The Roman Fort at Tibiscum

Along the Timiș River, north of Caransebeș, in a place called Cetate or Peste Ziduri, you will find the ruins of ancient Tibiscum, one of the most important cities in the Roman province of Dacia. 

Tibiscum was elevated to the rank of municipium in the 3rd century AD. As suggested by an inscription, in the year 214, Emperor Caracalla himself passed through or planned to pass through Tibiscum, indicating its exceptional importance from a strategic, military, and economic standpoint. 

Today, the most representative monument in the archaeological complex is the large stone fortress, erected for defense on the western border of Roman Dacia. 

The ruins at Jupa challenge you to encounter the past. The praetorian gate, Principia, schola, and soldiers' barracks will gradually reveal interesting aspects regarding the construction and organization of the Roman fort. 

If you are passionate about history, Tibiscum opens the path to understanding a remarkable ancient civilization!

At the beginning of the 2nd century AD, during the context of the first Dacian war, a detachment of a Roman legion settled on the left bank of the Timiș River, constructing a small fort of earth and wood. It was destroyed in a fire, later replaced with a larger fort, also made of earth and wood. 

Due to the need to shelter the stationed troops here, the existing fortification expanded with the construction of a stone fortress during the reign of Antoninus Pius. 

The large stone fortress, whose ruins can be seen today, emerged in the second half of the 2nd century AD, when a Celtic-Germanic unit of 1000 soldiers was stationed at Tibiscum.

Archaeological research has revealed that Tibiscum operated as an important craft center, with one inscription even mentioning the existence of a guild of blacksmiths. Many pottery kilns and numerous bronze processing workshops have been discovered within the ancient city, demonstrating the intense economic activity conducted here. 

The most impressive discovery is represented by the glassmaking workshop. Here, glass ornaments, especially beads of various shapes and colors, were produced.

Currently, you can see some of these artifacts at the National Museum of Banat in Timișoara.

If you are near Caransebeș, it's worth taking a stroll in the Monumental Sculpture Park "Teiuș", where 33 sculptures in oak wood by various artists are exhibited. 

Another 33 monuments made of andesite are displayed in the Monumental Sculpture Park in Andesite in the Valea Cenchii neighborhood. 

Caransebeș is indeed home to a true treasure of contemporary sculpture, created by several world artists, with an annual International Sculpture Camp organized here for years.