Targoviste

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Targoviste - the former capital of Wallachia, the place where Vlad the Impaler was enthroned in 1456.

TÂRGOVIŞTE – The first documentary attestation of the formal capital city is from 1396 left by the German crusader Johann Schiltberger. The first official document was written on paper by Mircea the Older (1386-1418) addressed to Tismana Monastery. Vlad the Impaler was enthroned here in 1456. In 1499 the voivode Radu the Great rebuilt Saint Nicolae on Hill church, today known as Dealu Moanstery. The church was painted in 1514 during the reign of Neagoe Basarab. Matei Basarab (1632-1654) reinforced the walls of the city, repaired the old churches and built new ones. Until 1659 Târgovişte was the capital city of Wallachia and until 1714 was the crown residence. Tudor Vladimirescu, the leader of the revolution from 1821 was executed here in front of the Mitropoliei church. Gradually the town lost it’s importance as political and social center, today keeping only the charm of a formal medieval capital city.