Filishano Chapel - A superb photograph by Emily Neal of the ceiling of this important national treasure has been added.
Last updated Saturday, 07th December, 2019
Adrian has discovered a new fossil site in the area of Mălăești.
Last updated Friday, 15th November, 2019
Adrian has discovered a new archaeology site in the area of Adancata Prioresti.
Much of the roof has been blown off Vogna church. The church has been inspected to determine whether the damage can be repaired.
Last updated Wednesday, 31st July, 2019
Clothing now comes in all shapes, sizes, and with messages.
Last updated Tuesday, 25th June, 2019
Bulgaria Today -this page is to show the good and the bad things about living in Bulgaria, some of the quirky and unusual things that may be found there. When passing through the Vidin municipality, Bulgaria, where a large park had been made for all people who love nature can walk, enjoy, and admire the landscape, Adrian was shocked that the Municipality had decided to remove the ancient artefacts from this open-area museum, translocating them to another location, near the Baba-Vida fortress, not far from where they were initially. When you remove historical artefacts, their new location must be recorded, so that none are forgotten or lost forever. When they are removed, there should be a study to determine if it is better, in fact, to leave them where they are, as an historical lesson and an educational activity, than to put them in another place which may not be the best place for them. When a pretence is made to take care of historical artefacts, at least they should be kept as clean as possible.
In November 2018 Adrian was just passing by a new apartment in Craiova, and he saw that one of the apartments had only a balcony and no window and no door! A door appeared overnight. Today a new window appeared to complete the landscape. So, they first made a new building but they forgot to make any windows or doors to the balcony for the flat at the third floor. After one year, they cut a door in the wall, and today they inserted also the missing windows, in the same way!
Last updated Saturday, 01st June, 2019
One never knows when an art work worthy of Marcel Janco or Demetre Chiparus will appear on Romanian streets. Adrian has discovered two such Art Deco masterpieces.
Cioroiu Nou was visited by Adrian at Easter 2019, and was carefully checked for any changes that may have occurred. In general, the site was in reasonable condition, although the tower and the bridge need minor repairs.
Last updated Sunday, 21st April, 2019
Adrian and Alexandru were walking in the area of Bilta village, Filiasi Town, Dolj County, when they discovered a new archaeological site which seems to be from the bronze age or earlier. Several artefacts were found in the area. The Alexis Project has found a total of more than 200 new historical sites in the last 17 years, a remarkable achievement!
On 30.03.2019, Adrian discovered a new archaeology site in the area of Tatomiresti village, Brădeşti Municipality, Dolj county, Romania. In accordance with the Law, samples of artefacts (pottery and bones) and an official document was sent to Brădeşti municipality to proceed. The new site seems to be from the Bronze Age, 'Verbicioara culture' or perhaps later.
Last updated Friday, 19th April, 2019
The ancient medieval fortress known as Gradishte (a common Bulgarian word for a fortress) or Vratitsa (as it was called in the Middle Ages) is located near today's northwestern Bulgarian city of Vratsa at the canyon of the Vartaeshnitsa River. It is located near the Vrattsata Pass (meaning 'door'), which gave its name to the city of Vratsa, using the natural defences of the mountainous terrain. The Gradishte or Vratitsa Fortress is an Ancient Thracian, Roman, Early Byzantine, and medieval Bulgarian city. There are hypotheses that the Thracian settlement may have been the capital of one of the major Ancient Thracian tribes, the Tribali, who inhabited today's Northwest Bulgaria.
Last updated Sunday, 24th March, 2019
From time to time, Adrian returns to evaluate the situation of objectives found by the Alexis Project from some years past, as shown in this historical photograph from 12 years ago, of an old spring in reasonable condition, with traditional Romanian wooden horse heads. It is now destroyed by time and neglect.
Last updated Tuesday, 22nd January, 2019
'The Path of Clay' is a cross-border project between Bulgarian and Romanian partners, following identification, evaluation and promotion the processing centers of the clay on both sides of the Danube and the creation of a specific touristic route in the benefit of national identity affirmation in the European context.
Welcome to the IMPACT project page. Here you can plan, organise and travel to the Romania - Bulgaria region. Before you start your trip, check our route and visitors suggestions. Check out our photos and videos, choose the best route, sites to visit, accommodations and services.
