Eșelnița on the Danube Gorge: Nature, History and Water

Eșelnița is located in the Danube Gorge between Moldova Veche and Gura Văii. The Cazane Nature Reserve is part of the Iron Gates Natural Park; forests cover 86% of the administrative area of Eșelnița. As a landmark in the Cazane Nature Reserve, the town therefore combines a clearly identifiable location with a largely forested surrounding area.

Nature and Trails

The Centre for Monitoring Habitats and Species in Eșelnița supports environmental education programmes for tourists in the Iron Gates Natural Park. Dealul Bisericii can be reached via an unpaved path that leads uphill on the left side of the old cemetery. At the first crossroads, turn right and walk towards Eșelnița Bay. Dealul Bisericii offers a view of the exit of the Danube Gorge. Together with the old cemetery, it preserves the remaining traces of Eșelnița’s old settlement site from before 1966, before the Iron Gates I Reservoir was created. Directions, views and settlement history each provide a different focus for planning your visit.

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

The Danube and Local History

Eșelnița can be reached via DN57 on the Drobeta Turnu Severin–Orșova–Dubova route. The present-day settlement was built between 1967 and 1970 after the old settlement site was submerged beneath the waters of the Iron Gates I Reservoir. Danube cruises are organised daily on request from the KM 13 landing stage in Eșelnița.

In the area around Eșelnița, Mraconia Monastery is visible from the water and can be reached via national road DN57. It is located between Orșova and Moldova Nouă, at the mouth of the Mraconia River where it flows into the Danube, and was built on the site of a former observation and navigation-control point for shipping on the Danube. The walls of the old Mracunea Monastery become visible when the water level of the Danube and the bay in the Mracunea Valley falls.

Culture and Historical Heritage

At the entrance to Mraconia Bay, the bust of Decebalus Rex is carved into a limestone block weighing several dozen tonnes. The bust 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 reclaimed 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 AD 101.

The Doina and Teodor Grigore Ethnographic Museum houses more than 1,000 pieces 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 artefacts from the villages and churches along the Danube Gorge, including those from the flood-submerged settlements of Tișovița, Plavișevița and Ogradena, as well as from the settlements of Dubova and Eșelnița, which were relocated as part of the Iron Gates system.

The parish museum’s collection includes an icon from the church of Ogradena dating from the first half of the 18th century. The museum also preserves the royal doors and a lamp from the old Mraconia Monastery.

More Destinations

Further destinations to consider when planning your trip include Şimian, Floreşti, Baia de Aramă, Godeanu, Corcova, Gura Văii, Dubova and Orșova.

For the higher-level travel overview: Mehedinti.