History attributes the founding of the monastery to Saint Nikodimos of Tismana. Over time the buildings collapsed and the monastery perished. The present church was built by Matei Basarab in 1653. The 18th century was a time of decline. Plundering raids from the south (especially between 1719 and 1738, when Oltenia was annexed by the Habsburg Monarchy) often reached the monastery. Further destruction followed as a result of several earthquakes and fires, and the Revolution of 1821. Following the nationalisation of the property in 1863, it became a common parish church within Gura Motrului parish. In 1892 a fire destroyed much of the iconostasis (made of gold-plated linden wood). Following extensive renovation, in 1943 the monastery was restored as all-female. In 1960, in accordance with Decree 410/1958, almost all nuns were banished from the premises. In spite of this, Metropolia Oltenia renovated the complex in 1981-1989, which led to its reopening as a male monastery in 1990.
Visit to the Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas, Church of St. Paraskevi and the Church of Holy Trinity, Pleven
Visit to the Chapel Mausoleum of Saint George the Conqueror, Pleven
Lunch in Pleven
Departure to Svishtov
Visit to the Church of Holy Trinity
Visit to the Monastery of the Intercession of the Theotokos
Dinner in Svishtov
Visit to the Ancient Roman town Novae and early Christian basilicas next to Svishtov
Lunch in Svishtov
Departure to Craiova
Dinner and overnight accommodation in Craiova
Visit to the Madona Dudu Church, St. Demetrius Cathedral, Mântuleasa Church and the Church of the Holy Trinity, Craiova
Lunch in Craiova
Departure to Drobeta Turnu Severin and accommodation
Visit to the Gura Motrului Monastery and Strehaia Monastery, Strehaia
Dinner and overnight accommodation in Turnu Severin
Visit to the Vodița Monastery and Iron Gate in Orșova
Visit to the Monastery of St. Ana, Orșova
Visit to the Mraconia Monastery, Dubova
Lunch in Dubova around the Danube river
Overnight accommodation in Drobeta Turnu Severin
Departure to Vidin
Visit to the Church of St. Pantaleon and the Church of St. Paraskevi, and the Cathedral of St. Demetrius
Baba Vida Fortress tour and free time in Vidin
Lunch in Vidin
Departure to Montana and visit to the Gradeshnitsa Monastery of Saint John of Rila
Hotel-Restaurant Steaua Dunării
GPS coordinates: 44.674828 / 44°40’29” N – 22.321010 / 22°19’16” E
Address: Dunării street, Eșelnița, county of Mehedinți
Hotel-restaurant Meridian
GPS coordinates: 44.725141 / 44°43’30” N – 22.394466 / 22°23’40” E
Address: 12 Eroilor street, Orșova
Oliver Guest house
GPS coordinates: 44.725399 / 44°43’31” N – 22.399117 / 22°23’56” E
Address: Bulevardul 1 Decembrie 1918 nr. 16A, Orșova
Hotel-Restaurant Continental
GPS coordinates: 44.623829 / 44°37’26” N – 22.652511 / 22°39’9” E
Address: Bulevardul Carol I, nr. 2, Drobeta Turnu Severin
Hotel-Restaurant Conacul Boierului, Panoare village
GPS coordinates: 44.974079 / 44°58’26” N – 22.763106 / 22°45’47” E
Address: Ponoare, Mehedinți county
Guest house-restaurant Casa Albă, Baia de Aramă
GPS Coordinates : 44.999520 / 44°59’58” N – 22.809396 / 22°48’33” E
Address: 44 Victoriei street, Baia de Aramă, county of Mehedinți
Hostel-restaurant Izvorul Rece, Baia de Aramă
GPS Coordinates: 45.010756 / 45°0’38” N – 22.816303 / 22°48’58” E
Address: DN 67D, 47 Brebina street, Baia de Aramă, county of Mehedinți
Mraconia Bay – the statue of the Dacian king Decebalus
GPS coordinates: 44.640879 / 44 ° 38’27 “N – 22.293924 / 22 ° 17’38”
Address: Mraconia Bay
This impressive statue is carved directly into the mountain rock by a team of 12 climbers coordinated by sculptor Florin Cotarcea. This artistic creation represents the face of the Dacian king Decebalus and is the largest natural sculpture in Europe, with a height of 55 meters and a width of 25 meters. This remarkable work has been built for 10 years, between 1994 and 2004. The financial support was provided by the Romanian citizen Iosif Constantin Drăgan.
