Islaz: History, Nature and Via Danubiana

Two protected historical monuments stand in the center of Islaz: the monument commemorating the Adunarea de la Islaz, dated 1969, and the Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs, Biserica Sf. Trei Ierarhi, dated 1848.

The Adunarea de la Islaz marked the first major moment of the 1848 Revolution on 9/21 June 1848.

On 9/21 June 1848, Ion Heliade Rădulescu read the Proclamation of Islaz in Islaz.

Culture

Casa Toma Ghigeanu is a protected historical building at Strada Dunării 4 on the outskirts of Islaz towards the Danube and dates from the late 19th century.

Casa Dumitru Găvănescu, also a protected historical building, is located in the south of Islaz and dates from the mid-19th century.

The Castrul de la Islaz-Racoviţa is an archaeological site from the Roman era below the old cemetery in the northeast of Islaz; it dates from the 2nd to 3rd century AD.

The Castrul roman de la Islaz-Verdea lies south-southeast of Islaz on a terrace along the Danube.

The Gheorghe-Zărafu Museum is an informal museum set up in three barns in an apple orchard.

Its collection includes, among other things, kerosene and wick lamps, spinning wheels, distaffs, benches, clocks, lanterns and radios.

It also displays two carriages, records by Romanian artists and editions of the magazine Femeia from the 1970s.

The Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs displays the epaulettes of Staff Sergeant Lieutenant Florea Blejan.

At the entrance to the church, a bronze wreath dedicated by Queen Elisabeth of Romania can be seen.

The historical record of Islaz ranges from the Roman era and the events of 1848 to 19th-century buildings and the monument from 1969. As a result, the archaeological site, revolutionary history, sacred furnishings and historical everyday objects emerge in different forms.

Nature

The Olt flows into the Danube near Islaz.

In the vicinity of Islaz, Calnovăț Island is part of the protected natural area B10 – Ostrovul Mare, a nature reserve for flora and fauna.

In the immediate vicinity of Islaz, colonies of pygmy cormorants, squacco herons and ruddy shelducks gather on Calnovăț Island and the Danube islands.

The confluence of the Olt and Danube provides the geographical reference for the Danube islands described and the nearby protected area. The information on Calnovăț and the bird colonies refers to the immediate vicinity of Islaz.

Getting Around

A Via Danubiana trail marker has been installed in front of the Islaz town hall; initial route signs and information boards have also been placed along the route.

The approximately 110-kilometre section of the Via Danubiana in Teleorman County can be covered on foot or by bicycle using a GPS track as well as signposts and trail markings.

Other places: Suhaia, Fântânele, Bogdana, Alexandria, Stefan-Cel-Mare, Turnu Măgurele, Baciu, Zimnicea.

To the higher-level travel overview: Teleorman.