Kostol: Trajan’s Bridge and Pontes Fortress

Kostol brings together several distinct travel interests: the remains of Trajan’s Bridge, the history of Pontes Fortress and the “Trajan’s Loop” cycling route. The bridge and fortress offer a glimpse into history; the circular route focuses on cycling between Kladovo, Kostol and Trajan’s Bridge. When planning your trip, you can decide whether historical traces or a bike ride will be its central theme.

Trajan’s Bridge near Kostol

A section of the landward supporting pier of Trajan’s Bridge remains at Kostol. It is five metres high and 3.5 metres wide. The bridge remains lie five kilometres downstream from Kladovo, near Kostol. The measurements describe the surviving pier, while the distance puts the bridge remains in relation to Kladovo. Together, they provide two different points of reference: the size of a specific structural element and its geographic location.

Trajan’s Bridge was built between 103 and 105 AD, to a design by the Syrian architect Apollodorus of Damascus. The construction period and attribution of the design add the history of the overall structure to the surviving pier. The dates refer to the bridge’s construction; the measurements apply to the landward pier.

Pontes Fortress and traces of its history

Pontes Fortress was built to protect Trajan’s Bridge and control navigation on the Danube. Its ground plan was approximately square, and the complex was marked by strong defensive walls and entrance gates. The ground plan, walls and gates describe the structure’s physical form, while the protection of the bridge and control of navigation explain the fortress’s function. Pontes thus brings together architectural features and the site’s role in relation to the bridge and the Danube.

In 1979, a statue of the god Jupiter was found at the archaeological site of Pontes, near the present-day village of Kostol by Kladovo. A medieval settlement was established at the site of the fortress in the 10th century. It comprised 30 residential buildings within the ancient Pontes Fortress and on the northern slope down to the Danube. The dates refer to different events: 1979 is the year the statue was found, while the 10th century marks the establishment of the settlement. The number 30 refers to the settlement’s residential buildings.

Plan your visit to Kostol by bike

The “Trajan’s Loop” cycling route offers another perspective. It runs from Kladovo through Kostol to Trajan’s Bridge and back to Kladovo. Along one section of the return journey, the route follows the banks of the Danube. This riverside stretch applies to part of the return journey, not the route as a whole. Kostol and the bridge can therefore be seen as stops on the same named circular route. Conditions along the route may vary, so check the latest route information before setting out.

If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip to Kostol, first decide which focus will shape your plans: architectural history, archaeological traces of the past or cycling. Then check whether the location of a specific offer suits your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Donji Milanovac, Golubinje, Mala Vrbica, Grabovica, Negotin, Bor District, Zlot, Kladusnica

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