Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: Dubova Commune

Location: Dubova is located in the south-west of Mehedinți County, about 50 km away from the Drobeta Turnu Severin, in the area of the Danube Gorge. In the Dubova locality you can get from the road that connects the town of Orșova to Moldova Nouă, DN57, to the Danube Cluster.

Description: Dubova is a tourist area full of traditions and customs. It is a locality in Mehedinți County, located in the Danube Gorge area, between the Small and Great Gorge. The area impresses with the beautiful landscapes, but also because the tradition and the customs are strictly respected by the locals. It is an area where modernity and traditions meet. Thus, here we find modern guesthouses but also dwellings (those temporary dwellings built outside the city: La Hambari, La Velicipoieni, La Scorus, La Sparta, La Streniac, La Poiana din Mijloc, La Vucu, La Poieni, La Sbeg, Pe Ciucar – Dubova).  Dubova Commune area is spread with impressive tourist attractions, which have become very well-known both at national and international level. Here lays Decebal’s Statue carved in rock. Nearby you can find Mraconia Monastery and the two caves where the access is made from the water: Ponicova and Veterani. Near Dubova viaduct there are all the time, different types of sailing boats ready to take their tourists in an unforgettable trip on the Danube. On land, the Iron Gates Natural Park opens, providing tourists, all its natural beauties. Here are touristic trails with different degrees of difficulty, where you can admire rare plants or animals, even unique in the country.

Legend / Story / Impressions / Recommendations: One of the most popular holidays in Dubova commune is “The Day of St. George”. It is a feast dedicated to the beginning of the pastoral season, or the summertime, as the locals call it in Dubova. It is the day dedicated to the first milking of the flock and is celebrated on the first Saturday of May each year. After numerous practical activities such as closing the tsarinas, construction or repair of the sheepfold, weaning the lambs, sheep shearing and legal activities like association of sheep owners for forming the sheepfolds, marking the sheep, and the “measuring of sheep’s” on the first Saturday of May. At the “measuring of sheeps” the milk collected from the sheeps of each sheep owner is weighing, then is calculated the quantity of cheese that is due to the breaking of the stall that takes place in the autumn. At some sheepfolds, the village`s priest also takes part in this event to bless the flock of sheep. After the sheep’s milking process is finished, pastoral dishes such as lamb steak, ”Balmaș”, polenta with milk or sausage are prepared. The meal is accompanied by music and good will of the participants. The tradition says that every family that owns animals that give milk should prepare a type of bread named”colac” to put on red eggs. Two people in the family pull this type of bread under a cow or a sheep, splitting it in two. During this time, one of the two people says “cucu!”, The second person responds, “răscucu!”. It is believed that the cucu`s power to take and soar the milk is canceled. Thereafter, with the help of some leaf leaves soaked in pork lard, the animal is anointed, signifying its purification.

Information and Contact:

Dubova CityHall: tel: + 40252-368002

Route close to other thematic routes:

In the area you can also visit:

• Orșova City
• Eșelnița Commune
• Svinița Commune

Other useful information:

Events:

– The ”Sons of the Village” Feast – September 9

– Nedeia – September 8

Accommodation:

Decebal Pension: tel: +40747 808 585

Melba Pension: tel: +40727 474 179

Delfinul Chalet: tel: +40740 791 538

Mraco House: tel: +40744 879 168

Lucian House: Dubova, tel: +4765 954 639

Hercules Villa: Dubova, tel: +40748 330 162

GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 44.62, 22.27, elevation: 496 m