Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hotel Continental $$
( 0372-528 828, reservations 0372-121 721;
www.continentalhotels.ro
; B-dul Carol I
2; s/d 225/250 lei; )
This battered high-rise from the 1970s has seen better
days, but the location is about as good as it gets, on a ridge above the river and within
walking distance to the sights. Ask to see several rooms as they're in varying states of re-
pair. The river-view rooms tend to be the nicest. Friendly English-speaking staff.
HOTEL
ORŞOVA & THE IRON GATES NATIONAL PARK
South and west of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, just below the town of Orşova, the Danube River begins a series of twists
and turns between towering rocks that have bedevilled sailors from time immemorial.
The area is protected by the 1150-sq-km
Iron Gates National Park
(Parcul Natural Porţile de Fier)
. A similar
protected area, the Djerdap National Park, sits across the river in Serbia. Highlights of the park include miles of
rugged, unspoiled riverbanks and a massive stone carving of the former Dacian leader, Decebal (r AD 87-106).
You'll also see scattered reminders of ancient settlements that were submerged in the 1960s during construction of
the Porţile de Fier Hydroelectric Power Plant, 10km west of Drobeta-Turnu Severin. One of the most famous of
these settlements was the island of Ada Kaleh, a Turkish enclave that had survived into the 20th century but was
totally destroyed during construction of the dam.
There are two ways to access the park. If you have your own wheels, local Hwy 57 hugs the river for a distance
of more than 100km from Orşova to Moldova Nouă. It's one of Romania's most dazzling road trips and cuts straight
through the heart of the national park. To find it, follow Hwy E70 from Drobeta-Turnu Severin west in the direction
of Timişoara. As you approach Orşova, cross a bridge and bear left on the road sign-posted 'Orşova Centru'. From
here, follow the signs to Hwy 57 'Moldova Nouă'.
You can also take a
boat excursion
(Plimbări cu barca; 0722-169 837, English information 0725-083 352;
www.pedunarelacazaneorsova.ro
; Orşova Port; per boat of 6 passengers 300 lei; 9am-5pm May-Oct)
from
Orşova. Several private operators line Orşova Port near the centre from May to October. They typically offer guided
boat tours (two to three hours) through the most picturesque regions of the river.
Technology geeks might also want to take a tour of the
Porţile de Fier Hydroelectric Power Plant
(Hidrocent-
rala Porţile de Fier I; Hwy E70; adult/child 4/2 lei; 9am-4pm Tue-Sun)
. This controversial project was a Ro-
manian-Yugoslav joint venture, conceived in 1960 and completed 12 years later. There's a small museum on-site
that takes you inside and provides a good idea of the scale of the plant. Guided tours (in Romanian only) go down
five levels to the turbines. The museum is located along Hwy E70, 10km west of Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
There's a regular minibus service to Orşova from Drobeta-Turnu Severin as well as at least one train per day,
though the Orşova train station is a good 2km hike to the centre of town.
