Dobrogea - Romania

Facts about Dobrogea (Dobrudja)

About the name: Land of Dobrotici, after prince Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici,
who in 1325 ruled over the region
Location: southeastern Romania, between the Danube River and the Black Sea
Area: 9,631 sq miles
Population: Approximately 950,000
Main cities: Constanta, Medgidia, Mangalia, Tulcea
Climate: torrid summers, relatively mildy winters, and little precipitation

Highlights

Dobrogea region is home to the Danube Delta, a 2,200-square-mile wildlife reserve designated by UNESCO as a "Reservation of the Biosphere;" the ancient port city of Constanta, and the seaside resorts stretching along Romania's 152-mile Black Sea coast. From the port city of Tulcea, day cruises through the Delta's waterways give travelers a glimpse of the abundant wildlife and the traditional fishing villages. Floating reed islands, sand dunes and waterways offer shelter to over 300 species of birds, countless fish and 1,150 species of plants.

South of the Delta, the historical city of Constanta serves as a major port on the Black Sea. Featuring several museums, historical monuments, fine mansions and a grand casino, the city is the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism. A strip of fine-sand beaches dotted with seaside resorts named after women and mythological gods, such as Eforie, Jupiter, Neptun, Olimp, Saturn, Venus and Mangalia, stretches from Constanta to the Bulgarian border.

10 Places to explore in Dobrogea (SE Romania)

1.   The Danube Delta - world's third most biodiverse ecosystem,
A realm for over 300 bird species, including the largest Dalmation pelican colonies in Europe.

2.   Ruins of the ancient town of Tomis (now Constanta),
the precinct walls, aqueduct, underground galleries, basilica, painted crypt and the Roman amphitheatre can be visited.

3.   Histria first urban settlement founded by Milesian settlers (7th century B.C.), on the western shore of the Black Sea.

4.   The ruins of the ancient Greek town of Callatis.

5.   Basarabi (Murfatlar), complex of caves chapels and tombs dug into Basarabi chalky limestone hill (9th century).

6.   Gura Portitei and Vadu wild beaches

7.   Traditional fishing villages, in the Danube Delta, - Caraorman, Jurilovca, Letea, Mila 23 and Sfantu Gheorghe.

8.   Dobrogea best wineries including Alira, Crama Rasova, La Sapata, Murfatlar and Clos des Colombes.

9.   Lake Techirghiol / Eforie Nord medical spas that use curative mud to alleviate artritis and rheumatism symptoms.

10.   The Black Sea beach resorts in Mamaia, Eforie Nord and Mangalia

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Major Museums in Dobrogea region

Town/ CityMuseum Name
Constanta Constanta Art Museum
Constanta Folk Art Museum
National History and Archeology Museum
The Roman Edifice
Romanian Navy Museum
Mangalia Callatis Archaeology Museum
Topalu Museum of Romanian Painters
Tulcea Tulcea Museum of History and Archeology
Tulcea Folk Art and Ethnography Museum
Tulcea Fine Arts Museum
Museum of the Danube Delta / Tulcea Aquarium and Natural History Museum


...

Dobrogea Region Performing Arts

Town/ CityPerforming Arts Institution
Constanta Drama Theatre „Ovidius”
Classical Ballet Theatre „Oleg Danovski”
Constanta Puppet Theatre
Marea Neagra Philharmonic
Tulcea Drama Theatre „Jean Bart”


Dobrogea National Parks and protected areas

The Region of Dobrogea is home to 82 national parks and protected areas, the largest and best known are:
The Danube Delta - third largest biodiversity in the world,
Macin Mountains National Park
Cheile Dobrogei (Dobrogea Gorges).

Activities

Dobrogea offers excellent conditions for outdoor activities: Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Nature walks, Wildlife / Bird Watching.

Dobrogea region Food & Wine

Traditional food

The cuisine of Dobrogea is mainly based on fish and mutton.
Fresh fish abounds in Dobrogea due to proximity of its towns and villages to the Black Sea and the Danube River.
Local dishes feature Greek, Turkish, Tartar flavors and receipies.

A typical, traditional meal, in Dobrogea include:
~ Salata Dobrogeana, an appetizer/ salad made from fresh red and green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and onion. Vegetable oil, boiled eggs, grated cheese, minced dill or parsley are also added.
~ Fisherman's Soup (Ciorba de Peste), arguable the most sought of dish in the Danube Delta.
In a big cast-iron pot, water is brought to a boil with vegetables and over 10 species of small fish.
The broth obtained is then strained and the small fish discarded.
Big chunks of sturgeon, carp or pike are then boiled in the broth. The fish soup makes two dishes: the broth, served first, and then the big chunks of fish, sprinkled with chili pepper or garlic sauce.
~ Saramura, (grilled carp served in garlicky brine)
~ Sarailie , a pastry filled with with walnuts and almonds or cheese and walnuts, is served as dessert.
Other Dobrogea culinary specialties include:
Zacusca de Peste (cold stewed fish and vegetables),
Storceac (sturgeon soup, specific to village of Sfantu Gheorghe that combines local sturgeon fish and vegetables and whet and finished with sourcream ingredient commonly used to finish Transylvania soups).
Musaca Dobrogeana (typical Dobrogea Moussaka),
Stiuca Umpluta (stuffed pike perch),
Plachie de Peste (carp baked with tomatoes, red peppers and onion).
Lacherda de Scrumbie (marinated Danube River Mackerel, a wild fish that migrates from the Black Sea to the Danube).
Scordalea (a popular dish obtained from deboned boiled fish, mashed potatoes, vegetable oil and garlic).
Protap de Crap (to wild carp baked in the oven and fried potatoes garlic tomato sauce is added and simmered in the oven).

