Cultural heritage
The cultural heritage of a country is a totality of values and cultural assets (tangible and intangible, movable and immovable) of local, national, and global importance, established throughout history. The term “artistic heritage” began to be used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when archeological explorations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, and Pompeii, were discovered, restored, and preserved as true treasures of the ancient world. These were exhibited and the general public had the opportunity to discover them, to explore them, and to understand them as true legacies left by the forerunners. Thus, the legacy has grown, evolving from a family matter to a one of continental, and then global significance.
The word “patrimony” is closely related to another term, often used as a synonym, namely: “inheritance”. Historically, inheritance means “transfer of property from father to son.” Heritage, by its classical definition, is understood as “the set of goods and rights inherited from parents.” In Europe, the protection of cultural heritage flourished in the late eighteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the scientific concept was systematized and legislative and institutional measures were applied.
The cultural heritage of Galați County
Galați County has registered in the List of historical monuments from 2015 a number of 263 objects which represent: 94 archeological sites; 136 architectural monuments; 4 urban ensembles; 20 public monuments; 4 memorials. Of these monuments that are part of the cultural heritage of Galați County, a number of 44 are considered to have national value.
The archaeological heritage of Galați County is diverse and dates from the Paleolithic to the medieval period. One of the most important archeological sites is the one in Tirighina-Barboși with an area of about 10 hectares, which includes a Roman castrum, a Roman castellum, a mound necropolis, and remnants of the civil settlement near the shore of Siret. This ensemble represents only a part of the material traces left by the Roman habitation on the current territory of the city of Galați. Other elements of it are represented by the archeological site discovered in the Danube District or the Roman tomb discovered on Oțelarilor Street. Important evidence of Roman continuity north of the Danube, the tomb, consisted of a dromos and a burial chamber with a cyst, two apses, and frescoed walls.
Two other archeological sites that stand out in the Galaţi landscape are Athanaric’s Wall and Trajan’s Wall. The 90 km wall that stretches between the localities of Ploscuțeni (Vrancea County) and Stoicani (Galați County), officially called Atanaric’s Wall, was built of earth during the migrations period and separates the Tecuci Plain from the Covurlui Plateau. Trajan’s Wall or Galati Wall is a defensive construction that has a length of 23 km stretching between Traian and Tulucești and that seemingly had a wooden palisade. The erection of this defensive structure was motivated by the need to defend the Roman community in the area.
Regarding the architectural monuments, they are most numerous in the central area of Galati, especially in the urban ensemble “Strada Domnească” which stretched, in the nineteenth century, from the Royal Square to Carol Park, being a promenade, commercial and administrative area. Numerous consulates such as the Italian, Portuguese or Spanish ones also operated in this area in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Palace of Justice, today the rectory of the University “Lower Danube” (GL-II-m-A-03013; 1911-1923)
Built on the site of the great inn of Costache Ventura, according to the plans of the architects G. Cerchez and A. Vârnav.
Administrative Palace, today Galati County Prefecture (GL-II-m-A-03016; 1904-1905)
The building was built according to the project of the architect Ion Mincu in neo-Romanian style; King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria participated in the inauguration of the building.
The Cultural Society V.A. Urechia, today the Dramatic Theater (GL-II-m-B-03018; 1930-1949)
The imposing building was raised from the funds of the V.A. Urechia Cultural Society and from public donations, in neoclassical style, by the engineer Margulius according to the project of the architect I.D. Enescu.
Galați River Station – Navigation Palace (GL-II-m-B-03064; 1912 – 1914)
The building was designed in neo-Romanian style by the architect Petre Antonescu and was the first construction in Romania to use a monolithic reinforced concrete skeleton.
Palace European Commission of the Danube, today V.A. Urechia Library (GL-II-m-B-03057; 1896, rebuilt between 1922-1923)
The European Danube Commission operated in Galați in a two-story building built in 1896 that housed the general secretariat, the records, the library, and accommodation for officials. In 1917 the building was bombed by the Germans, being almost completely destroyed. Between 1922 and 1923, the Romanian Society of Enterprises in Bucharest, together with a team of architects consisting of Leon Goué, Godefroy Teisseir, and M. Manea, executed an exhaustive reconstruction of the building in neoclassical style, with three stories, with basement and attic, with brick masonry and stone foundation.
