Terra Romana: From the Cerna Valley to the Danube
The final 135 kilometers of the grand journey: hamlets perched high on the Cerna ridges, the Mehedinți Geopark, and Trajan’s Bridge in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
Region Overview & History
The final chapter of the Via Transilvanica links Caraș-Severin and Mehedinți counties all the way down to the banks of the Danube River. Terra Romana bears this name because it was in Drobeta where, between 103 and 105 AD, Apollodorus of Damascus built the colossal bridge across the Danube for Emperor Trajan’s Roman legions.
Far from being a flat stroll down to the river, the opening stages feature some of the most dramatic, steep, and remote mountain ridges of the entire trail before softening across the Mehedinți Plateau.
Key Locations on Google Maps
- The Suspended Hamlets of the Cerna Mountains: 📍 Prisăcina, 📍 Ineleț, and the famous 📍 Wooden Ladders of Ineleț in Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park.
- Mehedinți Plateau Geopark: The natural rock arch 📍 God’s Bridge (Podul lui Dumnezeu, near Obârșia-Cloșani / Ponoarele), 📍 Isverna Cave, and the monumental 📍 Topolnița Cave (Cireșu).
- The Final Finish Line on the Danube: The ruins of 📍 Trajan’s Bridge & Drobeta Roman Fort and the 📍 Medieval Fortress of Severin on the banks of the Danube.
Stage Table, Duration & Locations
| Stage | Section (Google Maps Links) | Distance | Est. Time | Ascent + | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 📍 Crușovăț – 📍 Prisăcina | 24 km | 8.5 h | +980 m | Hard |
| 2 | 📍 Prisăcina – 📍 Valea Cernei | 13 km | 5 h | +490 m | Medium / High |
| 3 | 📍 Valea Cernei – 📍 Obârșia-Cloșani | 18 km | 7 h | +920 m | Hard |
| 4 | 📍 Obârșia-Cloșani – 📍 Isverna | 15 km | 5 h | +480 m | Medium |
| 5 | 📍 Isverna – 📍 Cireșu | 23 km | 7 h | +560 m | Medium |
| 6 | 📍 Cireșu – 📍 Balotești | 21 km | 6.5 h | +490 m | Easy / Medium |
| 7 | 📍 Balotești – 📍 Drobeta-Turnu Severin | 21 km | 6.5 h | +380 m | Easy |
Accommodations & Infrastructure
Remote hospitality & hiker refuges: In isolated mountain hamlets like Prisăcina, lodging relies on a handful of local families and rustic camping spots (booking ahead before climbing is essential as there are no shops). Down in the Cerna Valley, Obârșia-Cloșani, and Isverna you will find guesthouses, and in Cireșu the welcoming hiker hostel 📍 Nomad’s Place (Cireșu) stands out. Upon reaching Drobeta-Turnu Severin, you have full hotel options and direct train connections.