Statues in Bucharest made of cheap alloys, but paid for with expensive money
On 1 December 2018, Adrian made the long drive of 400 Km from Filiasi, Romania to Grivitsa, Pleven district, Bulgaria. It was a foggy day, with ice on the road, a difficult crossing over the Danube River, and very very cold. Adrian went to pay tribute to Romanian heroes from the Independence war, (1877-1878) having in mind that this important day is when his motherland, Romania, was born 100 years ago.
Last updated Tuesday, 04th December, 2018
Adrian went to Cernatesti, Dolj county, to see the Kula (a traditional defence tower from the XVIIth century) there. Although it has been stated that this important historical monument is the target of a project to be repaired it was found to be in a very bad condition.
Last updated Friday, 23rd November, 2018
The Alexis group and friends have done some research on a hill near to Radovan village, Dolj County, known as Magure iepii. A few Roman artefacts and stone age artefacts were recovered, but not many. Even though the 'Magura' is huge, the Alexis Group believes that it is a natural form, not a tumul or ancient fortress. Negative results are still extremely valuable in archaeology.
Last updated Saturday, 10th November, 2018
Dr. Walter Kaiserling became chief surgeon of the Army Reserves, and was stationed on the Russian front in 1918. When the Bolsheviks took over Russia and made peace with Germany, he was sent home. On the way home the train stopped in Romania, and the troops on the train were asked if any doctors were on board as the local doctor had died.
Dr Kaiserling got off the train to tend to the sick, contracted Typhoid Fever and Diphtheria and died. He left behind a wife, a 5 year old daughter, and a son, 7 months old. He was interred on 30th January 1918 at 0300 in Craiova, Romania.
At the end of July, 2018, Dr Gheorghe and the nephew of Dr Walter Kaiserling, Holger Kaiserling, visited the grave.
Last updated Saturday, 01st September, 2018
Alexandru and his father entered a competition for the design of a Himalayan Mountain Hut with an excellent project.
Alexandru and his father entered a competition for the design of a Bird Observation Tower Project with an excellent entry, as shown here. The competition entry was for an architecture project, an observation tower for bird watching in Pape Nature Park, in Latvia.
Alexandru has created an academic project conceived and created on the ruin of Vogna Church during the last academic year, in autumn, and presented at a scientific conference May 20-21 2015. The paper may be viewed as a pdf in either Romanian or English.
Last updated Thursday, 25th May, 2017
The destruction of Gruitsa Church continues.
Last updated Wednesday, 19th April, 2017
Media Reports - This is the latest file about Cioroiu Nou from Monica Stuparu, Gazeta de Sud, 11.03.2017
Last updated Saturday, 11th March, 2017
NGO Alexis Project - European Projects
The path of the clay procurements
Last updated Thursday, 02nd March, 2017
Impact Procurements - Anunt de Atribure
Pentru achiziţia directa de servicii de expertiza in achizitii publice
Last updated Wednesday, 01st February, 2017
Alexandru's Portfolio for 2016. This is a superb body of work, and vividly shows Alexandru's talents and versatility in Architecture and in presentation, from a Himalayan Mountain Hut to a Boutique Hotel including the restoration of a century old historical monument as part of the design project. He has international architectural experience, when as part of a paid internship to the U.A.E. for two months, he designed the exterior of a block of apartments in Sharjah for a client.
Last updated Tuesday, 20th September, 2016
Alexandru's latest Curriculum Vitae.
Alexandru's Certificate of Graduation as an Architect from 'Ion Mincu' University of Architecture and Urban Planning, Bucharest. His performance and grades in this degree were exemplary.
Near the small village of Bilta, deep inside the forests, can be found old wooden crosses erected in memory of ancestors. This is an old Oltenian tradition. We are starting to make an inventory of these ethnographical monuments.
Last updated Saturday, 13th August, 2016
Here is a picture in which a person is trying to fish in the Jiu river, trying also to convince us that results will come only if you try!
Last updated Thursday, 21st April, 2016
There is a huge natural protected area near Ciupercenii Noi Municipality, Dolj County. It is on the left bank of the Danube River, and close to Calafat town. There are huge lakes, green areas, forests all around, a lot of birds and wild animals, making this a heaven of nature which needs to be protected and promoted for tourists in a better way. There are good parks for the local residents and tourists to use.
Last updated Wednesday, 24th February, 2016
Another tortoise has been saved from a road accident, and has been placed in safety in a natural environment.
