Tulcea County

Located in the north-eastern part of the village of Niculițel, on Muzeului street, no. 1, the monument consists of a basilica built at the end of the 4th century, during the reign of the emperors Valens and Valentinianus. At the beginning of the 5th century, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II, it underwent important changes, both horizontally and vertically. In the central area of ​​the apse, under the floor of the altar, there is a monumental martyr's crypt. Completely buried, the tiered construction of the crypt allowed the accommodation of two groups of martyrs: a group of four, in the upper part of the martyrion, and a group of two in the lower level. The skeletons of the four martyrs were in a collective coffin, in anatomical connection, highlighting a primary burial. The quality of Christian martyrs and their names: Zotikos, Attalos, Kamasi(o)s and Philippos are inscribed in the crude plaster of the crypt walls. They are known in the Martyr Acts as being martyred at Noviodunum (Isaccea), on June 4. The crypt was built for them towards the end of the 4th century. The osteological remains discovered in the lower part of the crypt come from an older martyr's tomb, dismantled during the construction of the monumental crypt. The names and age of the two martyrs remain unknown, the only mention of them being made by the inscription that blocked access to the lower area of ​​the crypt: "Here and beyond (is located) the blood of the martyrs". This place can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00. The visit fee is 10 lei/adult and 5 lei/pupil/student/pensioner. The paleo-Christian basilica in Niculițel is an unmissable attraction in this itinerary.

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.

In Ceamurlia de Sus is the Church dedicated to St. M. Mc. George". This is almost 200 years old, having been built in 1839. Local residents believe that it was founded by Zaporizhzhya Cossacks before 1855, which is why the Turkish administration gave it the first name, which in translation means new Cossacks. The name of the village is the current one and not the original one. There is a possibility that the two names circulated in parallel, as happened in the case of other localities. The place of the Cossacks was later taken by the Bulgarians, probably until 1877, then, after the population change in 1940, by the Aromanians from Quadrilater (303 families). It is worth saying that the church was recently rehabilitated.

The house where the poet Panait Cerna was born, a craftsman's house from the end of the 19th century, presents both the most important aspects of his life and work as well as an ethnographic exhibition that illustrates the specifics of the area. It's worth stopping and visiting this place too!

Located in the immediate vicinity of the Ali-Gazi-Pasa Glass, the Panaghia House is built in the architectural style of the old Babadag. The oriental art exhibition organized in Casa Panaghia presents pieces belonging to the traditional folk art of the Turks and Tatars of Dobrogea, but also pieces belonging to oriental art made in manufactures and, later, industrially. The folk art of the Turks and Tatars of Dobrogea (fabrics, embroideries, clothing, ornaments, copper vessels for everyday use and for various ceremonies) reflects its oriental origins. Certain features of this art reveal, however, interference with the art of the autochthonous population of the Balkan Peninsula and Dobrogea. The typically oriental ornamental motifs: the carnation, the cypress, the hyacinth, the pomegranate fruit, etc., complemented by the gold and silver metallic thread, are combined in chromatic and decorative compositions of great aesthetic value. It is worth stopping and visiting this place. The visit fee is 10 lei/adult and 5 lei/pupil/student/pensioner. The museum can be visited from Wednesday to Thursday, between 10:00 and 18:00.

7km from the village of Jurilovca, in the place called Cape Doloșman, there are the ruins of the ancient Argamum fortress. Founded around 670-660 BC. by the Greeks from Miletus, the settlement was first called Orgame (the Greek name). After it was conquered by the Romans, it was renamed Argamum. Together with the fortification on Bisericuta Island, they guarded the entrance to a bay of the Black Sea or the Scythian Sea, as the Greeks called it at the time.

The archaeological site of Halmyris, located 2.5 km east of the village of Murighiol, is a strong Roman and Roman-Byzantine fortress, seat of some military units and station of the Danube fleet Classis Flavia Moesica. Monuments of military, civil and religious architecture were unveiled here, among them the episcopal basilica with the crypt of the first Dobrogean martyrs: Epictetus and Astion. It is good to know that the Halmyris Fortress can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00. The site access fee is 6 lei/adult and 3 lei per pupil/student/pensioner. On your trip to this part of the county, a stop here is not to be missed!

The Medieval Citadel of Enisala is located 2 km from the town of the same name, on a limestone hill that dominates the Razim and Babadag lakes area. It was built in the second half of the 14th century, for military purposes, most likely by the Genoese merchants, owners of the Black Sea navigation monopoly. The fortress has an irregular polygonal plan, which follows the sinuosity of the terrain; the walls and bastions are preserved in some places at a height of 5-10 m. Integrated, during the reign of Mircea the Elder, into the defensive system of Wallachia, the fortress was abandoned in the context of the advance of Turkish rule north of the mouth of the Danube (end of the .XV) and as a result of the formation of the sand ridges that separate the Razim lake from the Black Sea. In addition to visiting the fortress, it is also worth coming here to enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the entire Tulcea county, especially at sunset.

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.

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.

