On Sunday, June 29, we celebrate International Danube Day, a tribute to the river that connects ten countries and four European capitals. In Romania, the Danube can be explored through thematic routes that blend nature, history, and gastronomy. Within the "Attractive Romania" program, the Danube serves as the narrative thread for five cultural routes and numerous remarkable tourist attractions: from ancient and medieval fortresses to villages with vernacular architecture, gastronomic trails, and corners of the Danube Delta that highlight the history, nature, and traditions of Danubian communities.

On the Cultural Landscape Route of the Danube Delta, Attractive Romania invites you to isolated villages along the river’s canals, such as Chilia Veche and Periprava. Here, the traditional fishermen’s houses made of adobe and covered with reed roofs tell a story of adaptation, isolation, and survival. It is a landscape of rare beauty where the past intertwines with the present, and even the shadows of recent history—like the former labor colony at Periprava—become part of a unique and complex cultural experience.

From the heart of the Delta emerges the Danubian Cuisine, featured on the Traditional Romanian Gastronomy Route, where fish soup is more than just a dish—it has become a ceremonial tradition. Cooked on boats with fresh fish and aromatic lovage, this dish reflects the customs of the Lipovan fishing communities. Alongside delicacies like pike roe salad from Tulcea or smoked Danube shad—both Romanian traditional products with EU Protected Geographical Indication status—this regional cuisine becomes a true map of local flavors.

On the same route, the Dobrogean Flavors and Wines Experience reveals the millennia-old influence of the Danube on the region’s terroir and cuisine. Dobrogean pie, Turkish delight pastries, and local wines create a symphony of taste where tradition and cultural diversity are present in every glass and on every plate.

Also along the Danube banks, in Giurgiu County, the Vlăscean-Giurgiu Gastronomy Trail brings together recipes with Ottoman and Balkan influences, such as "dolangaciu" or "căpriță pie" (where căpriță refers to a wild spinach-like plant found abundantly in the area, part of the spontaneous flora appreciated by locals, according to romania-atractiva.ro). This route, stretching from Slobozia to Comana, takes you through villages, monasteries, eco-routes, and boyar mansions in a journey where local dishes tell the stories of the land.

In Peceneaga, Tulcea County, traditional households along the Măcin Branch of the Danube reflect a unique cultural mosaic. Here, Turanic, Balkan, and Lipovan influences converge in the vernacular architecture and daily life of the locals. Adobe homes with mythological decorations, charming winding streets, and the stories of the people bring to life the spirit of a community living in harmony with the Danube and with time itself.

In Corabia, the Roman-Byzantine Fortress of Sucidava stands as testimony to a multi-secular history. The secret fountain, ruins of the Paleo-Christian basilica, and remnants of Constantine the Great’s bridge reconstruct the military glory and exceptional engineering of the Roman Empire in Dacia.

Further upstream along the Danube, the Roman Fort of Hinova offers a window into the past with its seven towers and archaeological treasures, such as the prehistoric treasure discovered here—9,639 gold items weighing nearly 5 kilograms. It is a place where military history meets archaeological fascination.

In Drobeta-Turnu Severin, the Drobeta Fort is closely linked to the famous bridge built by Apollodorus of Damascus. Along with the amphitheater and Roman baths, the fort is part of a spectacular archaeological complex where you can walk in the footsteps of Roman soldiers who once guarded the Danube nearly two millennia ago. According to romania-atractiva.ro, the Roman baths in Drobeta are the second largest and most complex in Dacia, after those at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa.

Near the Danube Delta, the Histria Fortress, the oldest city on Romanian territory, evokes Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras. Destroyed and rebuilt over 20 times throughout its nearly 14 centuries of uninterrupted existence, Histria remains a true time capsule between the East and Central Europe.

In Mehedinți, the Medieval Fortress of Severin proudly overlooks the Danube. Built starting in the 13th century and fought over by Wallachian rulers, Hungarians, and Ottomans, the fortress was once a strategic and religious bastion. Today, through exhibitions, scenic viewpoints, and stories of knights, Severin has reclaimed its place of honor on the map of Romanian cultural tourism.