Eșelnița in the Danube Gorge: Nature, Culture and History

Nature

Eșelnița is located in the Danube Gorge between Moldova Veche and Gura Văii.

The Cazanele Nature Reserve is part of the Porțile de Fier Nature Park. Forests cover 86 % of the administrative area of Eșelnița. Eșelnița is a landmark in the Cazanele Nature Reserve.

The Centre for Monitoring Habitats and Species in Eșelnița supports environmental education programmes for tourists in the Porțile de Fier Nature Park.

Culture

The bust of Decebalus Rex is carved into a limestone block weighing several dozen tonnes at the entrance to Mraconia Bay and is 40 metres high and 25 metres wide.

The landing stage in Mraconia Bay, where the Decebalus Rex sculpture is located, can only be reached by boat. The present-day church of Eșelnița was built in 1972–1973 in the Viennese Baroque style, using reused materials from the demolished former church.

The Tabula Traiana is a monument carved into the rock on the right bank of the Danube and is visible from the Romanian bank of the Danube near river kilometre 17. It was erected by the Romans to commemorate the obstacles encountered by the Roman army when crossing the Danube in 101 AD.

The Doina and Teodor Grigore Ethnographic Museum houses more than 1,000 items of traditional clothing from all regions of the country. It also displays furniture, depictions of traditional activities, ceramics, icons and photographs from Eșelnița, Dubova and Ogradena.

The Parish Museum of Eșelnița preserves cultural treasures from the villages and churches along the Danube Gorge. These include items from the places of Tișovița, Plavișevița and Ogradena, which were swallowed by the floods, as well as from the relocated places of Dubova and Eșelnița, which were moved as part of the Porțile de Fier system.

An icon from the church of Ogradena has been dated to the first half of the 18th century; the Parish Museum also preserves the royal doors and a lamp from the old Mraconia Monastery.

Water and Routes

The present-day settlement of Eșelnița was built in 1967–1970 after the old settlement site was submerged beneath the waters of the Porțile de Fier I reservoir.

Eșelnița can be reached via the DN57 on the Drobeta Turnu Severin–Orșova–Dubova route.

In the vicinity of Eșelnița, Mraconia Monastery is visible from the water and can be reached via the DN57 national road. It is located between Orșova and Moldova Nouă, at the mouth of the Mraconia River on the Danube, and was built on the site of a former observation and guidance point for shipping on the Danube.

In the vicinity of Eșelnița, the walls of the old Mracunea Monastery become visible when the water level of the Danube and the bay in the Mracunea Valley falls. Danube boat trips are organised daily on request from the KM 13 landing stage in Eșelnița.

History and Views

Dealul Bisericii can be reached via an unpaved path that climbs up on the left beside the old cemetery; at the first junction, turn right and continue towards Eșelnița Bay.

Dealul Bisericii offers a view of the exit of the Danube Gorge.

Dealul Bisericii and the old cemetery preserve the remaining traces of Eșelnița’s old settlement site from the period before 1966, before the Porțile de Fier I reservoir was created.

Activities

At the Eșelnița Adventure Park, visitors can complete high ropes courses while wearing a climbing harness secured with ropes.

More destinations: Baia de Aramă, Orșova, Gura Văii, Godeanu, Floreşti, Corcova, Dubova, Şimian

To the higher-level travel overview: Mehedinti.