The Gazi Ali Pasha Mosque is not the oldest in Dobrogea, but, with its special architecture, it attracts the attention of all who pass through the city of Babadag. The place of worship has a typical Ottoman style with a minaret built of stone and brick, 21 meters high. Over the centuries, the place of worship has been important to both Babadag and the surrounding towns.

Located in the center of Isaccea, Geamia (Mosque) is a historical monument built in the feudal era, probably dating from the 17th-18th centuries and restored in 1860 by Mahmud Efendi. The building includes a room, the prayer hall of the Muslim faithful. At the front entrance, inside, there is a high step where the faithful leave their shoes. Next to the building rises the minaret (25 m), with a diameter of 3.55 m. It is built of stone, brick and wood. It has been restored several times, respecting the original architecture. Even today it is going through a new restoration process. It currently serves the religious practices of the Muslim cult. In the prayer hall there is a stone slab with carved inscriptions in Arabic characters. It features a porch with wooden pillars and arches in the middle. The ground floor is separated by rows of pillars from the side and entrance galleries. The latter is separated from the rest by a low wooden railing. The galleries are storied. On the upper level, the gallery also extends above the porch. The V-shaped facade with full circle arches supported on thin wooden pillars, with a massive masonry above, the slightly high roof with wide eaves, seem to be elements of Mediterranean architecture, perhaps brought by foreign craftsmen. The date of construction is unknown. According to tradition, the window would be 300-400 years old. In 1886, being old and dilapidated, major repairs were made. In 1916, other repairs: the minaret is plastered, whitewashed and painted inside.

The architectural ensemble "Conserved in-situ Farmhouse" from Enisala represents a true identity card of the Dobrogean community. This space depicts the traditional architecture specific to Northern Dobrogea from the beginning of the 20th century. The building was purchased in 1971 by the Tulcea Eco-Museum Research Institute, restored and opened to the public. Thus, the complex includes the large house (with storeroom, kitchen and cellar) and the annexes: the small house, the summer oven, the dovecote, the samalác, the well and the sheds. The large house was built in the style specific to the area: built on a stone foundation, with clay and straw walls, covered with reeds. It has a simple structure consisting of an awning and two rooms—one of which was living space, and the other was the "good house" or "beautiful house," where family events were held and dowries were kept. These rooms are decorated with burlap and other fabrics, created by women by processing cotton, hemp and wool. To illustrate the activities of the northern Dobrogean man, carts and tools suitable for field work, pottery or fishing can be seen outside the house. It is good to know that the museum can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday, between 10:00 and 18:00. The visit fee is 6 lei/adult and 3 lei/pupil/student/pensioner. Source of information: https://muzeedelasat.ro/muzee/gospodaria-enisala/

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.

Jurilovca is a village in Tulcea county, located on the shore of the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon complex, halfway between Tulcea and Constanța. The village of Jurilovca is proud of the traditions of the Lipovian Community, who founded the locality that gives the commune its name, more than 200 years ago. Many of the houses in Jurilovca preserve traditional architecture. They are painted in white and in the already famous Lipovanci blue, which some even call "Jurilovca Blue". It is worth saying that Jurilovca was included in the top 5 tourist destinations of Romania in 2024, according to the International Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET). The Federation compiled the ranking of the hottest tourist destinations in Romania in 2024. If you arrive in Jurilovca, visit the Lipovene church, walk here in the streets of the village to admire the beautiful houses and don't forget the local port. It hosts the Lipovenesc Borscht Festival every year, one of the most important events in the entire Tulcea county.

Iacobdeal Lake is called by the locals "La fântana", an anthropogenic lake, formed in a basin resulting from the extraction of granite. It is located within the radius of the Turcoaia commune, in a former stone quarry on the Iacobdeal hill. The lake can be included in the area of ​​tourist attractions of the Măcin Mountains, due to its formation, unique in the country.

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.

Manastirea Celic-Dere, situata in partea de nord a Dobrogei, este unul dintre cele mai importante centre de spiritualitate dintre Dunare si Marea Neagra. Numele manastirii este luat de la paraul Celic-Dere (nume turcesc, in romana insemnand "paraiasul de otel", aici fiind gasite arme din trecutul indepartat). Asupra anului infiintarii Manastirii Celic-Dere exista, pe de o parte, precizarea „Marelui Dictionar Geografic al Romaniei", conform careia asezamantul a fost fondat de „arhiereul" Athanasie Lisivencof la anul 1835. Pe de alta parte, marturia arhimandritului Roman Sorescu, care fixeaza fondarea manastirii "cam la 1840" de catre calugari romani si doi calugari rusi intorsi de la Sfantul Munte Athos, arhimandritul Athanasie Lisavenco si schimonahul Paisie. Distrusa de incendiu, arhimandritul Athanasie Lisavenco (considerat ctitorul manastirii, 1800-1880 si ale carui oseminte se gasesc intr-o mica racla foarte frumos argintata, asezata pe dreapta in paraclis) si Dosotei Crihana construiesc, intre anii 1841 si 1844, o bisericuta cu chilii in forma de patrulater, pe valea paraiasului Celic-Dere, azi fiind pe acel loc o troita care arata ca aici a fost biserica. In anul 1845 manastirea de calugari Celic-Dere s-a transformat in manastire de maici (maicile au fost aduse din Basarabia), monahii fiind stramutati langa balta Saon, unde isi construiesc o bisericuta si cateva chilii - viitoarea Manastire Saon. Dupa 60 de ani, constructia s-a degradat datorita infiltratiilor si inundatiilor. Mai multe informații puteți afla aici.

