Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: The Cracul Crucii Natural Reservation

Location: in Mehedinti County

Description: It is located near the Iron Gates dam, in Mehedinţi County. The Cracul Crucii Natural Reservation is located on the left bank of the Danube, in the Almăjul and Locvei Mountains. From an administrative point of view, we find it in the west of Gura Văii, near DN6, linking Drobeta Turnu-Severin to Caransebeş, in the south-western part of Mehedinţi County. The Cracul Crucii Natural Reservation is an area included in the Iron Gates Natural Park and it extends above the Moșul Tunnel to the plateau known as the St. Peter`s Cross.

Legend / Story / Impressions / Recommendations: The reservation was established in 1980 and covers 2 ha. It is particularly beautiful especially for the rare plant species found here, such as the Dill of the Iron Gates (Cachrys ferulacea), unghia ciutei (Ceterach officinarum), garofițe from Dianthus banaticus and Dianthus variciorovensis species, the Fern of the Gorges (Cheilanthes marantae) or mierluța (Minuartia capillacea). The reservation is part of the Iron Gates National Park.

Information and Contact:

The reservation is under the administration of the “Iron Gates” Natural Park:

phone/ fax: +4 0252 360 511

phone: +4 0372 702 529

website: http://www.pnportiledefier.ro

e-mail: parc@drobeta.rosilva.ro

Route close to other thematic routes:

In the area you can also visit:

– A Christian altar that can be seen from the satellite as a three-step pyramid on the Gura Văii Cross Hill

– The Cross of St. Peter, on the Cross Hill in Gura Văii

– A megalithic altar dedicated to Saturn and later to Zamolxes on the Hill of the Cross in Gura Văii

– The “Ogrănic” Megalithic Rock (about 3,000 BC), identified as a Sphinx, located on the Ogălnic Valley

– Sacred Mountain, identified by the megalithic achievements “Moșul” (The Old Man) and his consort “Baba” (The Old Woman)

GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 44.6684875, 22.5516567