Zimnicea

The city is a port on the Danube and on the other side of the Danube is located the Bulgarian city of Svishtov.

History

Near Zimnicea there are the ruins of several ancient fortresses and fortifications from the 4th century BC to the 1st century. The oldest are believed to be built for defence by Alexander the Great's army.

The name of the city was first mentioned in 1385 in the travel logs of Christian pilgrims on their way home from their trip to Jerusalem. The Byzantines called it "Demnitzikos" and later on "Dzimnikes" or "Dzimnikos". The city flourished as a trade post on the trade routes that linked Central Europe to the Balkans.

In 1835, it had 531 households, being the twelfth market town as size of Wallachia. For a short time in 1837 to 1838, it was the capital of Teleorman county, but due to internal dissensions, between the landowners and merchants, the capital of the county was moved to Alexandria.

During the Independence War of Romania (1877-1878), it was the headquarters of the Russians troops fighting in Bulgaria angainst the Ottoman Empire.

80% of the city was destroyed during the 1977 Romanian Earthquake and had to be rebuilt.

Population