The Cocos Monastery is located 6 kilometers from the Niculitel commune and approximately 35 kilometers west of the city of Tulcea. The monastery is run by a community of monks, having as patrons the Descent of the Holy Spirit (the big church) and Saint Hierarch Nicolae (the chapel). The monastery is located in a secluded place, at the foot of a hill surrounded by the scent of linden forests. Once, a long time ago, from this hill one night the song of a wild rooster was heard, accompanied by the beat of a stork. The monks say that this song is still heard today, sometimes. The first documentary attestation of a religious settlement in this place is from 1679, when we learn about the existence of a hermitage, plundered by the invasions of the time. The Cocos Monastery has existed since 1833, the founders being the monks Visarion, Gherontie and Isaia from the Neamt monastery, who passed by Mount Athos, before stopping here. They came as far as Isaccea, where they settled. They bought a piece of land and built a small church out of reeds glued to the ground, without towers and without bells, respecting the Muslim laws of that time. You can find out the whole story of this place in this article.

The Codru Monastery is located right at the entrance to the Babadag Forest, on the road from Constanța to Tulcea. It was founded on September 8, 2000, and in the period 2000-2006 the fencing of the land, a body of cells and a summer kitchen were executed.

The Saon Monastery is located at a distance of 11 kilometers towards Niculitel, from the town of Tulcea. The road, among hills with vineyards, leads to a beautiful esplanade in front of the Saon Monastery. On the left side stretches a large building, made of brick, covered with tin, which was built between 1990-1992. The building, which houses a body of cells, the abbess and a body of rooms for guests, has a very long roof, supported by strong columns. The Saon Monastery was founded under the Ottoman rule in 1846, by the departure of some monks from the Celic-Dere Monastery. Those who came to Saon erected here some adobe cells and a Chapel as a methoc of the Celic-Dere Monastery.

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.).

The new cultural space in the heart of the Danube Delta, the Ivan Patzaichin Museum – Community Innovation Center, built on the footprint of Ivan Patzaichin's parents' house, in the village of Mila 23, celebrates the successes of the great champion and provides a framework for exposing his concerns regarding the Delta, for encouraging and expressing the culture and traditions of the Lipovans from Mila 23 and for the promotion of the fragile biodiversity of the Danube Delta. Through education projects and providing a space for artistic and research residencies, the Museum will become an essential pillar in the life of the community and will contribute to the evolution of the Danube Delta and the well-being of its inhabitants, offering all protected natural areas in the country a model of an institution based on modern principles of community collaboration.

Măcin is a town located in the northwestern extremity of Tulcea county. It has a population of about 8000 inhabitants. The city of Măcin is located at the confluence of the morphological units of the Danube River with the Măcin Mountains, at an average altitude of 40 m, in the vicinity of the Old Danube to the west and the Măcin Mountains (Culmea Pricopanului) to the east and northeast. The relief of the city of Măcin consists of three main forms of relief: the Măcin Mountains, the marginal plain and the Danube Meadow. According to historical sources, the possible location of "Vicina" was in Măcin, where the first metropolitan of Wallachia (1359), Iachint de Vicina, came from. Some historians, such as Nicolae Iorga and Gheorghe I. Brătianu, affirm this toponymic hypothesis. With the conquest of Dobrogea by the Ottoman Empire, Măcin became the headquarters of an Ottoman garrison, a collection and transit center for products intended to supply Constantinople. In the city of Măcin it is worth stopping to admire the center of the town, always full of life. Among the tourist attractions we mention: the Mestan Aga Glass, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, but also the ruins of the Arrubium fortress. Use the map below to discover the city even better. And don't forget to stop by the National Tourist Information and Promotion Center in Măcin.

Sarichioi is one of the largest and most beautiful villages in the entire Tulcea county. It is a place full of history, of a special picturesqueness and charm. Sarichioi is also the "heart of the Russian-Lipovian community" in all of Romania, where the largest ethnic group from the entire country lives. Practically, of the 3000 inhabitants, 90% are from Lipovi. This brings a particularly valuable load to the village in terms of local traditions and customs. If you want an experience that you will not forget for the rest of your life, then choose to spend Easter at Sarichioi. In other words, you must include a visit to Sarichioi in your vacation from Tulcea. Take a stroll through the streets of the historic area of ​​the village, where you will be able to admire the more than a century old Lipoveni households. Also, visit the two Lipovene churches, one more beautiful than the other. And last but not least, enjoy the atmosphere of the old fishing port. If you are with children, then it is good to know that you will find a generous place to play here.

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.