The archaeological site “Situl arheologic de la Poiana – Cetăţuia de la mal, Piroboridava” is located in Poiana. It includes a fortified settlement from the Roman period, dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. This gives Poiana a clear archaeological focus, distinct from later references to the history of the village and commune.

Archaeology and Historical Traces

One of the oldest documents about the village of Poiana dates from July 4, 1522, during the time of Prince Ştefăniţă Voievod. Another historical reference appears on Dimitrie Cantemir’s map from 1737, where the commune of Poiana is marked. The references concern different things—the document refers to the village, while the map refers to the commune—and thus provide two separate points of reference for local history.

Piroboridava can also be distinguished chronologically: the fortified settlement dates to the Roman period, while the two historical references mentioned above are from the 16th and 18th centuries. When considering Poiana’s history, you can therefore distinguish between its archaeological heritage and later written and cartographic records.

Elevation, Settlement Pattern, and the Siret

The houses in Poiana follow the route of the DC72 communal road; around Pleşa, this route coincides with the valley. The village also lies on the ridge of Poiana-Nicoreşti Hill. The road and the elevation thus provide two different points of reference for locating the settlement.

The wider landscape is shaped by the Siret: the area’s hydrographic network drains into the river, which enters Galaţi County west of Poiana. The Călimăneşti Reservoir is located on the Siret within the commune of Poiana. It is used for irrigation and power generation.

A 2013 county development study lists the forest in Buciumeni commune, the plateau with the old Piroboridava fortress, and the reservoir on the Siret together as Type I monuments in Galaţi County’s list of monuments. For these three sites, the study identifies opportunities for recreation for residents and for tourism development. This regional classification places all three in a shared heritage and development context.

Getting Around and How to Get There

The village of Poiana lies at the junction of the DC73 and DC72 roads. Another point of reference is the first part of the village: it extends westward along the DC73 from the junction of the DC73 and the Valea Rea valley. These details describe both the village’s location on the roads and the westward direction of its first section.

The DC72 connects to the DC73, which then leads to the DC69. This road network connects Poiana to the villages along the Siret—Piscu Corbului, Coasta Lupei, Mălureni, Ionăşeşti, and Cosmeşti—and the village also has an exit to the DN24. Road surface conditions may change, so check the road conditions before setting out.

The commune of Poiana has no direct rail connection. The nearest stations are Cosmeşti on the Mărăşeşti–Galaţi line and Berheci on the Tecuci–Bârlad line; each is about 20 km away. Before travelling, check that the stations and train services suit your travel date. This lets you assess the rail journey using the actual timetable rather than relying on the approximate distance alone.

Discover more destinations: Odaia Manolache, Galaţi, Șendreni, Ivești, Tulucești, Slobozia Oancea.

Go to the main travel overview: Galati.