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Spend a week exploring one of the most captivating sections of the Lower Danube! Begin and end in Belgrade, capital of the former Yugoslavia and capital of Serbia today! On to pretty Donji Milanovac, whose pristine setting is nothing short of stunning. But the scenery here is just the warm-up act for your highlight passage through the rugged Iron Gates, a series of gorges forming the border between Serbia and Romania. Featuring jagged rock faces and steep, tree-covered banks, this is nature at its best. Also spend time in Giurgiu, Romania, with its “Friendship Bridge” crossing the Danube to Ruse, Bulgaria’s colorful Little Venice; Svistov, the river’s southernmost port; and Vidin, home to the country’s only fully preserved medieval castle—and an exceptional wine-making tradition. Returning to Romania, visit Turnu Severin, where remains of Trajan’s Bridge can be spotted from the river. The first bridge over the Lower Danube, this was one of the Romans’ greatest architectural achievements.
The Serbian capital city has much to offer; the fortress is a testament of Belgrade’s importance through history. Visit the Nikola Tesla Museum or learn more about former Yugoslavia via the museum of the same name. Explore on foot or by bike.
The Danube has often forced the small town on the Serbian bank to relocate - in the past because of flooding, and more recently because the Iron Gate power station has changed the river landscape. The magnificent natural setting of the Derdap National Park, which surrounds the town, remains unimpressed. Nearby, archaeologists have unearthed a sensation: Sculptures, weapons and tools up to 9,000 years old bear witness to an advanced Stone Age civilisation - Lepenski Vir, one of the oldest settlements in Europe.
One of Bulgaria's oldest towns nestles like a crescent on the banks of the Danube, dominated by the imposing medieval fortress of Baba Vida. It offers a glimpse into its eventful history - and a view of the enchanting river landscape. Vidin is a city of architectural diversity - ancient traces of the Thracians and Romans, Bulgaria's second largest cathedral, magnificent Ottoman buildings and an unadorned socialist heritage. An enchanting journey through time.
The Ottomans built the Clock Tower in the centre of the city in 1771 as a watchtower. They ruled the strategically important city on the Danube for a long time, and the ruins of the 14th-century fortress still bear witness to its eventful past. It was not until the 19th century that the tower began to tell the time. Back then, Giurgiu was known throughout Europe to wealthy globetrotters because the legendary Orient Express stopped here. Now crusaders are discovering the border town. A 2.2-kilometre-long bridge over the Danube connects it to Ruse on the Bulgarian bank.
Ruse not only has the largest Danube port and the highest television tower in Bulgaria. The imposing urban ensemble, known as "Little Vienna", has been awarded the European Heritage Label. Magnificent Belle Epoque buildings, the Opera House, the Palace of Justice and the Pantheon of the Heroes of the National Revival line Freedom Square. With wide boulevards, green squares and an extensive Danube promenade, Ruse is perfect for strolling.
Welcome to the southernmost point on the Danube! The Romans fought the barbarians here in ancient times, the Austrians and Ottomans signed a historic peace treaty in 1791, and the Russians and Turks fought each other. Today, Swischtow is a charming little town with pretty alleys, well-preserved historic buildings and a picturesque riverside promenade. And the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity has stood on the highest hill since 1867.
Well-fortified: The 13th-century Severin Castle was not the first fortress here; the Romans secured this area 2,000 years ago: the remains of ancient Drobeta are now an open-air museum. The Wallachian town preserves the traces of its history and has been called Drobeta-Turnu Severin since 1972. An ancient landmark, Trajan's Bridge, once spanned the Danube for more than 1000 metres. Some of its mighty pillars still stand.