Enisala Medieval Fortress is situated in Tulcea county, on the western bank of the Lake Razelm (Razim). There are two access ways to the citadel. From Constanta you need 1,5 hours by car to cover the 100 km via DN22 / E87 to Babadag, then DJ 223A to Enisala and then DJ 222 a little to Jurilovca until the signpost to the fortress. From Tulcea you arrive in 45 minutes if you come by the most direct road, DJ222. The road from Babadag to Enisala and its continuation is also called Road of the North Dobrogene Fortresses. Enisala Fortress is visible from a distance as you come from Babadag towards Enisala, perched on the top of the hill.
The road to the fortress is asphalted and there is a parking lot with toilets nearby. From the parking lot you pass a barrier on foot and the paved road leads you to the ticket office. At the time of our visit - April 2021 - admission costs 8 lei for adults and 4 lei for concession tickets. Open from 9 am - 20 pm. From the ticket office there is a metal staircase leading up to the entrance of the fortress.
Enisala Medieval Citadel or Yeni-Sale Medieval Fortress was built in the 14th century. It had a strategic role and was intended to monitor land and water traffic, both on the Danube and on the Black Sea at the river's mouth. The Genoese merchants, who had a monopoly on navigation in the Black Sea, are believed to have had an interest in the erection of the North-Dubrovnik fortress. In the 15th century the fortress was part of the defensive system of the Romanian Lands, being defended by an Ottoman garrison, when the Turks advanced beyond the Danube Gorges. After this period the fortress was abandoned, not fulfilling the purpose for which it was built. It was preserved quite well, in places its walls reach 10 meters high.
A spectacular ruin around which you can admire the Razelm Lake towards Gura Portitei where it communicates with the Black Sea, canals and smaller lakes in the direction of Brat Sfantu Gheorghe in the Danube Delta or simply the Dobrogea's Podis.
view from the citadel
Lake Razelm
Fortress Hill
The fortress is located at the top Fortress Hill, a hill with a limestone structure. Obviously, the construction elements of the fortress are also made of limestone. The best preserved main gate bastion with a double arch, a feature of oriental medieval architecture.
view of Lake Razelm from the citadel
Enisala Fortress wall
access ladder
main gate bastion
Near the fortress there is also a museum presenting the history of the place as well as archaeological finds.
museum
archaeological finds
in the museum
museum of the fortress
Obviously, on the way back, I didn't refrain from walking on the rocky crest of the hill, to my great satisfaction together with my daughter, Denisa (10). Enisala Fortress is an interesting tourist attraction on the shores of Lake Razelm, once the watchtower of the Danube and Black Sea trade.
Visit also city of Tulcea and Danube Delta Ecotouristic Museum Center from Tulcea, Enisala Boxwood Reserve or Chubby Cape and Argamum Fortress of Jurilovca.
All the best!
Steps:
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