Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: Izvoarele Church

Location: Izvoarele Village, Gruia Commune, Mehedinți County, at 52 km from Drobeta Turnu Severin. Izvoarele Village can be reached, going towards Jiana Commune, through Hinova, on DJ564, then on DC105.

Description: In the summer of 2006, several localities in Mehedinti were flooded, , including Izvoarele, in the commune of Gruia, as a result of overflowing of the Danube. After the water’s withdrawal, there on the Danube shore , amongst the bushes appeared traces of masonry. Thus, in August 2007, research began in this place. The walls of the building, one meter and fifty inches deep, and 60 cm thick, were discovered. After a long research, it has been established that it is about a unique construction, namely a paleo-christian church from the rural Roman society, the only church of this kind discovered in the rural Roman world in Dacia. Thus, this discovery is a historical document of great importance for the history of Romanian Christianity. Also, with the discovery of these ruins, a series of coins, a cross-shaped ring, and other vestiges dating back in the 4th century have been discovered. It is a concrete proof that after the Roman retreat from Dacia, here continued to live a population of Latin culture and language, and mostly important, a Christian population.

Information and Contact:

The ruins of the church are administered by the Museum of the Iron Gates Region:

phone: +4 0252 312 177

e-mail: office@muzeulpdf.ro;  muzeulpdf@rdslink.ro

website: http://www.cimec.ro/Muzee/MuzeulRegiuniiPortilordeFier/Index.htm

Route close to other Thematic Routes:

In the are you can also visit:

• “Danube at Gârla Mare Maglavit” Natural Area
• Protected Natural Area “Blahniţa”
• Gârla Mare Commune

Touristic Ofers:

• In Izvoarele Village can be practiced sportive fishing.

GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 44.308828, 22.661918, elevation: 63m