Discover Tulucești: Nature, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage

Tulucești combines Roman history with the forest landscape of Pădurea Gârboavele, protected natural areas, animal populations, horse breeding and traditional cultural forms. A notable historical testimony is Valul lui Traian, a Roman earthwork defensive system dating from the 2nd to 3rd century AD. The history of the area thus extends from Roman fortification to living traditions of the present day.

Nature and Forest Landscape

Pădurea Gârboavele covers 399.7 hectares and lies within the territory of Tulucești commune. Within this forest landscape is a 230-hectare protected area. It is designated as a nature reserve of national interest and as a natural monument. In addition, Pădurea Gârboavele is listed as the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0151. 4% of the territory of Tulucești commune in Galați County lies within this Natura 2000 site.

For a spatial assessment, both the total size of the forest and the clearly delineated protected area are therefore relevant. The Natura 2000 status adds another legal designation to this information, while the stated share of the commune establishes the connection with the territory of Tulucești.

Adventure Park and Zoo

The adventure park in the Pădurea Gârboavele forest has 15 adventure courses of varying difficulty levels and two zip lines. The courses thus provide a graduated offering within the same forest landscape, while the two zip lines are an additional distinct feature.

The Galați Zoo is also located in Pădurea Gârboavele forest, 17 kilometres northwest of the city of Galați. Its total area was expanded from 7 to 14 hectares as part of the modernization. The zoo houses a diverse collection of mammals and birds from Europe, Asia and Africa. The animals are kept in designated areas, meaning that, in addition to its forest setting, the origin of the species and their spatial arrangement are also part of the zoo’s described character.

Horse Breeding in Tulucești

The Tulucești stud farm was established in 1999 with the aim of breeding purebred horses for sport and leisure. Since 1999, the stud farm has specialized in breeding Gidran horses. The year of establishment and the specialization therefore fall within the same year, but refer to the original breeding purpose and the horse breed mentioned subsequently.

Culture and Tradition

The “Pomul de Sfântul Ilie” tradition from Tulucești was entered into Romania’s National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 3 September 2025. The ritual, unique in Romania, is performed annually in the communities around Lake Brateș on 20 July, Saint Ilie’s Day, as a ceremony commemorating the deceased. The register entry and the annual ceremony thus combine documented cultural recognition with a recurring date and the specified area around the lake.

In Tulucești, a Roman earthwork defensive system, a forest with several protection and designation details, an adventure park, the Galați Zoo, Gidran breeding and the “Pomul de Sfântul Ilie” ritual therefore exist side by side. The area’s features thus range from landscape and wildlife to horse breeding, archaeology and intangible cultural heritage.

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