Romanian artillery at Calafat opened fire on the fortress of Vidin in the War of Independence, and this monument is where the town remembers it.
About the place
In May 1877 the Romanian batteries at Calafat opened fire on the Ottoman fortress of Vidin across the Danube, in the presence of Prince Carol I. The monument, by the sculptor Dumitru Pavelescu-Dimo (1870–1944), who was born in Calafat, first stood on the site of the 'Carol' battery. The surviving marble plaque says it was raised 'in memory of the bombardment of Vidin'. Next to it is a stone post from 1904 that recalls the first shell falling in front of the prince.
In 1977, for the centenary, the monument was moved here, to the park on the Danube bank, and a new travertine ensemble was built on its old site, about 100 m away. In 1904 two Turkish cannons had been placed beside the monument; German troops took them in 1917. Today's cannons are two German Krupp guns from 1884, brought after the First World War and aimed at Vidin.
Good to know
- Combine the visit with a walk on the riverfront: the Debarcader gazebo is about 250 m away.
- The 1977 centenary ensemble is about 100 m away, towards the centre.
- During the Town Days in May, the park is full of people and events.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.