The castra of Bumbești-Jiu now known as Vârtop was a fort in the Roman province of Dacia. It is located 35 m west of the Târgu Jiu - Petroșani road, in Bumbești-Jiu (Romania). It defended and secured the entrance to the Jiului gorge and the Roman road from Bumbești through Porceni over the mountains, through the Vâlcan Pass to Sarmisegetuza.
The fort was built between the two Dacian Wars (101-102 and 105–106). Traces of a vicus (civilian settlement) were found nearby.
The earth and wood fort measures 126 m × 115 m. It was surrounded by an earth mound 14 m wide and 0.5–2 m high, a ditch 0.5 m deep and 11 m wide.
It seems that this fort ceased to be used as soon as the Castra of Bumbești-Jiu - Gară was built 800 m to the south.
See also List of castra
External links Roman castra from Romania - Google Maps / Earth Castrele romane de la Bumbești Jiu, cea mai simplă soluție pentru dezvoltarea orașului
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