Iron Gates Regional Museum, Orshova
GPS coordinates: 44.722649 / 44°43’21” N – 22.394430 / 22°23’39” E
Adress: 3 Porțile de Fier nr. 32, oraș Orșova, județul Mehedinți
This new section of the Regional Museum of Iron Gates was opened in Orshova in December 2018. The museum is housed in a modern building, equipped with all amenities to enjoy the traces of the history of these places. It houses three thematic exhibition halls: natural sciences, history and archeology, and ethnography. The collection of exhibits shows visitors the pictures of the turbulent history of this region, the life of the Turkish inhabitants of Ada Kaleh island as well as complete dioramas (scale models) presenting the beauty and wildlife of the National Park Iron Gates. There are collections of various types of weapons, as well as household items of cultural and religious significance. Visitors can explore various items, including the interior of a traditional Ottoman house. Another exhibition hall is dedicated to the different plants, animals and fish inhabiting this region, characterized by its Mediterranean climate.
Cultural palace Theodor Costescu
GPS coordinates: 44.624034 / 44°37’26” N – 22.654256 / 22°39’15” E
Address: 4 Carol I Boulevard, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Romania
The Palace of Culture Theodore Costescu is housed in a beautiful building, located in the center of Drobeta Turnu Severin, and was named after its founder, Professor Teodor Costescu. First, he was the director of the local high school, but later he became chairman of the theater community. After his election, he dedicated all his energy and activities to create this wonderful building, designed to be the first public theater in the city. He managed to raise the necessary funds for its construction just for a few days. The project was designed by the architect Grigore Cerkez and its foundation was laid in 1912. The theater was completed in 1924. For 90 years now, it has been offering its visitors rich artistic life. Today, after some repair work had taken place, this museum is a symbol of culture and art of the town.
Severin Medieval Fortress
GPS coordinates: 44.622047 / 44°37’19” N – 22.657042 / 22°39’25” E
Address: 5 Portului st., Drobeta Turnu Severin, Romania
The building of the medieval fortress Severin in 13th century was initiated by the Hungarian kingdom
The medieval fortress Severin was built in the 13th century on the initiative of the Hungarian kingdom, which erected the fortress to defend the southern border of Banat. The first garrison was established by the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Saint John). The fortress is strategically positioned on the banks of the Danube River and near the ancient Roman fortress Drobeta. The construction was carried out in the 13th-15th centuries, when it was permanently fortified, enlarged and reinforced. The walls are surrounded and protected by a deep ditch, filled with water, which traces can be seen today. The fortress was attacked by the Ottoman army multiple times. The most devastating attack was in 1524, during the raise of Suleiman the Magnificent, when the walls were destroyed and in fact the fortress remains only a tower, called the Tower of the North. As a result of large scale repairing and restoration activities, the fortress can be seen today in all its splendor.
The Bridge of God and Ponoare cave
GPS coordinates: 44.975072 / 44°58’30” N – 22.761444 / 22°45’41” E
Address: Ponoare Municipality, Мехединци
The Bridge of God is a natural karst phenomenon formed by the collapse of the upper wall of the cave. It is the largest natural bridge in the country and the second largest in Europe: 30 meters long, 13 meters high, 22 meters wide and 9 meters opening. It is also the only bridge over which you can walk. You can explore Ponoare cave the bridge nearby, which is another beautiful scenery. Its entrance is semi-circled – 5 meters length and 3 meters high, which provides easy access to the cave. The cave galleries are over 700 meters in length. Both are remarkable sites, forming unique and picturesque landscapes in Europe.
