SilistraArticle Free Pass Silistra, town, extreme northeastern
Bulgaria, on the Danube River opposite Romania. To the south and
southeast are the remains of the old fortifications. The Romans
founded a fortified camp at Durostorum in the early 2nd century
ad. The medieval town that sprang from it, known as Drastar,
stood against both Russian and Byzantine invasions. The Turks
gained possession of the town in the early 15th century, and it
became a trade centre and a major Turkish fortress. It was
fought over several times in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) and
passed to Bulgaria in 1878. After the Second Balkan War (1913)
it became part of Romania, reverting to Bulgaria in 1940. The
present town is modern, with industries that produce textiles,
furniture, brick, and tile, as well as matting, packaging
materials, and boards from rushes. Its river port has a large
grain traffic, and the town has a rail link to the Ruse-Varna
line. Silistra lies in a fertile agricultural region that is
especially noted for lives