Dobrogea Wines

Numerous ancient artifacts and records speak of the importance of wine
in the life of the inhabitants of the ancient cities along the Romanian shore of the Black Sea.

Dobrogea grapevine acreage is currently estimated at over 43,400
There are three major wine regions in Dobrogea: Istria-Babadag, Murfatlar and Sarică-Niculițel, home to 14 large wineries.

Murfatlar, Romania's second-largest wine producing region, is located just 10 miles west of the Black Sea coast.
Over 300 days of sunshine, along with cool breezes from the sea, make this area ideal for the production of medium-dry and sweet wines, such as late harvest Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Muscat Ottonel.
Red wines are also produced at Murfatlar - Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir being the most popular.

Sarica Niculitel, a wine region located in the northern part of Dobrogea nearby Tulcea - the gateway to the Danube Delta, also has a centuries-old winemaking tradition.
Besides the highly appreciated wines produced from Feteasca Regala, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel and Merlot grapes Sarica Niculitel is also known for its wormwood wine obtained accordingly with the local technique:
white and/ or black grapes are placed in a barrel; wormwood flowers - sometimes quinces and/ or apples are added; wine or grape-juice is then poured over. As it ferments, the grape juice (must in Romanian) rises and begins to spout freely.

Winetasting / Wineries in Dobrogea Region

Domeniile Ostrov
Address: Ostrov (Constanta county), Str. Regiei 1 DN 3 Ostrov
Telephone: (+4) 0757 374.389 or (+4) 0724 466.773
Website
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Crâmpoșie, Fetească Albă, Fetească Neagră, Italian Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Labels: Domeniile Ostrov Reserve, Legio, Naiada, Noe, Ritual

Crama Alira
Address: DJ 223 - Aliman
Telephone: (+4) 0755 946.376
Website
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Merlot
Labels: Alira Grand Vin, Flamma, Special, Tribes

Domeniile Clos des Colombes
Address: DN 39B, Comuna 23 August
Telephone: (+4) 0754 027.124 or (+4) 0732 007.200
Website
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Albă, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Italian Riesling, Merlot Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier
Labels: Clos des Colombes

Crama Darie
Address: Str. Dunării 494 B, Topalu
Telephone: (+4) 0722 260.002 or (+4) 0723 046.002
Web
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fetească Neagră, Merlot
Labels: Capidava, Străbun

Crama Vifrana / Crama Frâncu
Address: Str. Decebal 4, Adamclisi
Telephone: (+4) 0241 553.996
Website
Wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Labels: 10 (zece), Bob cu Bob, Casino, Patrician, Symposion

Domeniul Vladoi
Address: Str. Murfatlar 14 B, Siminoc
Telephone: (+4) 0766 539.071
Website
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fetească Neagră, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Tămâioasă Românească
Labels: Brizza, Anca Maria, Ion Vladoi, Ravac

M1 Crama Atelier
Address: Str. Murfatlarului 1, Murfatlar
Telephone: (+4) 0740 231.012
Website:www.cramaatelier.ro
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fetească Neagră, Italian Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Labels: Amprenta, Arezan, Charme de la Mer, Fatum, Leat 6500, Noble Late Harvest, Sable Noble

Crama Murfatlar
Address: Calea București 2, Murfatlar
Telephone: (+4) 0722 103.641
Website
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir
Labels: Academic, Columna, Vinoteca

Crama Delta Dunarii - La Sapata
Address: Str. Straja 16, Somova
Telephone: (+4) 0763 696.618 Website
Wines: Băbească Neagră, Blauer, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Rkatsiteli, Italian Riesling, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel, Sangiovese
Labels: La Sapata – Sarica Niculițel

Crama Vinuri de Macin
Address: Str. Viticultori 2, Măcin
Telephone: (+4) 0743 147.236
Website
Wines: Aligoté, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel Dry, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
Labels: Curtea Regală, Hercinic, Pelegrin, Renatus, Tres Rosae, Trei Brațe, Vinoteca

Crama Hamangia
Address: Baia (Tulcea county), Str. 1 Decembrie 110 DN 3 Ostrov
Telephone: (+4) 0722 156.004
Website
Wines: Fetească Regală, Italian Riesling, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc
Labels: Ataman, Kultura, Pagaia

DOBROGEA TRIP PLANNING INFO 

Transportation

Air transportation to Dobrogea region

Major airports: Constanta International Airport (CND)
and Tulcea (small plane charter flights and helicopter)

Airlines with service to Dobrogea region:
Tarom
Turkish Airlines
Wizz Air

Travel to Dobrogea by train or bus

Several daily trains and buses connect Bucharest and other major cities in Romania to Dobrogea region.

Main train stations: Constanta, Cernavoda, Mangalia, Tulcea.

To check train and bus schedules for domestic routes please visit
RomaniaTourism Domestic Transportation section.

Road access

Border crossing points from Bulgaria into the Dobrogea region include: Vama Veche, Negru Voda and Ostrov

Dobrogea Region Tourist Info

Constanta City Hall Tourism Department

Maps

Map of Romania Historical Regions
Romania Physical Features Map