The cultural heritage of the Cahul district
In most of the villages in Cahul district, there is a monument dedicated to the Second World War, but also other important monuments due to their uniqueness, such as the monument of the heroes of the battle of Larga 1770; the monument of the parachutists from Baurci Moldoveni; the monument in memory of those who fell in the Transnistrian war in the village of Pelina, etc. In the town, there also are several monuments: the “Obelisk” erected in 1967 in memory of the Cahulans who fell in World War II and of the soldiers of the Red Army killed in August 1944 in the battles for Cahul. The memorial complex of the Cahul illegalists was built in 1968. The “tank” was inaugurated on May 9, 1975, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the victory over fascism. The “cannon” erected in memory of the soldiers of the 25th Ceapaev Division was inaugurated on May 9, 1977. The “plane” was inaugurated on August 24, 1985.
Public monuments/war memorials from Cahul district: total number of cultural heritage assets – 129; the total number of archeological sites – 3; the total number of public monuments – 37; the total number of war memorials (monuments in memory of those who fell in the wars) – 54.
In the municipality and district of Cahul there are five art schools 5 in Cahul municipality, Colibași village, Slobozia Mare village, Moscow village, and Burlăceni village; one fine art school in the Cahul municipality); two Creative Centers for Children, in the Cahul municipality and CRCC – Universul, based in Zârnești village. The activity of these institutions is oriented towards the training and education of talented children. Their disciples participate in countless local, national, international cultural activities, becoming winners of music, painting, etc. competitions.
Museums
Seven museums from the Cahul district are registered in the Register of Museums of the Republic of Moldova. There are still 7 unregistered museums.
Giurgiulesti Village Museum. The current building of the Village Museum was built in 1936 in neo-Romanian style, on the free place in the center of the village, next to the church. Designed as a school, the building is tall, with bright and spacious rooms. In the ’70s, the foundations of the Young Naturalists Resort were laid here by Vasile Hioara, professor of biology. Over time, the building became famous throughout the country. Exhibits from all over the Soviet Union were gathered here. All the animals were stuffed by the professor with the assistance of his disciples. Unfortunately, many exhibits did not withstand the test of time. The museum is divided into three compartments: the first contains exhibits from the plant world, about 600 species of plants: begonias, asparagus, monstera, tradescantia, palm trees, cacti, and other tropical plants. A special section exhibits grasses and seeds. The second compartment exhibits zoological material: three aquariums with exotic fish specimens, a collection of stuffed birds and mammals, and a collection of invertebrates. The third compartment is, in fact, the living corner that has a space for exhibits that cannot be kept in the light.
The Cahul Museum of the land was founded in 1958 and has over 16,000 exhibits. The museum building has historical value because in 1858 Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu worked here as a judge. Since 1913, the “Ioan Vodă” Boys’ High School has been functioning here and later, in the interwar period, the County Court and the City Hall of Cahul. The museum presents to the public information about the material and spiritual life of the inhabitants of southern Bessarabia. The nature compartment includes thematic collections of birds and animals specific to the three southern ecosystems and paleozoological vestiges, which reflect the geological history of the earth. The history section evokes the evolution of human society from the Paleolithic to the Romanian pre-national formations. The pearl of the museum is the Ethnographic Complex, opened in 1979, consisting of a peasant house, a barn, and a blacksmith’s shop from the late nineteenth century – early twentieth century. The traditional house was built in natural size, respecting the traditional style, using as building materials wood, clay, water, straw, and being covered with reeds according to old techniques. The household is an open-air museum that offers the visitor the opportunity to “go back” in ancient times and get acquainted with the life specific to the area and rural environment from the southern part of the country.
The “Plai Natal” Museum of History and Ethnography of Slobozia Mare dates from 1941-to 1942 was originally built to serve as local town hall. Over the years, this building had several destinations: town hall, command of the border guard unit, hospital for typhus and dystrophy patients, and gymnasium. Since 1988 it has been the building of the Museum of History and Study of the Land from Slobozia Mare. The museum has several themed rooms dedicated the Lake Beleu, the history of the village, handicrafts, a room in memory of those lost during the famine and during World War II, as well as much information and many documents on the socio-economic and cultural evolution of the town.
