Rock Sculpture of Decebalus

The Rock Sculpture of Decebalus is a 132-foot-tall (40 m) bas-relief monument etched into the rocky Danube river bank in Comuna Eșelnița, Romania. Located about 300 kilometers (200 miles) from Bucharest and the Romanian capital, it is the tallest rock carving in Europe. It honors the Dacian leader Decebalus who fought against the Roman emperor Trajan, ruler of the Roman Empire in the early 2nd century. The sculpture proudly marks the entrance to the Iron Gates gorge and is also a key feature of the Danube Gorge Natural Park. A Road of Kings was built in 2009, which allows visitors to access the rock as well as get the most stunning views of the Danube and the towering mountain ridge to the north. The area nearby is renowned for a variety of wildlife, and is a great spot for wildlife observation and bird-watching lovers.