Last updated Thursday, 11th February, 2016
In the middle of Calafat town, Dolj County, there is a beautiful old house, a historical monument, which belongs to the Marincu family, a very rich local owner. Also, in the local cemetery, NGO Alexis Project discovered a funeral monument which also belongs ot the Marincu family, but is not classified as a historical monument. Having in mind the beauty of the Filishano Chapel, from Filiasi, Dolj County, NGO Alexis Project decided to start proceedings to claim the Marincu Chapel as a historical monument, in accordance with the rules of the law, to be protected, promoted and repaired in the best possible manner.
Last updated Monday, 08th February, 2016
Samples of maps from a rare book on the Romanian War of Independence, 1877-1878.
Last updated Thursday, 28th January, 2016
Alexis International - Adrian has developed the concept of a possibility for an EU project for the ruins of a WWII German spa building. The dimensions of the two levels of the spa building are 43 x 45 metres, about 2000 square metres on each level, more than 4000 square metres in total including the facilities around it.
Last updated Monday, 04th January, 2016
This page is to record information about the culture and archaeology of Bulgaria. Adrian is in the process of applying for a European project to promote the value of clay. NGO Alexis Project had a meeting with his Bulgarian partners from Cherven bryag. In these photos, on the land of a local factory for bricks, an open area exhibition has been placed with a small museum with hand made ceramic artefacts made during a yearly event, a camp for artists. We hope to improve this local event using European money, as well as making a mirror site, at the Vogna Cultural Site.
Adrian would like to introduce to you a new member of the NGO team, who joins our older friend, Roxy, the jumping frog. Her name is Aghata, and comes from a place Adrian dreams of visiting.
Last updated Sunday, 01st November, 2015
Beautiful Romania, a wonderful place. An image has been added of the Balkan mountains of Bulgaria seen from Oltenia in 2015 spring early in the morning.
Last updated Saturday, 17th October, 2015
Modern monuments and Public Sculptures - The Alexis project is still hunting for the eagle, made of bronze, from the top of the Independence Monument of Calafat, Dolj County. He and others from the Project have found a secret fountain under the Mayor's back yard, where the Baba Lupa spring is, on the left bank of the Danube river. This seems to be a good place to hide the eagle under water. The search continues to find the artefact and place it back on top of the obelisk, where it belongs.
Last updated Tuesday, 22nd September, 2015
In the southern part of Dolj County, on the left bank of the Jiu RIver, in Gighera village, there is a beautiful forest place called Zaval, where a lot of tourists come. In Gighera village, Dolj county, there are a few very important tourist destinations, including camping facilities and hot mineral springs. As well, there is forestry and camping on the left bank of the Jiu River. Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 23rd March 2015
Last updated Wednesday, 02nd September, 2015
Adrian has recorded some of the displays at a private ethnographical museum in Ponoarele village, Mehedinti County.
Last updated Thursday, 20th August, 2015
This is a beautiful new church in the Valea Manastiri Village, Gorj County.
Ponoarele Cave and God's Bridge is a beautiful area. A photograph of an old wooden watermill has been added.
Last updated Monday, 27th July, 2015
At the beginning of the 2015 year, in full winter, but a sunny day, the Alexis Project worked to clean and organise the Alexis Project HQ, starting with the reception room. The reception room contains the archives and a few ancient replicas made by our friend Costi Para, to keep his memory fresh in our minds and hearts. There is still a lot to do, including renovating the building to improve its condition.
Last updated Tuesday, 14th April, 2015
There are some historical monuments in Belu Cemetery which are most strange and unusual, and deserving of further study.
Last updated Thursday, 09th April, 2015
In the middle of Belu Cemetery in Bucharest is placed an historical monument of the young Iulia Hasdeu, whose castle is located in the town of Câmpina, 40 km north from Ploiesti. The grave is closed now, it seems to be abandoned, but it is a beautiful funeral monument to a young lady, a legend of Romania.
Last updated Wednesday, 18th March, 2015
On New Years Eve 2014/2015, Adrian and Alexandru went to Craiova to celebrate. It was a hot event, even though the temperature was about -20 degrees Celsius!
Romanian National Day - Adrian and Alexandru celebrated the National Day of Romania on the 1st December with their fellow citizens in the centre of Craiova, in front of the main buildings of town - the City Hall, the main church, the Ethnographic Museum, and the Oltenia Museum.
The ghost house of Alexandru Macedonski (1854-1920), Romanian poet, writer and literary critic is now in disrepair. The local barbarians are still working to destroy the historical monument, with their depradations not being held in check by those responsible for the preservation of the monument.