The Bread Museum of Văleni village was created in 2007, arranged in a traditional style, specific to the localities from Lunca Prutului. The “golden collection” of the museum is made up of 18 kinds of traditional bread that is molded and baked on the occasion of certain holidays and used in certain rituals. Among these types of bread are the “poclon” cake, the “bride’s hoopoe”, the “groom’s cake”, the “mother-in-law’s big hoopoe”, etc. The guide of the museum is a housewife dressed in traditional clothes explaining the role and importance of each of them on different holidays. The museum organizes workshops in which visitors can get to know each other and become involved in the whole process of producing bread from kneading the dough to baking the bread. After the bread is browned, it is served with wine at the mouth of the oven according to the old custom – “călăhii”. Various rituals are also staged with the participation of local artistic groups.
“Dorului” House from Văleni village is situated at the foot of the Golden Hills. It is the place where you can partake in ancient customs, enjoy traditional dishes, dance southern variations of traditional folk dances and get engaged in many other interesting activities. The museum has been open since 2013 and has been the perfect host for many tourists from the country and abroad. It is actually a “living” museum because you can touch and use (carefully!) the exhibits, cook a rice cake in the oven, turn a few spindles, fish in the pond, and especially fill your lungs with the fresh air of the country. The house museum arranged in 19th-century fashion has three rooms: the “Casa Mare”, the kitchen, and the living room. The most representative exhibits are wooden objects, ceramic tableware from the 19th century, a weaving loom, carpets and folk costumes a hundred years old, work tools from the 19th century XIX, and many others.
The buildings of the Museum of History and Ethnography from Văleni village cover a surface of 469 m2. The museum was opened in 2017 and aims to preserve and capitalize upon the historical, cultural, and ethnographic heritage of the village. The museum comprises two rooms in which 1000 pieces are exhibited (clothing, pictures, furniture, documents, etc.). Also, inside the museum, there is a carpet weaving workshop, in which rugs are woven by the students of the gymnasium together with the local craftswomen. The Museum of History and Ethnography is a multifunctional center, due to the numerous activities it carries out in various fields.
Churches and monasteries
The Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel from Colibaşi was built in 1897. It has two old icons, one of which is the icon of the “Mother of God”, painted on Mount Athos, by a monk, especially for this church. The sanctuary is guarded by the oak tree behind it, which is of the same age.
St. Nicholas Church from the village of Tartaul de Salcie, built in 1859, hides many secrets. In the basement of this church, during the renovation, a tomb room with 4 tombs was discovered. Three of them had bones, one was empty. The locals say that they belong to the family of the former owner of the village, the boyar Mediu. At the church gate, there is a stone cross, which the locals say is the place where the boyar buried his second wife. On May 22, 2009, on the day celebrating the church’s saint patron, took place the official of this room, which can be visited by those interested.
Cathedral of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel from Cahul is an architectural monument of national category. The church was built as a result of the intention of the governor of Bessarabia P. Fyodorov to build a new church in the town. In 1850 the church was completed. During the Soviet period, the cathedral was closed, and in 1970 it was transformed into an art gallery, a branch of the museum. It was not until 1990 that this place was restored.
The Old Rite Church “The Shroud of the Mother of God” Adherents of the old rite church, the Lipovans, built their place of worship in Cahul in 1882-1892. The church was built of red brick with stained glass and forged doors, a cell, and a library with an old church book from the 19th century. The bell tower subsequently collapsed, the murals are no longer preserved in their original version. After being repaired in 1913, it was closed in 1963, when the nearby cemetery – in which soldiers from the Russian-Turkish wars had been buried – was liquidated. In 1989, the reconstruction and restoration of the church began, and the work was completed in 1994.
The Bishopric of Southern Bessarabia is a component part of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia (Romanian Patriarchate). It was built on the premises of the former headquarters of the Savings Bank of Cahul and opened to the public in 2021. At the moment there are ongoing final landscaping works.
The “Holy Prince Vladimir” Monastery is located 3 km from Cahul. Its name comes from Grand Prince Vladimir, one of Russia’s legendary rulers. The monastery covers a surface of 8.6 ha of which 50% is cultivated, this being one of the sources for the upkeep of the place. Among the art values of the monastery can be mentioned the icon of the Mother of God “Censtohovskaya”, which is part of the 70 icons of the Virgin Mary, painted by St. Luke the Evangelist from Jerusalem. The monastery is a religious community of nuns.
The “Holy Trinity” Monastery in the village of Roșu, located a few kilometers away from the eyes of the world, is the only monastery belonging to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia in the south of the Republic of Moldova. Located on the territory of the former sovkhoz, on a plot of land donated by one of the locals, the parishioners travel 10 km daily to visit the monastery.
