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.
Perhaps most fascinating to see in Vilkovo is the houses. Homes are built on islands that have been built up out of the marshland using the river sediment. Each island has a home and a garden – often very fertile because the silt and sediment is used as fertiliser. Each year, the homeowners have to repair and restore their islands, digging sediment out of a trench around the island to prevent the islands from sinking back into the marsh. The trenches also provide access for boats, and help protect the homes from flooding.
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.
Being a marshland, Vilkovo forms part of the Danube Biosphere Reserve and is home to over 950 plant species and 260 bird species, including pelican, cormorant, spoonbills and sea-eagle. Visitors to Vilkovo in spring and summer will be greeted by vast reedbeds, lily-coated lakes and in spring, frogs abound. Nature tours are a must in this diverse reserve, and boat tours through the Danube Delta provide visitors with a bird’s eye view of the flora, fauna and beauty of this region. Perhaps most importantly, visitors will experience a taste of life that is governed by the natural rhythms of water, climate and seasons. A visit to Vilkovo will leave you at peace, having traversed the waters of the Ukrainian Venice.
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.
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