Ostrov (Constanta)

Ostrov village is the seat of the commune of the same name in Constanta county. It is located in the south-western side of Dobrogea and it is included into the physical-geographical unit of the South Dobrogea Plateau, the subunity of Oltina Plateau. In the north the settlement is bordered on a length of 1.5 km by the Danube arm Ostrov.

The village is linked to the county seat, Constanta City, by DN3 national road (130 km); to Calarasi County and Calarasi City, by ferry crossing the Danube at Ostrov-Regie and Chiciu-Calarasi points respectively. Ostrov is a border point between Romania and Bulgaria and it is located only 7-8 km away from the town of Silistra (10 min.).

The centre of the village has been inhabited since Roman times – as proved by archaeological discoveries such as necropolis, coins, pottery kilns, thermal bath and domestic landfill. There are two hypotheses about the place the village was first settled. The first is based on local tradition and says the village was first developed on the left bank of Ostrov Arm, where now is located Ostrov island, and the name come from this island. The second says the village was settled on both sides of the Danube, 9 km away from Silistra, and it was also called Alunetul (hazel wood) or Fândâk in Turkish (after the small hazel wood that covered the place and that the villagers have cleared).

Most villagers work in viticulture, fruit growing, livestock breeding and grazing; the village has a fruit and vegetable market where the villagers sell their own products and those of neighboring settlements. Ostrov village is part of the Ostrov vineyards and is surrounded by noble vines whose grapes are famous throughout the country. The main vineyard is intended for the production of table grapes, but this culture also includes grapes intended for drying into raisins. High quality white wines produced in the vineyard are based on Sauvignon and Rkatiteli varieties.

As regards tourism, the village has a rich cultural heritage of which the most important and interesting sights are: the Roman baths of the ancient city Durostorum and the former Byzantine fortress Vicina, of the 10^th century, located on the island Pacuiul lui Soare. Nearby are the monastery Dervent and the ruins of Dervent, located just opposite the island Pacuiul lui Soare.

The natural tourist potential is a rich local resource. There is a striking similarity of the settlement neighbouring area with the Danube Delta: many river islands, with separating meanders and channels created by the Danube, the Delta-specific vegetation and fish species. According to information given by the Ministry of Environment, just a few kilometers away from the village of Ostrov there are two nature reserves - Bugeac Lake (mixed nature reserve) and fishery  and Esechioi forest (botanical and zoological nature reserve).

Lake Bugeac is the southernmost river shore in the country and is linked to the Danube River; the lake is the wintering place for a number of aquatic birds, some rare, such as the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus). It is worth mentioning the tourist unexplored cave which formed in the fossil deposits in the area, which is located on the right slope of Lake Bugeac.

A unique fact is that a so-called micro-delta of the Danube was created in Ostrov area, where tourists can come and practice river tourism on existing islands and channels; spectacular scenery can be admired on board of a ship leaving from Calarasi ("Prince Constantine"). Tourists can also practice sport fishing in Buceag lake and fresh air lovers can choose to walk in Esechioi forest.

Painting and sculpture camps are organized in Ostrov vineyard, where one can visit the exhibits in the wine tasting room or the sculptures in the garden.

Ostrov area offers few accommodations: a 7-8 room boarding house and the Dervent monastery, which offers accommodation to tourists and pilgrims.

Ostrov village, situated at the junction between two civilizations, the Roman and Bulgarian, kept its traditions and customs unaltered over time by the wave of modernity. There are customs and traditions related to the winter holidays, Palm Sunday, Easter, along with major events related to each family life – birth, marriage and death – that nowadays are unaltered in the village of Ostrov.         

Source:  http://ostrov.judetul-constanta.ro/ ro.wikipedia.org,  http://www.insse.ro