The “Descent of the Holy Spirit and the Nativity of the Mother of God” monastery in Găvănoasa commune was founded in 2008 and has a chapel and several hermits cells, which were built in record time by the diligent and pious Mother Dionysia, who was financially supported by her relatives and by people of good faith from Găvănoasa commune.
Other heritage objects from Cahul district
The column with three doves was installed in 2002, in the Cahul Independence Square, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the first documentary mention of the locality. The three pigeons on the column represent the three dimensions of the city’s history: past, present, and future, being inscribed the three names that the city has borne over time: Şcheia – Frumoasa – Cahul.
Republican Musical-Dramatic Theater „B.P. Hasdeu” from Cahul, founded in 1987, was located in the former House of Culture – an abandoned building after the inauguration of the Palace of Culture. The theater was founded by a team of artists, graduates of the University of Arts in Chișinău. On 14 July 1998, a committee of experts in the field found that “the load-bearing walls and the ceiling had cracks of 80-100 mm as a result of the groundwater rising”, and as a result, on August 1 the same year, the Ministry of Culture ruled that “the operation of the theater building is strictly prohibited.” Pursuant to Decision No. 131 of February 15, 2000, the Government of the Republic of Moldova allocated 100 thousand lei for the restoration of the branch on 31 August Street 9 “b” – the seat of the former People’s Court offered to the theater by the decision of September 27, 1991, of the Town Hall. The new auditorium was inaugurated on February 18, 2002. It is the only theater in the south of Moldova. The theater became internationally known, thanks to the team of emeritus actors who participated in various theater festivals and won many awards. The theater’s repertoire includes plays for children, matinees, comedy, and humor shows. Soon, the famous plays will be performed on a new and big stage in the new headquarters that started to be built in 2016.
“B.P. Hasdeu” State University of Cahul is a symbol of the city, built in the ’50s, it is a true architectural monument, preserving the defining elements of those times. Until 1999, it was the headquarters of the Pedagogical College, which in 1999 became a University. The “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” State University of Cahul, founded on June 7, 1999, aims to prepare and provide highly qualified specialists for the localities in the south of the Republic of Moldova. All guests of the city of Cahul, no matter the reason for ther visit, do not pass indifferently by this special building through the architectural style. The location of the University in the city center, Independence Square, the column with three doves, the fountains, all in the complex have become a special place for the citizens, as well as for the guests of the city, who do not miss any opportunity to immortalize this view
“Nufărul Alb” spa is a sanatorium with a tradition in the art of medicine, a modern center for health recovery that has a clinic, a hotel complex with a capacity of 502 seats, 400 rooms with varying degrees of comfort: simple, semi-luxury, and luxury for 1 and 2 people, a food block and cultural-entertaining objects. Mineral water, for external use, is applied to treat diseases of the nervous system, related to gynecology, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal systems, and skin disorders. “Nufărul Alb” drinking mineral water contributes to the normalization of gastric secretion, activates the elimination of iron and urine, regulates the functions of the gastrointestinal organs and kidneys, improves metabolism. Services: outdoor pool, sauna, bar, dance floor, sports field, billiard, board games, movie theater, post office, currency exchange, hairdresser, mixed shops.
The network of public libraries in Cahul district includes 43 libraries: the district library and its two branches which are located in Cahul municipality, and another 40 territorial public libraries which are in rural localities. 23 libraries are located in special rooms in local Houses of Culture. 21 libraries are located in refurbished rooms, of which 2 in kindergartens (Baurci – Moldoveni, Larga Nouă). 5 in the town halls (Lebedenco, Doina, Iujnoe, Cucoara, Chioselia Mare). 5 – in schools (Frumușica, Borceag, Andrușul de Sus, Brânza, Roșu).
