Mahmudia

The village of Mahmudia is located in the centre of Tulcea County, the hystoric region of Dobrogea, in the Danube Delta. Mahmudia is also seat village of the commune of the same name, located on the right bank of Sf. Gheorghe branch.

The village can be accessed by land and water; access roads to the village are DJ222C and DJ229K county roads going north to Tulcea City (30 km), and south to Murighiol. The geographical position of the commune of Mahmudia favoured the development of specific occupations, some traditional - fishing, plant growing, grazing, others more recent - shipping, mining, tourism, services.

The main occupations are related to mining industry, trade, industrial fishing, forestry and transport. Fishing is most representative for the economy of Mahmudia and it is one of the oldest occupations of inhabitants of this place; the mining industry is represented by S.C. MIN.EST MAHMUDIA S.A. which provides jobs to 10% of inhabitants; agriculture and  forestry represent traditional occupations along with farming; a trade port allows the storage of metallurgical limestone for the iron and steel works S.C. SIDEX ISPAT GALATI; limestone is transported by inland waterway.

The commune of Mahmudia is above all a tourist area. The beauty and diversity of landscape, the richness and variety of archaeological vestiges make this commune unique and attract visitors from all over the world. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the site Natura 2000, Bestebe Hills (host large numbers of protected species of birds among which 7 are endangered species) and the ruins of Salsovia fortress (vestiges of a roman-bysantine fortress located on a promontory on the branch of Sf. Gheorghe) are major tourist attractions.

The commune attractiveness will be enhanced by the implementation of the project ECOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF MAHMUDIA COMMUNE LAND WITHIN THE CARASUHAT PRECINCTS that was developed within the Sectoral Operational Programme, SOP Environment – Priority Axis 4 – Implementation of Adequate Management Systems for the Protection of Nature. A minidelta will be established to be used for eco-tourism as well as fishing, reed harvesting and traditional grazing. The area will become very attractive to anyone who wonders through the deltaic land of Mahmudia. Other points of tourist interest are:

-          only few points of the seafront in Mahmudia, which was designed as a promenade, do not exceed 250 m in height; it offers beautiful view points on the branch of the Danube, Sf. Gheorghe and the Danube Delta;

-          Fisherman House, a mini-museum recently opened in Mahmudia, where scenes of fishing communities’ life in the Danube Delta can be seen. The Fisherman House took shape in the courtyard of the Lippovan Russians Community, in a specific building (a traditional gazebo made of wood and reed). Tourists arriving in organized groups will have the opportunity to learn some secrets of the traditional cuisine and can eat fried fish or fish soup cooked by locals. Admission is free;

-          a museum of archaeology (black pottery, Roman amphorae, Roman bricks, mills etc.), ethnography (local fishing boats, wool processing tools etc.), numismatics (Roman Greek, Byzantine, Russian coins etc.) was opened within the school;

-          in the village there are two Romanian churches, three Lippovan Russian churches and a Muslim prayer house.

The commune offers accommodation (110 beds) in two hotels and 4 private boarding houses of 4, 3, 2 ​​stars or daisies, as well as a restaurant.

The local customs and traditions relate to the most important moments of life, people's faith and traditional concerns: Orthodox church dedication day and, in the first decade of August, miner day.     

Source: http://www.mahmudia.ro/, http://www.info-delta.ro/, http://www.ghidulprimariilor.ro, http://www.edelta.ro