The Secret tunnels of Braila

The fortress of Braila dates since 1538, during which Suleiman the Magnificent on a mission to punish Petru Rares of Moldavia, conquer Braila, the most important port of Wallachia.

After being conquered, Braila was one of the most important areas of Ottoman rule.                                 

The Turks built a strong fortress here with no less than five defensive walls.

Located at Braila Museum the layout of the old fortress  was made after the Austrian reproduction inspired by secret information acquired from a spy sent from Vienna.

From 1538 the year in which the fortress of Braila was conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent and until 1828, It had a very important commercial role, becoming as the richest city in Wallahia.

The existence of underground tunnels  was hidden to the civilians in the years of Ottoman domination, the cellars  being considered at that time a military secret.

In 1814 it was a big underground explosion because a part of galleries were used as a store for war munition.

Many lovers of misters and artifacts hunters believe that a treasure is  hidden in the walls of the tunnels. They still believe that the galleries are hiding huge riches dating from the Ottoman Empire.

In the basement of the fortress they were built networks of secret tunnels on three levels, to a depth of 10 meters, large tunnels, through which they could easily move drays for transporting supplies, weapons and ammunition but used also for relocating soldiers.

Braila garnison managed to withstand  attacks by armies ten times more numerous than fortress defenders.

In 1828 after the fall of the fortress, Russians decided demolition of the fortress.

Alerted by residents whose houses began to crumble, communist authorities have ordered a comprehensive study of the Geology Institute of the Academy after which it was discovered the underground network. Tunnels have been blocked immediately, but only some portions were saved.

Temperature and humidity are constants in the cellars, differ from winter to summer, being only 4-5 Celsius degrees, which is why most are used as cellars.

After centuries and due to groundwater damages, the tunnels began to succumb to the early of twenty century.

According to the stories from that period, the  galleries network was so tall that people riding a horse could cross through, even crossing the Danube.

Local authorities have in project the restoration of these cellars the only remaining elements of the ancient city of Braila, and incorporating them into a tourist circuit.

A challenge for Braila meeting!

Can we guess where we can find the underground tunnels?