Macin Mountains National Park, the Old Mountains of Dobrogea

Rising above the steppe of northern Dobrogea, the Macin Mountains are among the oldest mountains in Romania. They were raised more than 250 million years ago, and time has worn them down from high peaks to a chain of rocky, rounded ridges. What remains is one of the most striking landscapes in the region, and a world very different from the reed beds and channels of the Danube Delta, only an easy drive away.

Old mountains, low peaks

The Macin Mountains belong to the Hercynian chain, far older than the Carpathians. Their peaks are modest, the highest being Tutuiatu at 467 metres, but the geology is varied and the granite ridges give the hills a wild, almost alpine look. To the west the mountains are bordered by the Danube, to the south by the Greci and Cerna depressions, and to the north east they fade into the Dobrogea Plateau.

Flora

Thanks to their position, the Macin Mountains hold a rare mix of steppe, Balkan, Mediterranean and Central European plants. In the forests you find downy oak, sessile oak and manna ash. On the open slopes grow rare species such as the steppe peony, which flowers in a spectacular way in spring, and the Dobrogea bellflower, a plant found only in this part of the world.

Wildlife

For birders the mountains are a true paradise. More than 180 bird species have been recorded in the national park, and the open slopes are hunting ground for birds of prey such as the Long-legged Buzzard and the Short-toed Snake Eagle. In summer European Bee-eaters nest along the slopes, and the rocky areas are home to the Pied Wheatear. Among the mammals are the wildcat and the steppe polecat, and on the sunny slopes lives the Spur-thighed Tortoise, one of the reptiles of our reptiles and amphibians list.

Trails

The national park has several marked hiking trails, each with its own character. The most popular leads to Tutuiatu Peak, the highest point of the mountains. Another follows the Pricopan ridge, with wide views over Dobrogea and the Danube, and others cross the oak forests and the valleys, where wildlife is easiest to meet.

Visiting

The national park is open all year. The best seasons are spring and autumn, when the temperatures are mild and the landscape is at its most beautiful. The usual access is through the towns of Greci and Macin, where you also find accommodation. From Tulcea the drive is short, on good roads, so a day of birding or hiking in the Macin Mountains fits easily before or after your days in the Danube Delta.

The Macin Mountains and the Danube Delta are two faces of the same county: one of rock and steppe, the other of water and reeds. Seeing both gives you a fuller picture of the nature of Dobrogea. Ask us about adding a day in Dobrogea to your birdwatching tour.