There is a ghost house in the Goiesti area, called the Economu house, after the name of its former owner. Adrian visited the Economu house once again, on a cold and windy day. He found some surprises. Local barbarians have begun to delete the house from history, so, very soon this monument will become just a sad story.
Last updated Friday, 30th January, 2015
Recent Romanian Archaeology - Even though we are at the front door of winter, there are still a lot of wild birds in Oltenia. A few of them are silver seagulls, living in the area of Baile Ionele lake, just near Urzicutza village, in the southern part of Dolj County.
Adrian made another visit to the archaeological site of Cerat. There are now only a few artefacts from the Bronze Age, the rest destroyed by ploughing the land in less than ten years. On the Matca River banks there are no artefacts, the ancient wooden structure, 'Topila', found here, was the only artefact. Having in mind the research by the Alexis project made at this area, just ten years ago, today there are only a few shadows to remember the archaeological sites.
Last updated Monday, 15th December, 2014
The fossiliferous site of Bîlta is a small village near the town of Filiaşi, in the south west of Romania, at the intersection of three rivers, the Jiu, Motru and Gilort. As noted previously, near Bilta village, Alexis team has found an archaeological site from the bronze age and the Daco-Roman period. Adrian made another visit to the site, but there were few artefacts found on this occasion.
Adrian passed through Radovan village, Dolj County, and was at the local cemetery to clean the grave of the legendary 'Radovan Midnight Bride', known many years ago as Maria Petra. The real grave belongs to Elena Padomianu and has not been found. He also put a few candles there. Adrian found the original wooden cross of the grave, more than 100 years old, which will be relocated at the Vogna Cultural Site, inside the ruins of the ghost church there, known as the 'Church of all dead persons', to rest in peace there forever.
Last updated Wednesday, 22nd October, 2014
Adrian found in his medical unit a bat who is now being protected there, waiting to be released in a forest soon.
Last updated Thursday, 09th October, 2014
Alexis Experiments - Adrian and Alexandru are investigating the use of a drone to better understand archaeological sites.
A few years ago Adrian did some research on Butoiesti, Mehedinti County, together with the well known specialist Exp. Arh. Dr Dorel Petrus Bondoc. Adrian has recently been to the site again, in order to search for more data. The story, told to Adrian by a local villager, Mr Belbitza and his daughter Laurentzia, is that about 1985, the old man found on top of the hill a treasure of about 400 Roman coins and a few old fireplaces. He led Adrian to the site, and they found a lot of Bronze age pottery and a some Daco-Roman pottery, but because of the rank vegetation Alexis will have to come back at a better time, perhaps in February next year.
Last updated Wednesday, 08th October, 2014
Jiu River Artefacts - Searching along the Jiu River banks, at the point called Balta Manastrii, just near Bilta Village, Adrian found again artefacts on the right bank of the river, placed there by the high level of the river this spring. The site is still unknown, maybe the artefacts are coming from Gura Motrului Monastery, a historical monument from the 15th Century which is not far away in the upper part of this area.
As every year, a new stage of digs has commenced at the archaeological site of Racarii de Jos Roman Military Castrum, Dolj County, supported by Oltenia Museum and led by Exp. Arch. Dr Dorel Petrus Bondoc.
The fossiliferous site of Bîlta is at a small village near the town of Filiaşi, in the south west of Romania, at the intersection of three rivers, the Jiu, Motru and Gilort. Near Bîlta village, in the Martalogu Valley, Adrian searches for hidden archaeological sites.
Plants of Romania - Flowers from the village of Bilta.
Last updated Thursday, 02nd October, 2014
Adrian was in Farcas village with a young biologist, Carstea Danutz, to check the fossiliferous site there. The task was difficult, because it was raining the whole time, and the forest is deep and wild, and the hills are high between the wild valleys. The site has only a few small pieces of bone there, a large part of the hill was washed away by winter snow and spring rains. After the evaluation, there is no more to be seen here. The artefacts were given to the Oltenia Museum, to the palaeontologist Aurel Popescu, and there are other sites in the area still to be discovered.
Last updated Tuesday, 23rd September, 2014
Today was the last day for Vogna Architecture Camp 2014 (second edition). We finished the fence, the gate and the protection roof over the entrance. Andrei has visited us and we showed him everything we have done here, also he has helped us in our efforts, both by evaluating them and by actually contributing to the building of the gate. We are looking forward to next year's edition, keeping always in mind that, no matter what the troubles may be, we must keep the spirit alive and do everything in our power to continue our efforts, the way we see them. We are very proud of our efforts and results and after few days of hard work (19-22.08.2014), we can now say that Vogna Cultural Site has made one more step forward.
