Hârșova (also spelledHîrșova;Romanian pronunciation:[ˈhɨrʃova];Turkish:Hırsova;Bulgarian:Хърсово,Harsovo) is a town located on the right bank of theDanube, inConstanța County,Northern Dobruja,Romania.

Hârșova
Town
Coat of arms
Location in Constanța County
Hârșova Location in Romania
Coordinates:44°41′0″N27°57′7″E / 44.68333°N 27.95194°E /44.68333; 27.95194
Country	Romania
County	Constanța
Subdivisions	Vadu Oii
Government
• Mayor(2020–2024)	Viorel Ionescu[1] (PNL)
Area	109.02 km2 (42.09 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2021-12-01)[2]	8,737
• Density	80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone	EET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code	905400
Area code	(+40) 02 41
Vehicle reg.	CT
Website	www.primaria-harsova.ro

The village of Vadu Oii is administered by the town. The village is linked withGiurgeni commune over the Danube via theGiurgeni-Vadu Oii Bridge.

The relationship between the current name of Hârșova and the ancient name of the city,Carsium has long been a matter of debate among historians and linguists.^[3] According toIorgu Iordan the ancient name may have been kept under the influence of the Slavic wordКруш, cliff, rock.^[3]

The current name may also derive from the ancientSlavic godHârs (Хърс) andSlavicsuffix "-ova" and it is still under debate whether it is in any way linked with the ancient name, or perhaps a commonproto-indo-european root related to "ecstasy"/"desire", ultimately also related to thevedicrta andavestanarta.^[4]

In ancient times, a Roman settlement grew up on the site of the current town namedCarsium around the Roman fort of the same name whose remains are still visible on the bank of the Danube. It was initially inMoesia and later inScythia Minor province.

In 1570 (Hijri 977) the castle town had 69 guards, 71 Muslim households and 84 Christian households and it was a "has" of Mehmet Bey, themirliva of Silistra.^[5]

TheStorming of Hirsovo took place in 1773.

In 1853,The Times of London reported that "Hirsova"

is defended by a fortified castle, and has agarrison of about 2,000 men. This place was taken by theRussians in 1809 and 1828. Though small, it is of considerable importance from its position on the very spot where theBerchicha returns to the Danube. . . . It is in many parts inundated, but has goodpasturage for the excellent horses which constitute the sole wealth of theTartars who inhabit it.^[6]

At the2021 census, Hârșova had a population of 8,737; of those, 6,169 wereRomanians (70.61%), 6Hungarians (0.07%), 499Roma (5.71%), 510Turks (5.84%), 10Lipovans (0.11%), 102 others (1.17%), and 1,435 with undeclared ethnicity (16.42%).^[7]

At the2011 census, the town had 9,642 residents; of those, 7,476 were Romanians (84.47%), 6 Hungarians (0.07%), 490 Roma (5.54%), 829 Turks (9.37%), 9Tatars (0.10%), 27 Lipovans (0.31%), 4 others (0.05%), and 9 with undeclared ethnicity (0.10%).

• Ionel Averian (born 1976), sprint canoer
• Vasilică Cristocea (born 1980), footballer

•  
  Ruins of Carsium
•  
  Ruins of Carsium
•  
  Lipovan Church
•  
  Residential buildings in Hârșova
•  
  Houses burned down by Bulgarian troops in 1916, during theRomanian Campaign of World War I

• Carsium (castra)
• Capidava

• Numele CarsiumArchived 2010-03-11 at theWayback Machine laProiectul LTDM al lui Sorin Olteanu (SOLTDM.COM)Archived 2007-11-13 at theWayback Machine