The cultural heritage of the Reni territorial community
The Ferapontov Monastery
The church of St. Feraponta in the village of Novosilske was built in 1834-1837 by order of Nicholas I to commemorate the safe crossing of the Danube on the day of St. Feraponta of Mozhaisk – May 27, 1828. The church was 21.3 m in length and width respectively, as well as 21.7 m tall. The foundation and the plinth were of rubble stone, and the walls of brick, and the roof of iron. The cross of the temple was covered with red gold. The bell tower had two bells. In 1857 a hermitage appeared near the church, but 10 years later it was dismantled. And it was not until the end of the 19th century that it was restored and included in the Izmail Episcopal House. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was home to over 20 novices. In 1909 a second church was built in the hermitage – in the name of the Protection of the Mother of God. In 1934, the men’s monastery was transformed into a nunnery. During the Romanian period, the monastery’s economy was very well developed: the nuns cultivated 60 hectares of arable land and looked after an orchard that occupied 2 hectares. The Monastery produced woven wool fabric and more refined silk fabrics. During World War II, the bell tower was destroyed. On May 21, 1947, representatives of the Soviet authorities took advantage of this situation and decided to demolish the buildings. All the rich utensils of the monastery and the temples were robbed by the local population, and the bells were thrown in the Danube. Almost all the novices and nuns left to live in Romania. Only a few women settled in Novosilske. The building where the nuns lived and two basements still survive. Barracks were built on the site of the monastery for the border outpost out of stones and bricks from the destroyed shrines. These buildings have been occupied since the 1960s and for more than 20 years by a pioneer camp. The relics of the Ferapontov Monastery in Novosilske include a 20 by 10 cm Christian catechism issued by the Chernivtsi printing house in 1849 and a 50 by 20 cm church diary printed by a Bucharest printing house in 1927. These values are now preserved by relatives of their former owners. Two shrines in St. Ferapontov’s Church – the icons of Our Lady “Comfort” and “Skoroposlushnitsa” – are now in St. Nicholas Church in the village of Novosilske.
Holy Ascension Cathedral
The Holy Ascension Cathedral is located in the town square, in the center of Reni. The temple dominates the building and is visible far beyond the city. The cathedral was built in the style of classicism in late 1857, at the expense of Daria Gavrilovna Kovrigina, in memory of her son, who died in the Russo-Turkish war. It was blessed on June 27, 1858 by the icon of St. Simeon Stilitul, which is still preserved in the Reni Regional Museum of Local History and Tradition. The cathedral was painted by academician Pavel Piskarev, who knew monumental and easel painting well. Above the entrance to the temple was painted by Menzopol, Greek professor of drawing and painting, the scene “The Appearance of Christ to the People”. The paper was decorated with mosaic crumbs, the area was surrounded by a stone fence with a wrought-iron countertop. The icon of John the Baptist, to which the image of the King was attached, has survived. Since 2005, the Holy Ascension Cathedral in Reni has been classified as an architectural monument of regional importance.
The Church of Constantine and Helen
The church of Constantine and Helen is located at the entrance in Reni. This temple has its own history: once there was a small church on this site, which is said to have been blessed on the occasion of the successful storm of the Ismail fortress by the great General Suvorov. There is data confirming that Suvorov and the Grenadier Regiments arrived from Galați and headed for Ismail, which means that the road passed through Reni.
Church of St. Archangel Michael in the village of Plavni
The church of St. Michael in the village of Plavni was built of brick in 1883. According to the locals, a significant part of the money for the construction of the church was given by a villager, Pataraki’s grandfather. It took 7 years to build the temple. After 7-9 years, a fence was built with the donations of the peasants. The church functioned in the 20th century but was closed on May 9, 1962. Crosses, utensils, icons, and other utensils were then stolen. In the early 1980s, the Soviet authorities tried to turn the temple into a museum, but the villagers did not allow it. Due to the resilience and efforts of the community, in 1988 the church reopened after a major renovation. There was also a wooden church in this place – one of the 729 (770) churches that existed in Bessarabia until 1812. Today, on the location of that church there is a stone building with a cross and a rectangular base in the courtyard of the current church. This structure, according to experts, was installed on the site of the altar of the old temple.
Reni, soaring to the sky, or the star story of a town.
