EN-Sights to visit

SIGHTS TO VISIT IN BABADAG

1. GAZI ALI PAȘA MOSQUE
Ali-Gazi Paşa Mosque or Babadag Mosque is a historical and religious architectural monument located in the centre of Babadag, dating back to the 17th century. The mosque was built in 1609 or 1610. The building, located at no. 2 Geamiei street, is entered in the List of Historical Monuments in Tulcea County with the LLM Code TL-II-m-A-06000.
Before being incorporated in the Romanian Principalities (after the independence war of 1877-1878), Dobrogea was a part of the Ottoman Empire for almost 500 years. In order to be able to follow and coordinate the military troops better in the confrontations with the Russian Empire, the residence of the Dobrogea Pasha (the army general) was moved to Babadag (from Silistra). That is how at Babadag, Gazi Ali Pasha ordered the erection of a beautiful mosque, Gazi Ali Pasha Mosque

The mosque was built in 1610. But it is not known whether it was the year when its construction began or the year it was completed. As its name suggests, it was raised by General Ali Gaza-Pasha. [3] The mosque went through a fire during the Russian-Turkish War.

2. THE TOMB OF SARÎ SALUTK BABA DEDE
The tomb of SARI SALTUK DEDE (Baba) is one of the oldest buildings belonging to the Islamic architecture of the region.
There are several variants about his arrival in Dobrogea. But after the great historian Köprül, Sarı Saltuk and 700 Horasan soldiers were sent to Anatolia by Ahmet Yesevi to help Hacı Bektaş and he sent him to Dobrogea to spread Islamic religion. The Turkish presence at Babadag is documented in 1262 when there was a colony of about 10,000-12,000 Turks led by the dervish Baba Sari Saltuk. In 1484, the Sultan Bayezid ordered a mausoleum to be built at Babadag, in honor of Sari Saltuk. Between 1677-1678, Pasha’s residence moved from Silistra to Babadag.

The restoration of the tomb is due to the benevolence of the donors: the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs – the National Office for Historical Monuments – Bucharest, the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Constanta and S.C.Majore International S.R.L. (Mr Ertan Demirhan). The project was carried out by the Bucharest National Cultural Heritage Design Centre.
The inauguration took place during the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on September 26, 2007.

3. THE PEAK AND THE TOMB OF KOYUM BABA
One of the legends says that old Koyun Baba saved Babadag from disaster. The shepherd stopped the threatening waters descending from the mountain to the village, using the wool of the sheep he had. There are many stories about the man who apparently lived in Babadag eight centuries ago.
Although it is forbidden, Muslims continue to cling their broken clothes on the hill leading to Koyun Baba’s tomb. They say this is a sign of appreciation and respect for Babadag’s rescuer from the past. The tomb, though simple is damaged here and there, it gives strange feelings, anxiety and reconciliation. The true legend dwells in people’s minds, and they make it last over time. So much that any native of Babadag comes here to make a wish.

„The tomb may have existed between the 13th and the 14th centuries, because the first Turkish mercenaries, headed by Sar Saltuk, whose tomb is in Babadag, came to these centuries. It is said that the shepherd was the first generation of Turks who moved to Dobrogea”, said a Baghdad native, Iusif Rusen.
It is also said that when he was found dead by the locals, the old shepherd looked alive. Maybe that’s why the legend continues.

4. BABADAG GREEN CELLAR
Wine-growing centre of vineyards in the Babadag area. Tasting and marketing of local wines.