The Independence Monument
The Independence Monument

The Independence Monument

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Historic buildings and places Must-see places in Tulcea

Strada Gloriei 84, Tulcea, Romania

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About

The foundation stone was laid by King Carol I himself during his visit to Tulcea on October 17-18, 1879. On the parchment placed at the base of the foundation it was written: "The year of 1879, the month of October, in seventeen days, by His Royal Highness Carol I, Lord of Romania, this foundation stone of the monument erected in the city of Tulcea, in commemorating the annexation of Dobrogea by Romania."

The execution of the monument was entrusted to the Romanian sculptor George Vasilescu. The funds necessary for the construction of the work came from the public collection, through the care of the "League for the preservation of Dobrogea" established in 1896 and led by Ioan Nenițescu and architect Grigore Tocilescu.

The monument dedicated to the reunification of Dobrogea with Romania was designed in the form of a 22m obelisk, based on a two-step plinth topped by a pedestal. The obelisk was made of Ravenna granite, on it was the coat of arms of Romania surrounded by laurels, and below it two bronze plates commemorating the event in honor of which the monument was erected, as well as the date on which it was to be inaugurated. On one side and the other of the obelisk, on some semicircular pedestals, two other impressive sculptural elements were fixed - a dorobanț with a weapon on his shoulder and a horn in his hand, a symbol of the Romanian soldiers, and on the left an eagle, the main element of the coat of arms of Romania, symbol of courage and flight to heights. Both were cast in Venice, in bronze, in Munaretti's workshop.

Due to the unexpected death of the sculptor in November 1898, the monument remained unfinished. It was continued, in the next two years, according to G. Vasilescu's plans by the sculptor Constantin Bălăcescu. Thus, in November 1899 the statue of the dorobant was brought to Tulcea and installed, and in 1900 the effigy of the eagle also arrived.

The monument was inaugurated in a festive setting, on May 2, 1904, in the presence of the royal family. The mayor of the city, N. Comișani, then addressed the distinguished guests: "A wish of Your Majesty has been fulfilled: the towering Monument of the re-annexation of Dobrogea has risen on that beautiful rock designated by Your Majesty. He will speak to posterity of the bravery of the dorobant and of the Great Captain, our glorious King".

Destroyed during the First World War by the occupation troops, the monument will be rebuilt in 1935 by the architect G.T. Ionescu, head of the city's technical service, according to the model located at the Military Museum in Bucharest at that time. Due to the lack of funds, the two sculptural elements - the dorobant and the eagle - were no longer made.

On the occasion of the preparations for the celebration of the centenary of Romania's State Independence, the works to restore the monument also begin. Through the contribution of the people of Tulcea and the sculptor Cristea Grosu, the monument was created in its initial form and inaugurated on May 9, 1977.

HINT: Visit this place at sunrise, if you are early bird, or at sunset, to enjoy an impressive view of the city. Give yourself some quiet moments here to really connect with the atmosphere of a city steeped in history.

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