This medieval Romanian city, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, has preserved its Gothic and Byzantine architecture around a central square with local restaurants.
Târgoviște, 80 kilometers northwest of Bucharest, was Wallachia's capital from 1418 to 1659. Walk through the Royal Court complex to see the 27-meter Chindia Tower, climb its medieval stone stairs, and explore the Great Royal Church with its intricate frescoes. Visit multiple museums where you can examine rare Romanian books, ancient manuscripts, and archaeological artifacts from the region's past.
Getting to Târgoviște
Trains run from Bucharest to Târgoviște via Titu, taking about two hours. The 1884 railway station connects to several regional destinations. When driving from Bucharest, follow the DN71 highway north through Titu, or take the DN72 from Ploiești. From Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni, you can reach the city through these road networks.
The Royal Court Complex
Walk through the medieval stone walls and across the moat to enter the Princely Court. The Chindia Tower, dating from Vlad III Dracula's reign, rises on a stone-plated pyramid base with a 9-meter diameter. Climb the three floors to see broken arch windows and stone-supported balconies. The red brick cylindrical structure's balcony gives you views of two princely palace ruins from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Religious Architecture
The Great Royal Church, dating from 1584, stretches 30 meters in length and 14 meters in width, following a Greek cross layout. Visit the Saint Mary Catholic Church to see Saxon architectural influences, or explore the Saint Nicholas-Geartoglu Church in one of Târgoviște's oldest neighborhoods. The Holly Friday Church from the 15th century maintains its original structure near the Balasa Asylum - the only preserved 15th-century building in Southern Romania.
Museums and Culture
Browse early manuscripts and religious texts at the Museum of Printing and Old Romanian Books, where you can learn about Romanian printing evolution. The History Museum, in a 1902 building, displays Stone Age tools, Iron Age weapons, and artifacts from Greek, Roman, and Dacian settlements. In Princess Safta's former residence, examine original manuscripts from Romanian writers and poets, alongside century-old objects in the rare-books museum.
Modern City Life
The city's 66,965 residents support two major sports teams: FC Chindia Târgoviște in Liga II football and Municipal MCM Târgoviște in the Romanian Basketball League and EuroCup. Get around using the public bus system and maxi-taxis, which replaced trolleybuses in 2005. Find Romanian restaurants in the central areas, though tourist facilities are limited compared to larger Romanian cities.
Historical Events
Two key moments in Romanian history took place in Târgoviște: Tudor Vladimirescu's execution in 1821 during the Wallachian uprising, and Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu's trial and execution on December 25, 1989. The city grew as a commercial center where major trade routes intersected, linking different regions of medieval Romania.