Not every town in Ukraine can be proud of having a planet named after it. But the town of Reni has one, and for this reason, the whole world had the chance to talk about it. The planet Reni-1792 was discovered by a scientist from the Crimean Observatory Lyudmila Chernykh and she named it in honor of the famous astronomer Alexander Deitch, who is originally from Reni. It is known that this planet is small and has a diameter of only 23 kilometers. It is located in the constellation of Cancer and is listed in the International Catalog of Planets under number 1792. It makes a complete revolution around the Sun in 4.63 Earth years and has an irregular shape. The planet Reni, due to its elongated orbit, constantly changes its distance to the Sun, which varies from 300 to 530 million kilometers. At one point, the city’s libraries received a lot of material from the Crimean Observatory about this amazing planet in the solar system as well as about Lyudmila Chernykh, so everyone can learn a lot of interesting things about this scientist’s activities and the planet itself. It is known that astronomer Lyudmila Chernykh occupied an honorable place among women scientists in terms of the number of asteroids discovered: she managed to find 267 cosmic bodies. Later, in honor of the planet Reni, a memorial sign was erected near the alley in the city park, from where can be reached the house where the famous astronomer Alexander Deitch lived. By the way, Deitch’s key research activities were in the field of photographic astrometry and stellar astronomy. He was able to determine the movement of nearly 18,000 stars. He also studied the invisible satellite of the double star 61 Swan. Under his leadership, we studied the absolute motion of stars relative to galaxies. In addition, Deitch studied the outer atmosphere of the Sun. So all lovers of cosmic bodies and starry skies should come to Reni and get acquainted with the stellar history of this city.
Kotlovyna is a small village of great glory
There are a large number of small settlements in the Odessa region, but among them are those reminiscent of the great wars and the great soldiers. One such village is Kotlovyna. Here is the Glory Forest, reminiscent of the Russo-Turkish War. The village itself was founded by a small number of migrant families. They settled in these places, built a small church here, planted trees, built houses and a well. According to legend, in Kolovina, near the well, stopped to rest soldiers who took part in the Turkish-Russian wars. They were preparing to cross the Danube in a hurry. Here the soldiers set up a camp, and rested, waiting for the tzar’s arrival. Therefore, the locals call the forest in the Daalik Basin the Memorial Forest. According to the locals, they are very proud of the memorable forest. A large number of tourists come here every year, so the elders are happy to tell them about this fragment of history. In 2006, unique treasures of gold and silver were found near the town of Kotlovyna. These included swords, daggers, military equipment. All these discoveries were decorated with precious stones. In 2012, a gold plate from the 4th-5th centuries was found in Kotlovyna near Lake Yalpug. Archaeologists say the discovery is an ancient treasure of the Huns. In fact, this gold plate has caused a real “gold rush” among the local population. The locals say that among treasure hunters there was also a large number of “rogue” tourists and archaeologists.
The Reni Crossing is the place visited by King Darius and Alexander the Great
Another amazing attraction of the Reni territorial community is the famous crossing, which is seven kilometers from the village of Novosilske. It is a crossing of the Danube and many generals have crossed it with their troops. Thus, it was used by the Persian king Darius I, who set out to conquer Scythia, the great general Alexander the Great, the Roman emperor Trajan, and many others who were forced to cross the Danube. In the Russo-Turkish War of 1828, the
Russian troops led by Nicholas I used in on May 27th. After crossing the Danube, the Russian tsar ordered the erection of a memorial sign. Later, a massive iron-cast monument was erected on the site of the memorial to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1888 military campaign. Such monuments, which embody greatness, power, and immortality, take the form of stone obelisks of the temples of ancient Egypt. From the crossing point, one can clearly see the remains of the Lower Trojan Wall, which the Romans built in the 1st century AD. (The length of this ancient defensive fortification is 126 km), and the crossing itself connects Kartal and Kugurlui lakes.
The picturesque Cahul Lake is a place of peace and romance
Quiet and picturesque lake Cahul – a real gem of Odessa. The stunning beauty of the surrounding nature, the unique landscapes, and the aquatic space do not leave anyone indifferent. Lake Cahul is located on the territory of the Reni community in the Odesa region, near the village of Nagirne, and is the southernmost point of Ukraine after the Crimea. A piece of the lake – about 1 km – belongs to Moldova. It is very hot and almost windless. The steppe air offers a light charge of vitality. This is the nesting place of many birds, and their nests can be seen on the limestone cliffs. Part of the lake, as well as of its shore is part of the “Lake Cahul” natural reserve. The northern shores of Cahul are high and steep, with many beams. There were once rivers that flowed into the lake. The southern shores are not that tall. There is a lot of reed in these places as well as swamps. The lake is connected to the Danube through several channels. Previously, Cahul was used as a reservoir. The bottom is muddy, the shore is sandy. The water in the lake is sweet. In winter, Lake Cahul freezes. In summer, these places are very hot: the average temperature reaches a stable + 30 degrees. But there is a place to hide from the heat here – there are many trees by the coast. The lake is located in the steppe area. Not far from it is a canyon with a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding beauty. Among the fish found in the Cahul are the bream, the silver carp, the catfish, and the pike. There is no infrastructure developed on the shores of Lake Cahul. Therefore, if you plan to eat in the car and stay by the lake for more than a day – bring a tent. This type of recreation is suitable for those who love wildlife and peace. On Lake Cahul you can swim, admire, and fish. The water is extremely hot. In the evening you can watch the magnificent sunset on the edge of a cliff. Cahul is a place of peace, tranquility and true love.
