Ada Kaleh, also known as the New Orșova Island Fortress, was preceded by a smaller fortress, built-in 1690. After it was occupied in 1717 by the Turks, the construction of the later castle with four bastions began. The court was supplemented by external fortifications and dungeons. During the centuries, the fort has changed ownership several times. The fortress was in Turkish hands in 1849, when some of the emigrating Hungarian freedom fighters took refugees here for a while. The island was under the rule of the Sultan until the First World War, and after the short Austro-Hungarian occupation, it became under Romanian control. During the construction of a hydroelectric power plant and dam in 1972, known as the Iron Gate, the Danube covered the island. The last inhabitants mainly were Turks, who were displaced to the surrounding towns, but many emigrated to Turkey.