Last updated Friday, 22nd August, 2014
Sometimes bad weather brings people closer together.... Here we see pigeons in the rain at Craiova in the spring, making the best of it.
Last updated Saturday, 10th May, 2014
Adrian has made an evaluation of an old building from the 18th Century close to the Baba Vida Fortress in Vidin, Bulgaria. It appears to be an old military storage complex, which is today in bad condition even to be repaired as a local museum. The building is a classical one, with huge stone walls and beautiful handmade wooden structures inside it. .
Cirstea Danut, student at the Facultatea de Agricultura-Horticultura din cadrul Universitatii din Craiova has made an interesting study of a curious cross like object on a fossil bone. It turns out to be a completely natural phenomenon, with nothing to do with any religious aspects.
The Pyramids of Sona are mystifying hills that may be Tumuls, burial mounds, near Brasov, Romania.
Last updated Saturday, 01st February, 2014
The Filishano Tomb is a beautiful historical monument, which needs to be repaired and protected in a better manner than at present. Alexandru has written an excellent essay on this important Mausoleum.
The Alexis Project has received authorisation to repair Vogna, and the project is now well under way.
This page is an archive of the work up to the end of the work season in 2012.
Specific Alexis Projects - The Alexis team has a number of projects to benefit the local community, including school visits, guided excursions, and donations to educational institutions, and to improve the knowledge, respect and understanding of Romania's historical past, culture and civilisation, as well as respect for the natural environment and the ethnic traditions of the Romanian people. As well as the existing car of the Alexis Project, a new (second hand) vehicle has now been procured, a similar vehicle to the older one, but with features which will be very useful for the successful running of the Alexis Project. Very soon, the 'new' car will start work on the same dream: to make Romania a better known and understood country, as well as a beautiful one!
Last updated Friday, 22nd November, 2013
The Vogna Project 2013 is a camp which ran from 17th to the 23rd August 2013, financed and supported by the Alexis Project with eight students from the faculty of Architecture at Bucharest University, Romania, coming from Timisoara, Moldova, Ploiesti, Bucaresti and so on. Final documents from the student team who worked there have been issued and published. The documents include the making of the wooden structure and the plan of the Vogna Cultural Site. It is beautiful work from a generation that can carry on ever more worthwhile projects.
Last updated Wednesday, 13th November, 2013
The Ten Hour Project - this is an excellent project prepared by Alexandru Gheorghe as part of his studies in Architecture. It is of very high standard, and especially so when one considers the very short time given for its completion. Alex prepared this project for an examination of ten hours duration a couple of weeks ago at his University. The Examination is called 'Sketch', and the students have one of these each month. The requirement is to make an entire project, without any guidance from the teachers, in just 10 hours. You start in the morning, and hand in the papers in the evening. In the meantime, you are free to move, or do whatever you want, so long as you finish the project in time. This particular project had as the objective to complete an open corner on a small street in traditional urban materials, of roughly 18 metres in length, and between 3 to 7 metres wide.
Last updated Thursday, 31st October, 2013
Adrian revisited the 'grave' of the ancient Basilica from Ostrovu Mare Archeological site, to check on the condition of the oldest Christian church ruin in the entire Oltenia area, a site which had been investigated and uncovered by the specialists from the Iron Gates Museum, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Mehedinti County. The only task the specialists set themselves was to write a few articles concerning their specialties in journal, and then let the site deteriorate without further care.
Last updated Monday, 07th October, 2013
The Alexis Project team revisited Crivina on the left bank of the Danube. It consists of a bronze age cemetery, and another from the Middle Ages, as well as a Middle Ages settlement well known to the specialists from the Iron Gates Museum in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Mehedinti County. Never in the last ten years has the Iron Gates Museum accepted our offer to promote, save, and cooperate with the sites from Mehedinti County, and we have no authority to save them ourselves. These artefacts will be lost forever once they are washed away in the next flood.
Last updated Friday, 04th October, 2013
Prezentare in Profil Turistic a Sitului Arheologic Pravets
Last updated Monday, 16th September, 2013
Alexandru's References from the NGO Alexis Project.
