World War One Sites - The NETWORLD Database

Heroes Mausoleum in Soveja, Vrancea County, Romania

The monument is dedicated to the heroes fallen in the fierce battles of the Susita Valley and is the testimony of the suffering of the entire community occupied by the German armies. The construction of the mausoleum took place between 1922 and 1927.

Both sober and majestic, the Mausoleum of Soveja is shaped as a cross with rounded apsides; access to the main entrance is made via stone steps with a wide opening that optically magnifies the monumental and massive character of the building. The monument expands in the form of four consecutive terraces, starting from a semi-circular platform in the centre of which is placed an ornamental pot of ceramic of cyclopean dimensions. On both sides of the first row of stairs are placed - each on its socket - two cannons used in the battles of the First World War. The mausoleum's enclosure is surrounded by a river stone fence.

The Mausoleum shelters the remains of 528 Romanian, Russian, German and Hungarian heroes (inside, the marble plaques are inscribed with the names of the identified heroes). The ossuary houses 1,600 bones forming a parallelepiped, at its centre, giving it an impressive appearance.

Romania, South-East Region, Vrancea County

Type of WWI-heritage

  • War monument

Dimensions

area: 550 sqm

State of repair/preservation

No information available

Historical WWI Context

 The Mausoleum was built in memory of the heroes fallen in the bloody battles of Susita Valley and is the testimony of the suffering of the entire community occupied by the German armies in the First World War. In the summer of 1917, Soveja was on one side of the "Triangle of Fire" - Marasti, Marasesti, and Oituz - one of the most difficult battles of the War of Reunification. http://www.muzeulvrancei.ro/mausolee/mausoleul-soveja/

A history of Romania's participation in World War I can be found on the following website: http://www.marelerazboi.ro/ (in Romanian only)

State of legal protection

This is an objective included in the List of Historic Monuments, classified as historical monuments type A (VN-IV-m-A-06619), according to the Order of the Minister of Culture no. 2.828/2015

Owner

Dragosloveni Commune Mayor’s Office

Opening

The monument can be visited throughout the entire year between 9.00 and 17.00.

Entrance Fee

adults: 4 RON, group: 2 RON, children: 2 RON (Source: information obtained directly from the owner via telephone, in November 2017)

Information regarding cities, villages, other touristic attractions (non-WWI) nearby

Public Transport

There are four daily minibus journeys a day between Soveja and Focsani, and one journey a day between Soveja and Panciu. (http://www.autogari.ro/Soveja/Plecari)

Location

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