The “white” pyramids of the Odessa region
If you suddenly want to admire the pyramids it is not necessary to go to Egypt, because the amazing “white” pyramids are located very close, in the Odessa region, near the village of Plavni. Here, unique clay dunes were formed as a result of erosion processes on the shores of the Yalpug Danube Lake in the Odessa region. The view of the area is like being from a remote country, in an exotic desert, not in the Odessa region. When you sit by the water and raise your head, you may even wake up somewhere in the desert, among the mysterious dunes, with the camels about to appear on the winding path. The pyramids are the product of constant erosion processes, which continuously erode the shores of the reservoir. The place is very atmospheric and perfect for relaxation and intimacy with nature. And the floodplains and surrounding wetlands add only charm and mystery. From ancient times, people have built houses out of what is there – clay, sand, reeds, lake stones. Wood was lacking, being brought from Moldova. Wells were dug and the same stones were used for them too. It takes a long time to reach the “white” pyramids, but they offer rewarding landscapes. So the trip is worth it. The idea of using the opportunities offered by nature’s bizarre coastal structures to attract tourists is quite hotly debated by local authorities, as the flow of tourists would help Plavny to significantly increase its budget.
Lake Kugurlui
This is the name given to the floodplain in southwestern Ukraine, which is located in southern Bessarabia. The lake is divided between two regional districts – Reni and Izmailiv. Kugurlui is the second largest lake in Ukraine after Yalpug and is even connected to it through a channel. The shores of the lake are picturesque green areas covered with reeds and tails. Here, on the coast, there are places for the nesting of unique birds – on this lake is the only colony in the country of Pelecanus crispus – the largest bird in Europe. By the way, in addition to bird nests, the place offers also excellent fishing opportunities: fishermen catch carps, perches, breams, pikes, and catfish of up to 30 kilograms! There are also a lot of crawfish. The infrastructure on the lake is undeveloped, so people come here primarily for “wild” recreation, with tents and gatherings around the fire. The wild nature of the lake and its endless surface of water attracts tourists not only from the whole region but also from abroad.
The stone mountain
Stone Mountain is a unique historical and natural monument in the Odessa region. It has attracted people’s attention since prehistoric times. Not far from it, there have been discovered the remains of some settlements from the Copper Age (Humelnitsky culture) from the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The Romans used the advantageous strategic position of Stone Mountain as an outpost of the border point and built a fortress on it. The people first settled on Stone Mountain in the 8th century BC. In 1962, the archaeological value of the Stone Mountain began to be carefully studied, and in 1967 a treasure of kizikin was discovered. All its coins are of the largest denomination – staters, whose average weight is about 16 grams (in the nineteenth century in the Reni region was found the Anatolian treasure of staters). Kizikins are interesting coins of the ancient world. These were thick, irregularly shaped circles with an image of the entrance on one side and a square embossed on the back.
Yalpug Lake
The second largest lake in Europe and the largest in Ukraine is Lake Yalpug, located in the southwestern part of Ukraine in the Danube basin. It should be noted that the length of Yalpug is 25 kilometers, width – 7 kilometers, maximum depth – 5.5 meters, total area – 149 km². In the southern part of the lake, there is a channel that leads to another Bessarabian lake – Kugurlui. The underground spring of Lake Yalpug is located in Moldova in the village of the same name Yalpug. The height above sea level is only 2.4 m. This reservoir is the only one that supplies water to the city of Bolgrade. The lake itself is very beautiful, as from its shores can be seen incredible landscapes and paintings. There is an old oak tree, which the locals carefully protect. It is said that when Alexander Pushkin traveled to the Odessa region, the lake made an unforgettable impression on him and he decided to plant an oak tree on its shore. Whether or not this is the case is difficult to judge, but the locals support this legend and at the same time take care of the oak.