Last updated Sunday, 15th September, 2013
Again this year, Oltenia Museum has decided to continue to search in the area of the ancient Roman castrum of Racarii de Jos village, Bradesti municipality, Dolj county. There is known to be here a very important military fortress of the ancient Romans, covering the defence of an important part of Dacia Malvensis, which is known today as Oltenia. Having regard to the Bulgarian efforts to respect the reality during any type of reconstruction of the site, Adrian puts two questions from the Alexis Project: 1. If we are to accept the economic reasons for making the reconstruction of the old structures only half a metre tall, is it not imperative then to make the new structure more similar to the old - using the same sort of mortar, the same stones, the same style? 2 . Looking at these images, it is not just me who asks 'Where Is The Site?'
Adrian was again in the area of the Grivitza monuments recently, in Pleven, Bulgaria, where there a complex of monuments to honour the 1877 War of Independence against the Turks. He found a few improvements to the monuments, repaired and cleaned better than they were, but still some things are missing, such as the bronze statues and bronze plaques, part of those monuments since 1877. Adrian has donated to the Military Museum of Pleven a lot of 1877 military maps, movies about the War of Independence, books and medals, yet not one of them is on display in the Museum as yet. It seems that, for Bulgarians, some things are more important than to support a European project for the historical complex of Grivitsa, even though this war, won by Russians and Romanians as well as Bulgarians, their history can be seen from another point of view.
Last updated Thursday, 22nd August, 2013
The Bordei Project. Bordei is a type of housing known in Romania and neighbouring countries under the name borrowed from Romanian. It is the oldest known permanent home in Romania, found in archaeological sites from prehistory to modern times. They remained as dwellings until after the First World War in Romania, often overlooking the plains of the Danube. NGO Alexis Project wants to make in the Vogna Valley a small reconstruction of a village using Bordei houses around the ruins of the 19th Century church there. Despite difficulties, Adrian has been working to improve the roof of the Bordei, because a country without a past has no future. So, in this very hot summer, Adrian is up on the roof, risking life and limb, for his country.
Last updated Sunday, 18th August, 2013
The Gate of Trajan is an historic mountain pass near Ihtiman, Bulgaria. It was named after Roman Emperor Trajan, on whose order a fortress by the name of Stipon was constructed on the hill over the pass, as a symbolic border between the provinces of Thrace and Macedonia. The pass is primarily known for the major medieval battle of 17 August 986, during which the forces of Byzantine Emperor Basil II were routed by Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria, effectively halting a Byzantine campaign in the Bulgarian lands.
Last updated Thursday, 25th July, 2013
Tetoiu site - The Alexis team often picks up a small bit of information about a possible site, and then makes a trip there, to make an evaluation at the target field, as well as studying satellite data in order to come to a conclusion. So…. the Alexis team received information that about 60 km north of Craiova, in Valcea county, near the village of Tetoiu there was an ancient fortress, where Roman coins and other artefacts had been discovered. A preliminary search on the net showed that, in the southern part of the hills was a possible site for the fortress, near a river and a forest, a site which may well have been a Castra Estivae, still unknown to science.
Last updated Saturday, 20th July, 2013
The Jiu River and Environs near Filiaşi. The Jiu River is now at Code Red because of flooding. A lot of agricultural land has been covered by the Jiu, but not many houses were in danger. The wooden foot bridge between Filiasi and Bilta has fallen down forever, lost because of the very high flood waters. Today the roads were open again, and life begins to move as normal.
Last updated Monday, 20th May, 2013
This page, 'The Best of…' is to record the best images from the Alexis Project.
This first image of the series was made in the spring of 2013 in the Vogna Valley, to remember the hard work Adrian put in there: alone, with snow falling, going to his destiny.
Last updated Sunday, 19th May, 2013
The Valley of Vogna has fossils from the Romanian II era, about two million years old.
Last updated Friday, 10th May, 2013
For 60 years this wooden foot bridge over the Jiu River connecting Filiaşi and Bilta has served the people of the area. It is now a ghost bridge, because of the 'work' of the Filiasi town council. Because there is now a concrete bridge over the Jiu, this foot bridge was very rarely used, but it was not closed by the Mayor, even though it was in bad condition because it had not been repaired. A few days before the closure, a woman trying to cross the Jiu fell through into the river. Because of this, the Town Council decided to rip up most of the floor boards of the bridge and burn them, sot hat it could not be used at all, instead of repairing it.
