Dobrogea, an unexplored destination

Dobrogea is a region that boasts fascinating archaeological sites, breathtaking gorges, centuries-old monasteries and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

Daniel Onea, 23.08.2018, 13:14

The multicultural element gives a special allure to Dobrogea. There you will find the lowest, but at the same time the liveliest mountains in Romania, the Macin Mountains. One of the arguments in favour of establishing a nature reserve here was the very large number of species of endangered plants and animals, many of which can only be found in Dobrogea. The maximum altitude in Macin Mountains is 467m. Once, these mountains were comparable to the Carpathians in height, but given that they are 25-300 million years old, the age and geological phenomena reduced their altitude. The protected area covers 0.05% of the total Romanian territory, namely 11,000 hectares, but it is home to more than a half of the plant species in the country. Stanica Enache is the president of the Inomar cluster, an organisation that seeks to provide innovative tourism solutions, particularly in Dobrogea.

Compared to the previous years, at present there is a shift in the promotion strategy for the region:

“This year weve changed the paradigm, in the sense that we have focused on Dobrogea experiences. We want tourist promotion activities to capitalise on the genuine, traditional side of Dobrogea. We offer travellers a different perspective on this region, based on multi-ethnicity. There are 18 ethnic communities living in peace and harmony for as long as they have been here. We are also promoting local wines, obviously, the Danube Delta and continental Dobrogea with its history and culture.

One of the most beautiful parts of central Dobrogea is the Dobrogea Gorges area, with its spectacular blocks of stone that overlook the road. Few people are aware that the impressive rocks are actually the remains of coral reefs that formed back when the region was covered by the waters of Tethys Ocean. The limestone structure enabled the formation of a variety of karst structures, including caves ranging from several metres to hundreds of metres in length. They may be regarded as a genuine time capsule, because they preserve traces of ancient habitation. Most of them have been researched and have led to amazing archaeological discoveries. In order to be able to visit such a cave, you must pay around 30 euros to a travel agency.

But this is hardly the only reason to visit Dobrogea, Stanica Enache says: “Making a stopover in Dobrogea is a must, although we might be subjective in our recommendation. You will find here the Danube Delta, the Black Sea Coast with its unique beaches and a fauna and flora specific to the region. But there is much more to discover. Discovering the history of Dobrogea means a number of experiences that we can offer, and I mean we, Inomar Cluster, the Constanta-Mamaia Owners Organization and the other partners. Briefly, the Danube Delta, the wines of Dobrogea, the mosaic of ethnic communities and the regions history are the top attractions of this area.

In Dobrogea you will also find an equestrian centre for people who have never mounted a horse. The centres trainers teach people to mount a horse and take them on a stroll on horseback. A one-hour stroll costs 21 Euros. If horse riding is not your cup of tea, you should try the regions cuisine, especially the zacusca- eggplant hotchpotch, typical of Dobrogea. The program in our offer lasts 8 hours and includes the presentation of Dobrogeas inter-ethnic culture, three stopovers at the best restaurants serving traditional dishes, wine tasting and a show of dances and songs specific for the ethnic communities in Dobrogea. The whole program costs 38 Euros.

These programs are offered by a partner agency, says Stănică Enache, the president of Inomar: “This partner is specializing in such programs. They provide packages that include cultural, gastronomic and historical tours of the Delta, adventure packages, individual packages for couples and also group packages. What we call a multi-category package usually includes, for instance, a traditional meal in a specific restaurant, a trip to the peninsular area, one of the oldest in Romania, a visit to a museum and, in the evening, a show featuring the Aromanian ensemble from Constanta. Other packages include scuba diving, bicycle tourism, horse riding or flights with helium balloons.

Other offers include helicopter flights to admire the landscape and a 1-hour stop for lunch or dinner in a scenic environment. For a one-hour flight and a one-hour stopover you will pay 200 Euros.

Next Stănică Enache will tell us more about the tourists feedback. “We have published the assessments of the foreign tourists who visited the area and lived the Dobrogea experience. What we noticed was that almost each group of foreign tourists who came here in Dobrogea was accompanied by a Romanian from the Diaspora. In my opinion, the Romanians abroad can offer the best means of promoting Romanias tourist regions. I believe that most foreign tourists come to the region of Dobrogea to discover its traditions, culture and history. We have received a very good feedback. Here in Dobrogea we have understood that to be able to best promote the region, you need to cooperate and have partnerships with the others.