Founded by the Romans, the ancient city of Drobeta-Turnu Severin was accessed via the largest and most ambitious bridge in the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the city was refortified, and became the most important redoubt on the Danube, having had to survive several centuries of attacks. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Drobeta-Turnu Severin experienced a revival, quickly growing into a cultured metropolis. Today, the Water Castle, built in 1914 in the medieval style is the symbol of the city, and this period of growth. There are also brightly colored kinetic fountains, and the neo-Baroque Cultural Palace, a theatre and concert venue. Nearby, visitors enjoy a walk through the remains of the medieval fortress.