Last updated Friday, 03rd May, 2013
Adrian has a small company which produces hand-made toys. He has a USA invention certificate for a 'moving faces' toy. He strongly believes that a toy has to be ecologically friendly, first, as to materials, paints and so on, as well as being interactive, cheaper than others, animated, and interesting for children, depending on their age. He is working on a new design for a wooden puzzle.
Last updated Saturday, 27th April, 2013
Recently the Alexis Project has made an evaluation at the request of the owner of a house known as Lichiardopol House, in Corabia town, Olt County. This house, a local historical monument, was built by a rich owner, Lichiardopol, at the end of the 19th century, and today belongs to a man who is ready to do everything necessary to improve the building and restore it to its former glory. The house is a huge one, with 31 rooms, made completely in brick, with two wings and a central section connecting them. The house is still sound, dry, with large windows and large doors, but it needs a lot of work to bring it back into good condition.
Dolj County Historical Sites - Almăj is a community half way between Craiova and Filiasi, hidden inside the hills along the Jiu River valley. Here, the stone cross saved by the Alexis Project about five years ago, is still kept in the mud, wet and dirty, by the local authorities, even though it is a historical monument. The local church, another historical monument, is in good condition, marked protected and restored. But, the most important mystery for us is the Cula Barbu-Poenaru of Almăj, which seems to be in connection with the local school building, renovated so well that…we do not know where is/was the old historical building monument…
In the north-east part of Gorj county can be seen many old traditional houses, many of them ornamented with a lyre, an ancient Roman/Greek musical instrument. Some have wood worked in a very clever way. It is a poor economical area, but beautiful by its traditions and cultures. This area is a real wonderland for tourists, and only needs a little promotion.
Last updated Monday, 22nd April, 2013
Sucidava is a Dacian and Daco-Roman historical site, situated in Corabia, Romania on the north bank of the Danube. Here can be found the first Christian Basilica in Romania, the foot of a Roman bridge over the Danube built by Constantine the Great to link Sucidava with Oescus, and there is also a secret underground fountain. Sucidava is a beautifully maintained part of Romania's heritage.
Tumuls (or Barrows, or large earthen tombs) in Oltenia. There is a good road between Bechet (Dolj County) and Corabia (Olt County) following the left bank of the Danube. There are a lot of ancient tumuls on both sides of it. In the entire Oltenia area, there may be 1000 tumuls, from Bronze Age to Roman Times, later, or mixed. In Bulgaria, in the Kazarlak area, locals are promoting these historical monuments better than we are in Romania, so that they can be better protected from agricultural works, and can be designated as National Patrimony, under the protection of the Government from destruction and unauthorised digging.
Last updated Sunday, 14th April, 2013
The song close to the hearts of Oltenians, 'My mother made me Oltenian', has a very fascinating story, and it seems that this song was made in honour of John Jianu in 1809 by the fiddler Nita Balo, of Isalnita. The Prince had cut off the fingers of the fiddler's right hand so that the people would not rise in revolt from hearing his songs, but he did not stop singing.
Last updated Thursday, 28th March, 2013
There is a road between Filiasi town and Melinesti village, connecting the Jiu River valley to the Amaradia River valley, crossing the hills between them. At the entrance to the small village of Bodaiestii de Sus is a huge wild area, a valley between two lines of hills, similar to the Radovan valley, where a preliminary search has already found a few artefacts from the stone and bronze age. In this wild valley all the conditions for an archaeological site are met, including a forest on the hills above, a river in the middle of the valley, and a spring issuing from the hill. The artefacts are unusual, and a new and more thorough search must be made at this site.
When Adrian arrived in the region of the area of Gruita ghost church, these deer were in the middle of the field. They looked so beautiful, with no apparent fear of people.
About 100 years ago, a priest from a monastery near Breasta Village, Dolj County, found strange stones in the area where a small river was coming from the middle of Breasta village, and flowing into the Jiu River, stones which were covered by Slavonian letters. Following this meagre information, after a search using satellite imagery, an NGO Alexis Project team, at the end of December 2012 tried to identify the location of this strange, lost site.
Maps of Romania and the Roman Empire - a map of Orsova from 1724 has been added, as well as a map of the Thracian state (5-3rd century BC), showing the territory of the Dacians to the north of the Danube.
In the southern part of Baile Ionele Lake, Urzicata Village, Dolj County, a very extensive site has been discovered. The site is huge, and occupies an area on the southern border of the lake, about 200 metres along it, and 200 metres to the south, a huge area full of artefacts from the time of the Romans, as well as some artefacts from the Bronze age.
