Targoviste, a medieval city in Romania, the place where Dracula - the real one - had his throne.

1. Târgoviște Welcometo RO MA NIA Chindia Tower

2. Târgoviște http://www.maplandia.com/romania/dimbovita/targoviste

3. Târgoviște * islocated in Dâmbovița county, in Romania.Its geographical coordinates are 44° 56' 0" North, 25° 27' 0" East. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. is a name derived from Slavonic, its original meaning being of marketplace. * * was first attested in 1396 in the Travel Accounts of Johannes Schiltbergerand became the capital of the Wallachianvoivodship during the reign of Mircea the Old (MirceacelBătrân) when the Royal Court ("CurteaDomnească") was built. Vlad III Dracula later added Chindia Tower (TurnulChindia), now a symbol of the city. was the capital city between 13th and 17th centuries. * After ConstantinBrâncoveanu (a Wallachianvoievod/prince) moved the capital to Bucharest, Târgovişte lost its importance, decaying economically as its population decreased.

4. Târgoviște Bucharest Gate (Poarta București) welcomesyouwhencomingfromBucharest

5. Târgoviște Panorama seenfrom Chindia Tower

6. Târgoviște * is a municipality,thecapital of Dâmbovițacounty. It lies at 80 km far fromBucharest, the presentcapitalcity of Romania. * hasabout 90,000 inhabitants;most of them are Romaniansbelonging toOrthodox Church. There are alsoBulgarians, Gypsies (Romanies), Greeks, Italians, Turks, Jews etc. * is located at crossroads of ancient trade routes. The city is a road and rail junction and can be easily reached from everywhere. * is the placewhereNicolaeCeauşescu (Romania’s communist president) and his wife, Elenawerejudged, sentencedandexecutedin December 1989. There are towns with the same name (but with different spellings as they are written in Cyrillic alphabet) in both Bulgaria and Serbia. The Romanian and Bulgarian towns are twinned.

7. Târgoviște The RoyalCourt (Curtea Domnească)

8. Târgoviște City Centre – Prefecture Square and Building

9. Târgoviște The RailwayStation Building

10. Târgoviște “Dracula” the legendary The Royal Court Curtea Domnească Vlad The Impaler, by his real name, ruled Wallachia in 15th century and built Chindia Tower inside the Royal Court

11. Târgoviște Mânăstirea Dealu Biserica Domnească Biserica Stolnicului Churches and Monasteries Mânăstirea Stelea Biserica Târgului

12. Târgoviște The Metropolitan Cathedral

13. Târgoviște Casa Vasile Blendea Muzeul de Istorie Muzeul Scriitorilor Târgovișteni Museums Muzeul de Arta Galeriile Stelea Muzeul Tiparului și al CărțiiRomâneștiVechi Muzeul Poliției Casa Atelier Petrașcu

14. Târgoviște Tony Bulandra Theatre Hotel Valahia The Town Hall Miscellaneous Dâmbovița CountyPrefecture

15. Târgoviște Coat of arms Dâmbovița coat of arms

16. You’re alwayswelcometoTârgoviște. Look howmany open doors, gatesandarches. Meanwhile Chindia Towerwillgo on watchingoureverydaylifeandthe old bellwillgo on calling for prayers. Bye ! / Pa ! 23rd August 2009 EliLuise