Things to do
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Cazanele Dunării
The narrowest and deepest stretch of the Danube, where the river closes to under 200 metres between limestone walls rising 300 metres, split into the Great and Small Cauldrons. Boats run from Dubova and Orșova, the bank road has tunnels and laybys for the view, and the water is stillest early in the day.
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Decebalus Rock Sculpture
A face of the last Dacian king carved into the cliff between 1994 and 2004, 40 metres high and the tallest rock sculpture in Europe. It was privately commissioned and it is reached only by boat. It faces the Mraconia monastery across the water and the launches from Dubova pass under it.
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Iron Gates Natural Park
A protected area of about 115,000 hectares along the Danube's Carpathian passage, the largest natural park in the country, taking in the gorge, the Trajan tablet and a Mesolithic settlement at Schela Cladovei. The park office is in Orșova, and the gorge road is its one continuous route from end to end.
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Mraconia Monastery
A monastery on the right bank rebuilt in 1993 above the waterline, replacing a foundation drowned when the reservoir filled. It faces the Decebal carving across the water, is reached by road along the Romanian bank, and has a small quay below it for the boats coming up from Orșova.
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Ponicova Cave
A cave system near the entrance to the gorge with a passage that opens directly onto the Danube, so it is entered by boat and left on foot or the reverse. Trips are arranged in Dubova and take about two hours, and a torch and shoes with grip are needed inside.