The Church of Sf. Arhangeli, Bistreţ commune is a historic church, built in the 19th century. It is of the paleo-Christian Basilica type, with no steeple but with a porch, narthex (the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar) and nave. It is made of simple brick, plastered, without foundation stones or concrete. The monument is not marked properly, has no electricity, and is protected by bars on the windows and a simple lock on the door. An evaluation report has been prepared.
Last updated Thursday, 13th December, 2012
Adrian and the Mayor of Goiesti have a dream to make a cave in the middle of Vogna Valley, to improve the offerings for tourists there. It will be a hole in the ground, covered by wooden beams, in turn covered by a plastic roof, and finally with earth. The walls will be made of wood, covered with iron mesh and then plastered with concrete to make a replica of the walls of the cave.
Orşova - Photographs of Orsovan artefacts of Roman times from Benea, D. et al., 1974: Orsova, Vatra de Istorie, Poarta de Lumina, depicting a votive inscription from the 2nd Century AD and a roof tile made in the 4th Century AD have been added.
Last updated Wednesday, 21st November, 2012
General index of sites in Urzicuta-Afumati-Birca-Giurgiţa area. The Alexis Project was once again in the area of the undocumented bronze age site in the area of Cerat village, just near Girugita village. The Alexis Project believes that it would be a good thing for specialists from Oltenia Museum to start a thorough search in the area. The entire hill is full of artefacts, and there may be some that are important for the Museum's collections. A report on the Urzicuta region, Raport Urzicuta 23.10.2012, is now available.
Last updated Tuesday, 23rd October, 2012
The stone cross of Gheorghe Opran, saved by the Alexis Project 8 years ago, was given to the Mayor of Almaj village, Dolj County to be kept and protected there. It was placed there five years ago, with the help of the Police of Patrimony, Dolj County. Today, after five years, this historical monument is in a bad condition, lying in the mud, in the middle of the village, forgotten by the Mayor and the other Christians from the area.
Dolni Vadin or Gorni Vadin, Горни Вадин, in Bulgaria, on the right bank of the Danube, is the site of an ancient Roman bridge and fortress, remains of which can still be seen today. Adrian made a successful search there. In a later trip to the opposite bank in Romania, at Grojdibodu village, no evidence of the Roman bridge, or even Roman artefacts, on the opposite side to the existing Roman bridge ruins was found. An important final report on the area has been completed.
Last updated Wednesday, 29th August, 2012
The remains of a ballista were found in the Roman Fort in Orşova during rescue archaeology in the 1960s before the rising waters of the Danube behind a dam covered the site. Nick Watts has made 'Firefly', a powerful, superb and accurate reconstruction of the Roman ballista found at Orşova. He has also treated it as a scientific endeavour, with careful and accurate measurements of velocity, energy, range and accuracy, something which has never been attempted in modern times.
Last updated Wednesday, 01st August, 2012
On the main road betwen Craiova and Bechet, in the village of Tamburesti, there is a beautiful 19th century church. It is in a good setting, was well built in the first place, and is a good example of how an ancient church can be looked after and serve the people. The cemetery and the yard around the church are in very good condition, and it is a real pleasure to see what good people can do for their community and their old church. The church is still in use, a beautiful model of the good Christianity of my people.
Last updated Saturday, 30th June, 2012
On the main road between Craiova and Bechet harbour, Dolj County, about 25 km south of Craiova, in the municipality of Bratovoiesti, in Badosi village, there is a ghost church built in the 18th century, near the village. This old church seems to have been forgotten by the people, having part of the roof fallen in, and severe damage on part of the inside walls. The Saints painted on the walls have all lost their eyes, removed for unknown reasons. There is a story that wizards used the powdered paint of the eyes for magic rituals, while others say that the pictures were defaced by Turkish soldiers in the 19th century, but no one knows for certain.
Last updated Friday, 29th June, 2012
Mammals of Romania - Adrian met a wild rabbit jumping from here to there in the middle of the fields around the Gruita Ghost Church. Spring has come to Romania!
Maria-Amelya Negut has made a very interesting journey to Sinaia.
Alexandru went to Copenhagen, Denmark, as part of his practice of Architecture course. This was a wonderful experience, and the beautiful buildings and inspiring architecture left an indelible impression on him.
This page last modified Saturday, 07th December, 2019 05:46pm