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A Fisherman’s Paradise – Vilkovo

Vilkovo, known as the Ukrainian Venice, is in the Danube Delta marshlands, situated exactly where the Danube River splits into three before entering the Black Sea. This fascinating area not only brings a diverse heritage to life, it offers insight into an extraordinary way of life.

Vilkovo has the diverse culture and cuisine of a town that has seen Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Slavic civilisations conquering the town and its inhabitants. The nearby Izmail fortress is an historical site from the Russian-Turkish war many centuries ago, signifying yet another phase of influence on the inhabitants of Vilkovo. Boats are the primary mode of transport, and fishing is a major source of income for the residents of Vilkovo. No wonder that all three churches in the town are named after St Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen, sailors and travellers. Each home has a boat moored at their door, most of them built the same as the Cossack boats used centuries ago. Called ‘herring’ boats today, they are used to catch the renowned Danube herring, but can also be used in the Black Sea to catch sturgeon.

One of the town’s main industries is of course fishing. The Danube herring caught in Vilkovo are sought after as a delicacy by restaurants from Paris to Moscow, and sturgeon caught in the Black Sea as well as salmon form the backbone of the fishing industry. Sport anglers will enjoy the giant carp and catfish that can be caught while visiting Vilkovo. All this fresh fish means that the restaurants of the town offer delicious fish dishes, showcasing the diverse cuisine of the area.

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The homes and gardens in Vilkovo are each built on their own island, built up from river sediment. This explains the areas nickname – ‘The Ukrainian Venice’. These are high maintenance homes though, as each year a trench around the house has to be dug out to replace sediment on the island, allow boats access, and prevent flooding. Without the addition of more silt each year, the homes would sink back into the marsh. The sediment is very rich, and the gardens in Vilkovo are magnificent.

The homes are linked by a series of wooden walkways as well as some larger bridges, making Vilkovo the ideal town for long walks, providing fabulous views of the sea, the unusual homes and the magnificent gardens in the town. The waterways, known as ‘yeriks’, were used for drinking, washing, cooking and of course transportation. Because the sediment is so richly fertile, Vilkovo is famous for its fruit, particularly strawberries, apples and quince. Vilkovo is well known for its viticulture, producing a lovely range of local wines from the Novak grape.

Vilkovo is in the Danube Biosphere Reserve, a wetland that is home to almost a thousand plant species and nearly 260 bird species. In spring and summer, visitors will be greeted by vast reedbanks, lily-covered lakes and islands of willows and poplars, home to pelicans, cormorant, duck, gees, spoonbill and the occasional sea-eagle. A boat tour of the Danube Delta provides visitors the opportunity to take in the beautiful flora and fauna of the region. This scenic town is subject to the rhythms of nature, influenced by the seasons, weather and water, and gives visitors a pleasant, peaceful retreat from the bustle of city life.

Vilkovo.eu Вилково For additional info about Vilkovo town please visit our website http://www.vilkovo.eu/ where you will find out more about Vilkovo fishing tourism and Вилково wild nature tours and have a look at Vilkovo adverts and classifieds and Вилкове discussion boards Enjoy Vilkovo.