On 26–27 September, Dobrogea travelled to Belgium.

At Château de Huldenberg, the inaugural Romanian Autumn Salon – Dobrogea & Pontus Euxinus, organised by Bazar Diplomatic, brought the region’s heritage, culture, gastronomy and stories to an international audience.

For Flavours of Dobrogea, it was an opportunity to do what we believe gastronomy does best: open a door into a place.

Alongside our project partners: Rowmania, Visit Tulcea, TU-Produse Lactate, Mierea Milena, Deltaica, Crama Hamangia, Tu și Tulcea, Lipovenesc, Pensiunea Cuplu Călător, Techir, Suvenir din Dobrogea and Migdale de Jurilovca, we brought products and stories that reflect the diversity of the region.

The event was held in the presence of H.E. Andreea Păstârnac, Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Prince Nicolae of Romania, adding a special dimension to an occasion centred around Romanian heritage, culture and the connections between Romania and an international audience.

With the flavours of Danube Delta and the Black Sea, from traditional products to wines, honey, fish and local crafts, every contribution offered a different view of Dobrogea.

Two days, many ways to discover Dobrogea

The salon was built around the idea that a region can be discovered in many different ways through its history and landscapes, but also through its people, traditions, food and culture.

The first day, The Living Heritage Salon, opened with the official launch of Dobrogea in the Heart of Europe, bringing together representatives of the diplomatic community, local authorities, Dobrogea’s ethnic communities, cultural organisations and civil society.

The programme then moved through different layers of the region’s identity. The launch of “Marea care vindecă” (The Sea That Heals), by Aurelia Lăpușan and Anca Ștefan, was followed by a presentation of Dobrogea’s multicultural heritage and the stories of the communities that have shaped the region over generations.

One of the most memorable moments was The Dobrogean Mosaic – 14 Identities, One Stage, where traditional Romanian costumes and the clothing of Dobrogea’s historic communities became a way of telling stories about identity, memory and living heritage.

And then came the table…

At Dobrogea’s table

Food became one of the most direct ways to bring all these stories together.

At Dobrogea’s Table brought together traditional dishes inspired by the region’s many communities, creating a shared space where different traditions could exist side by side.

Our partners helped bring that idea to life through products connected to the Danube Delta, the Black Sea, Dobrogea’s villages and its culinary traditions.

The afternoon continued with conversations about Slow History, Slow Nature, Slow Wellbeing and Queen Marie’s relationship with Dobrogea, opening different perspectives on the region, from Histria, Tomis and Callatis to the Danube Delta, Techirghiol, the Măcin Mountains and the Black Sea coast.

The day ended with music, traditional dances and Dobrogean wines.

From heritage to the art of living

Sunday continued with a more experiential look at the region.

The programme explored Slow Travel, the traditions of Russian Lipovan fishermen in Jurilovca, Dobrogea’s spiritual heritage, its food traditions and the region’s remarkable natural history.

There were also conversations around Slow Wine, Dobrogea’s vineyards and local grape varieties, as well as Slow Culture, exploring the writers, artists and musicians who have been inspired by the region.

Throughout the two days, visitors could also explore exhibitions, books, films and cultural materials, while families were invited to take part in creative activities through Sunday School at the Château.

More than a destination

Dobrogea was not presented through a single story, but through many of them: ancient history and contemporary life, nature and wellbeing, communities and traditions, wine and gastronomy, art and travel.

For Flavours of Dobrogea, being part of this experience meant bringing the people and products behind the region’s gastronomy into that larger conversation.

And from there, the story can continue, towards the people who make it, the villages they come from, the landscapes around them and the communities that keep these traditions alive.

Two days in Belgium were a small journey through a very diverse Dobrogea.