Halmyris Fortress

The Transdanubian Sicia from Dunavațu de Sus was, in the 19th century, on Ottoman territory, the Transdanubian Cossacks being subject to the High Gate. In this capacity, they did not pay taxes or other additional debts, but were obliged to give military aid to the Turks in case of war. The main occupation of the Cossacks was, in fact, the defense of the Ottoman borders against the Russian Empire, the relations between the two states being always tense. Their leader was the ataman-cosovei. When Sicia was moved to Dunavaț, the Kosovar was Samiilo Kalnebolotki (1809 – circa 1814). After the move, Kalnebolotski gave way to Leah, most likely a Polish peasant. After Leah, the Kosovar was Litvin, a very pious man, who, on the advice of the priest of Sicia, a certain Luchian, became a monk at the Mirnopoian monastery, where he died. At the same time as Litvin, there was also Olexa Riasnei, who was dismissed from his position and punished by whipping, after a scandal in one of the siciya's districts. Today there is nothing to visit that speaks of the presence of the Cossacks in Dunăvăț, but it is worth imagining that they occupied this part of Tulcea a few centuries ago.

Coming by car from the Sarinasuf - Iazurile - Valea Nucarilor direction, you will have the Agighiolului Hills in front of you. They impress with their height, as if not specific to this area with lakes, ponds and lots of reeds. "Site ROSCI0060 Dealurile Agighiolului" is part of the Natura 2000 network and protects habitats and species on an area of ​​almost 1500 ha, north of Razelm lake. It is worth saying that a treasure of a Thracian prince was also found on these hills. But it is best to learn its story by enjoying a walk in these hills. Follow the signs and signs on the "Treasures from Agighiol" trail, the first thematic trail set up for the Dobrogea Chimerica Geopark. The path was created in a partnership between the associations "Mai mult Verde" and "GeoD for the promotion of geodiversity", with the support of Valea Nucarilor City Hall.

The village of Murighiol was founded on the ruins of the ancient fortress of Halmyris. However, there is also the theory that before Halmyris, just 3-4 km east of the city, there was another city called Salmorus, and the entire territory belonged to the province of Scythia. The name Salmorus seems to come, rightly, from the three existing salt lakes at Murighiol - Lake Sărătura I, II and III. These are lakes producing sapropelic black mud, used in alternative therapy and prophylaxis of several diseases. Also, Sărătura I lake is recommended for therapeutic baths, because its water has a mineralization of 6.7 grams/liter. At the same time, Lake Sărătura III was declared a natural reserve protected for biological interest, so it cannot be exploited even for medical purposes.

If you want to take a few steps, then we recommend a short stop on Mahmudia Promenade. This has recently been rehabilitated and renovated, making it a good place for a promenade.

Beştepe means Five Hills in Turkish. Today it is a beautiful Tulcean commune. The name was given by ethnic Muslims hundreds of years ago and has survived over time. It was also called the Turkish Beştepeau, in order not to be confused with the Moldavian one, as Mahmudia (the neighboring locality) was called in the past. The five hills guard the settlement imposingly... It is a land full of history and beautiful stories. The legend of the place says that the powerful Sultan Mahmud II (1808-1839) once passed by the village on his way to Tulcea. The master of the Ottoman Empire was impressed by these places and decided to build a strong fortress on the highest of the hills (n.r. maximum altitude 242 m), from where the entire area could be easily guarded. The fortification was immediately erected and for many years, from here, the Ottomans closely controlled the region. The story is a beautiful one, but no one has ever given a trace of the fortress from the legend. At Beştepe, however, there are many fortifications and what is interesting, they are much older than the one in the story of Sultan Mahmud. 1 kilometer North-East of the village, in the area of ​​Piatra lui Boboc, there are the ruins of a Getic temple dated more than 2300 years ago. Near Beştepe or even in the hearth of the village there are vestiges and settlements from the time of the Geti ancestors, from the time of the Romans or from the Roman-Byzantine era. No one has yet found a trace of Mahmud's fortress, but no legend appears without its grain of truth. Who knows, maybe she's hiding under the green hills, waiting for the right moment to tell her whole story...

Abandoned and left in disrepair, but still impressive, the German Church in Malcoci, located on a street corner, right next to the county road from Tulcea to Mahmudia, welcomes you, sad, as if asking for your help to be saved. You can't help but notice the steeply rising tower, and curiosity urges you to pull to the right, to see more closely the magnificent building in ruins, which tells you its sad story. Malcoci was the first German village founded by the settlers who arrived in Dobrogea in 1843, when the region was under Ottoman rule. The Germans who settled in Dobrogea came from the south of Russia, where Catherine II invited them to emigrate, as early as 1763, to work the land in Russia. Since they did not enjoy the privileges promised by the tsarist leadership, the ethnic Germans emigrated again and reached southern Dobrogea, where they established colonies in numerous localities.

Unique in our country, Gura Portitei is the place where the Black Sea meets the Danube Delta to create a wonderful natural spectacle and an opportunity for relaxation and fascination for each of us. Located on the tongue of sand that separates the two worlds, the Holiday Village "Gura Portitei" is the place where you can admire both the flora and fauna specific to the delta, and that of the sea, at a walking distance from each other. The name of the village comes from the initial communication between the Golovita lake and the Black Sea, suggesting from the very beginning the symbiosis between the two worlds. Discovered in the year 1736, this corner of Authton paradise was initially a fishing village, following that in 1998 the development works began, to create here the ideal place for the perfect stay. Today Gura Portitei preserves its natural beauty, while the accommodation options and available facilities are in a process of continuous improvement, so that tourists can always find here an oasis of peace and relaxation. RECOMMENDATION: The transfer is made by boat from Jurilovca Port and takes 20-30 minutes. If you are a larger group and have a boat just for you, you can propose to the boatmen to offer you a short ride. Either to the base of Cape Dolosman, or to the pelican colony from Ceaplace (the largest in the southern sector of the reserve), or both, depending on the time allocated.

Northern Dobrogea is the territory of Romania where the oldest mountains in Europe, the Măcin Mountains, meet the youngest land, the Danube Delta. These low mountains, which only reach 467 meters at the top of Țuțuiatu, are one of the most beautiful natural tourist attractions for tourists who choose Tulcea county. What it lacks in altitude is compensated by numerous routes of scenic beauty and a number of unique tourist attractions in the country. For example, did you know that in Măcin, on Culmea Pricopanului, there is a sphinx at least as expressive and spectacular as the one on the plateau of the Bucegi Massif? To avoid potential situations of confusion among hiking enthusiasts, the Administration of the Măcinului Mountains National Park informs you about the meaning of the markings you may encounter when visiting the Măcinului Mountains National Park (you can find them presented in the gallery below). RECOMMENDATION: Before traveling the desired route, we recommend that you visit the Greci Information Center. We assure you it will be worth it! Find all the coordinates on this page (contact details, schedule, etc.).