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The Iron Gates of Romania is the most spectacular area along the mighty Danube river, the second largest of Europe. From the village of Baziaș to the city of Orșova, the landscape and scenery is breathtaking. Here the mighty river bends almost 90 degrees and enters Romania from Serbia after passing through or bordering six European countries and four national capitals. The lush horseshoe Kalinovac Island, not far downstream from gulf of Baziaș, is just a glimpse of the majestic scenery that lays ahead, just as the 13th century Saint Sava Serbian monastery introduces the traveler early on to the remarkable history of the Iron Gates that stretches over many millennia, as the Iron Gates is arguably the cradle of the first European civilization called Old Europe!
From the blue lagoons of Divici and Șușca,
to the wetlands of Pojejena, the spectacle of nature in all its glory reaches
a climax at the Island of Decebalus, the amazing wetland universe extends tens of square kilometers, a natural sanctuary teeming with life, a oasis of biodiversity, a secret paradise ready to be discovered!
The Island of Decebalus is also the home of more than 100 wild horses who live here completely isolated from the rest of the world. The imposing neolithic earth mound, one of the largest of Europe, know as the ‘Tomb of Attila is one of the main attractions of the island. The island has been for century the magic land of the Serbian community from Stara Moldava... A wonderful community with great customs and holidays, the celebration of Christmas Eve in the old traditional way being the most important one.
The Great Fair in Coronini opens the summer season along the Iron Gates of Romania. It’s a festival held in May, with thousands of visitors participating every year from across the region, followed up by Goulash Fest in the idyllic village of Saint Helen, an event where the local Czech culinary arts are masterfully integrated with the specific ethnic summer celebrations. The Coronini - Saint Helen windmill park is one of the main touristic attractions of Coronini, its vast network of gravel roads connecting more than 20 wind turbines that facilitates easy access to some of the most breathtaking sightseeing places in the entire Iron Gates area.
The Fortress of St. Ladislaw, also in Coronini, the location of a massive restauration project, will become the most important historical landmarks on the northern shore of Danube. The Fly Cave just downstream from St. Ladislaw Fortress is a place of legends, mythological heros and multi-headed dragons and mysterious nasty creature. It’s also a place full of history that attracts thousands of visitors each year!
Our rendez-vous with ancient history and amazing legends continues at Sichevița, our next destination along the Danube but just before Sichevița, we come in contact with the profound spirituality of these wonderful places at the Gornea Monastery and get touched by the tranquility of these amazing places of worship, symbols of Orthodox Christianity along the Danube, by the rural lifestyle and it’s elements brought to light so vividly at the local museum of Sichevița.
As we continue further east along the northern shore of the Danube, we get to Berzasca, the land of the over-the-water bungalows and of the now famous Balkan Fest. From there we continue up on the mysterious Sirinia Valley, a place where the legend has it that the mighty Hercules passed through leaving his footprints in the purple colored rock of Sirinia gorges, tracking down the monstrous, fire-breathing chimera. In Svinița, we come across one of the most majestic peaks of entire western Romania - Trescovaț, a 755m tall volcanic neck or volcanic plug that’s considered the Mount Olympus of the Iron Gates. It has been worshiped as sacred mountain for millenia by the inhabitants of Lepenski Vir, the oldest organized settlement in Europe, just across from Trescovat in present-day Serbia!
Our visual story contines to the most spectacular area along the Danube - the mighty Danube Cauldrons and Gulf of Mraconia. Through the passage known as Big Cauldrons, the Danube reachs its narrowest point of only 200m across and depths of over 100m.
Out of the Big Cauldrons the river spills into Gulf of Dubova just to enter the second massive gorge - the Little Cauldrons and then forms the second extension of the area - the Gulf of Mraconia guarded at the entrance by the famous Head of King Decebalus, the tallest rock sculpture in Europe, standing tall like an immortal sentry guarding the Iron Gates, it’s an everlasting testimony for the history and spirituality of this marvellous land, transcending the ages!