Danube Delta IVAN Pension-Chilia Veche-the name given by the legendary Greek warrior Achille
IVAN’s Pension is located in a wonderful and picturesque place, halfway between Chilia Veche and Mila 23. It is adjacent to the only hermitage of monks in the Danube Delta – the St. Athanasius Hermitage, better known as the Stipoc Monastery – on one of the canals that flows into the Chilia Veche branch, the longest branch of the Danube river.
The deltaic surroundings invite you to adventure, because you can wander for days without getting bored through the 16 natural reserves with specific characteristics of flora and fauna, among which are the Roșca-Buhaiova-Hrecisca Reserve, the Letea Forest, the Periteașca-Leahova Reserve, the Caraorman forest – each with its own history and legend, which you can learn from the hospitable locals.
Travelers through the Danube Delta can stop at the old port of Chilia Veche, named after the legendary Greek warrior Achille, the town being over time an important meeting point for traders from all over the world. The pride of the most populated locality in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is the Orthodox Church dedicated to „Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel”, 52 meters high – the second highest in Romania! -, whose construction combines three architectural styles – Gothic, Slavic and Romanian.
Also near the guesthouse, 15 minutes by boat, there are Lake Babina, Lake Dracului, Lake Matiţa, Lake Merheiul Mare and Merheiul Mic.
SPORT ACTIVITIES
Ivan’s pension offers you a wide range of activities from which you can choose what suits you best to give you an unforgettable experience.
Motorboats and boatman are available for those who want to go boating to explore the wild beauties of the Danube Delta, admire unrepeatable sunsets from the clean lakes around or photograph the colonies of pelicans and swans that populate the area or the unique flowers in the world.
SPORT FISHING
Keen or amateur anglers can fish in peace with their own gear, or we can provide them.
BOAT TRIPS
Ivan’s guesthouse offers you the opportunity to admire the wild beauty of the Danube Delta up close.
PHOTO TOUR
Photography enthusiasts will have the opportunity to immortalize unforgettable images in unique places in the world.
BIRD WATCHING
Bird lovers can admire unique specimens in the world, specific to the Danube Delta.
Kayaking
Ivan’s guesthouse provides you with the necessary boats and accessories.
CYCLING
Bike rides provided by Ivan Pension.
ROSCA-BUHAIOVA RESERVATION – 9625 HA
The area is in the northern part of the delta and is represented by a complex of lakes and ponds, it includes a great diversity of biotopes representative of the fluvial delta such as: floating and fixed plaurs, shrubby swamps, lakes, river banks, natural sloughs, floodplains, willow groves, etc. It is found around the Matita lake between the Letea and Chilia creeks.
This area has been protected since 1940 – when it was declared a nature reserve, and since 1979 it has been declared a biosphere reserve together with the Letea Forest. The reason why it was declared a strictly protected area is the presence in these lakes of the largest common pelican colony (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in Europe. At the moment there are more than 3,500 pairs of common pelicans here that come together to nest, as well as other birds such as the great egret, the little egret and the shovelers, species that enjoy the same status as the former. The night heron and the cormorant are also found in large numbers.
LETEA FOREST – 2825 HA
The Letea Forest is located in the northern part of the Delta, east of the C.A.Rosetti commune. The strictly protected area includes only a part of the total area of the forest, a part that has been under protection since 1930 and became a nature reserve starting with 1938.
If you want to know the faith of the Lipovian Russians, we invite you to visit the Lipovian Church in Chilia Veche. The church is Orthodox Christian of the old rite. Among the few differences in the rite, we mention: the sign of the cross in Staroveri is done with two fingers (with the index and middle finger) and not with three, representing God-the-Father and God-the-Son (the other three fingers together symbolizing the Holy Trinity); the Russian Staroveri cross is eight-cornered (extremities); the circumambulation of the church during the processions is done after the rotation of the sun (after the rotation of the hands of the clock); the Savior’s name is spelled with a single I: Jesus; the celebration of the liturgy is done with 7 fasts and not with 5; icons are still made today in the Byzantine style and only on wood or metal.
