Şimian: Island History on the Danube

Island History and Culture

On Şimian Island, the Ada-Kaleh architectural complex includes a bastion fortress and an 18th-century Turkish cemetery. In 1968, several stone tombstones and burial chambers were moved from Ada-Kaleh Island to Șimian Island in order to reconstruct the Turkish cemetery. The central avenue of the reconstructed Turkish cemetery is located approximately 50 metres east of the reconstructed Ada-Kaleh Gate.

Ostrovul Şimian Island was inhabited from the Neolithic period through the feudal era. During the construction of Trajan’s Bridge between 103 and 105, the island served as a natural base for diversion dams used to channel the water. Before the Porțile de Fier reservoir was built, a number of objects and structural elements were moved from Ada-Kaleh Island to Șimian Island in 1968; they are still located there today.

Archaeology and Structures

The Cetatea bastionară bastion fortress on Şimian Island dates from the 18th century. Surface investigations at the Şimian archaeological site – river kilometres 924+500–925 recovered pottery fragments from the Starčevo-Criș culture and a polished stone axe. An investigation carried out in May 2018 identified Roman pottery materials at this archaeological site on the elevated Danube terrace.

The archaeological site at river kilometre 923 lies east of Şimian, near the Brazda lui Novac, on the left bank of the Danube between DN 56A and the river.

Terra sigillata pottery, bricks, roof tiles, and a Roman denarius from the time of Iulia Paula were discovered at the “La observator” findspot. The chronological classification is therefore based on archaeological traces from different periods alongside the island’s preserved and reconstructed structures.

Landscape and Water

Șimian Island is located downstream from the Porțile de Fier I hydroelectric power plant between Romania and Serbia, opposite Şimian, and is visible from DN6. Şimian lies in a predominantly hilly landscape that also includes lowlands towards the Danube and the floodplains of the Topolnița Valley. Cruises on the Danube can also be organised in the Şimian area.

The open-air museum on the island can only be reached by water using nautical transport. For the Ada-Kaleh fortress on Şimian Island, a restoration project provides for the creation of visitor paths so that access can take place safely. For orientation, individual structures, archaeological sites, the Danube, and the hilly landscape can be considered as separate thematic levels.

Comparing hotels in Şimian can focus on travel dates, room category, and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages. These three details provide a consistent basis for comparing different options and can be incorporated into your own planning alongside the historical highlights, landscape, and waterway.

Other places for your research include Floreşti, Gura Văii, Godeanu, Corcova, Baia de Aramă, Orșova, Dubova and Eșelnița.

Architectural Heritage

The Cula Tudor Vladimirescu is located in Cerneți in Mehedinți County, Romania. Cula Nistor is located on Dealul Gârdanului in Cerneți, in the commune of Șimian in Mehedinți County.

For the broader travel overview: Mehedinti.