Cuza Vodă: Nature, History and Holiday Apartments

Lake Iezer in Cuza Vodă is of natural origin. Its landscape and the historical evidence of the settlement range from an internationally protected wetland to church architecture, commemorative culture and a settlement history that began in the 19th century.

Nature

The Iezerul Călărași protected area is a lowland wetland. Its landscape includes open water surfaces, flowing waters, lakes, swamps, reed beds, meadows and agricultural land. These habitats provide migratory and passage birds with conditions for breeding, feeding and staying. The birds found there also include rare and legally protected species.

The various landscape elements stand alongside one another: water, reeds, meadows and cultivated areas together form part of the described wetland. Iezerul Călărași therefore does not appear as a single body of water, but as a spatially diverse habitat for different bird populations.

Since July 2012, the Iezerul Călărași nature reserve has been protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. The Natura 2000 site ROSPA0051 Iezerul Călărași is a special protection area for birds. It is located within the administrative territory of the commune of Cuza Vodă, accounting for 21 percent, the city of Călărași, accounting for 15 percent, and the commune of Grădiștea, accounting for 2 percent. A cycle tourism route runs in the immediate vicinity of this Natura 2000 site.

History and Culture

The memorial plaque “Monumentul eroilor căzuţi în Al Doilea Război Mondial” commemorates 128 fallen soldiers of the 1944–1945 war. The monument consists of a white marble slab on a four-step pedestal and is decorated along its edges with botanical and floral motifs.

The “Biserica Sf. Ioan Botezătorul” church in Cuza Vodă was built between 1907 and 1914. Its interior painting was completed in 1912. The Dridu settlement is located on the northern edge of the former Lake Călărași, opposite the village of Ceacu and 400 metres east of Furt Valea Plopului.

The historical information thus ranges from the remembrance of the war through the church’s construction and painting period to a settlement on the former lakeshore. The precise location of the Dridu settlement also points to the former landscape of Lake Călărași and its connection to Ceacu and Furt Valea Plopului.

The village of Cuza Vodă was established through the granting of land to peasants, which began in 1899. For the village of Cuza Vodă, the folk theatre play “Jienii” is listed for the winter holidays; its main character is Iancu Jianu.

Annual Calendar

The “Zilele Comunei Cuza Vodă” takes place every year in summer. The event title bears the name of the commune and stands alongside the winter performances of the folk theatre play “Jienii”.

Over the course of the year, a summer date for the commune days and a theatre performance listed for the winter holidays thus stand alongside one another. Both details belong to the local events culture, but differ in terms of their season and format.

Transport Connections

The DN3 national road runs through the commune of Cuza Vodă and connects Călărași with Bucharest. The DJ306 county road branches off near Ceacu and connects the commune of Cuza Vodă northwards with Dragoș Vodă. In Dragoș Vodă, the DJ306 joins the DN3A.

The road connections place Cuza Vodă between Călărași, Bucharest, Ceacu and Dragoș Vodă. The DN3 provides the connection from Călărași to Bucharest, while the DJ306 describes the northern route via Dragoș Vodă to its junction with the DN3A.

Further Destinations

You can find more places in this selection here: Frăsinetu de Jos, Olteniţa, Belciugatele, Călăraşi, Ciocănești, Budesti.

To the higher-level travel overview: Călăraşi.