanians.

A periplus here has to start from the Ensemble of the Princely Court. Its first nucleus was dated during the ruling of Mircea cel Batran, being later on enriched by the following rulers with other constructions.

Great history of Targoviste

Dambovita County lies south of the Southern Carpathians, in the zone where the Romanian Plain meets the Wallachian Sub-Carpathians, covering the hydrographic basins of the rivers Ialomita and Dambovita. Targoviste, the municipality of Dambovita County, is situated at only 80-km northwest of Bucharest, on the beautiful hills south of the Carpathians. It is a small town with a glorious history. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic. Targoviste was first mentioned in written documents during the Middle Ages. From the 14th to the 17th century this was the capital of feudal Walachia. During 1396 and 1714, thirty-three ruling princes, from Mircea the Old to Constantin Brancoveanu, ascended the throne of Wallachia in Targoviste. Among them, Radu the Great, who encouraged the first printing activities, Vlad the Impaler, a fascinating personality in our history, the learned prince Neagoe Basarab, Petru Cercel, a true man of the Renaissance, Michael the Brave and others. Targoviste fully deserves its nickname of Wallachian Florence. Here the first books in Slavonic, and then in Latin, were printed, the town being, alongside Brasov, one of the birthpla ces of the Romanian literary language. The head of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), the first unifier of the Romanians, was brought here after his murder in Transylvania, and is now kept with respect at the Dealu Monastery, close to town. This faded glory still shows up in the atmosphere of the old town.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great history, home of many romanian leaders
Cons:none
In a nutshell:enjoy the visit of the Old Court ruins

Last visit to Targoviste: Mar 2003
Intro Written Mar 31, 2003
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Reviews (15)

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Overall view of the princely complex Things to Do (14)

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The map of Targoviste

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Comments (8)

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Fam.Rauca May 10, 2007 at 10:44 AM

Ultima data cand am vizitat acest oras era prin anul 1985. De atunci cred ca s-au schimbat multe... Superbe poze si interesante comentarii! Gabriela
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Aurorae Feb 6, 2005 at 2:21 AM

Your page reminded me of my wonderful visit to Targoviste some years ago! Alina and her dad drove us (two other friends, one from Greece and another from Brazil and me!) it was a wonderful excursion!!!
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Andraf Jan 30, 2004 at 10:57 AM

I've been to Targoviste last year; the complex was open but unfortunately the church was locked. I'm glad you took that picture of the altar, this way I got to see what was behind the closed doors. Cheers!
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prleprle Nov 13, 2003 at 9:11 AM

Lovely and famous but unfortunatelly under rated town. Great photos and historical introduction.
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vesna04 Aug 14, 2003 at 12:09 AM

I liked it ...be back to your other pages :))
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nomorewars Jul 21, 2003 at 11:35 PM

I'm glad you couldn't resist being creative with your pictures.
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bruingirl Jun 23, 2003 at 11:26 PM

I loved getting a history lesson about a part of the world I know nothing about! Thanks! :)
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chancay Apr 10, 2003 at 11:33 PM

Great photography!! Very interesting introduction....why is the Bucharest´s Gate so far from Bucharest?? Looks amazing!