Only in Moldova

The archaeological complex Old Orhei

     The archaeological complex Old Orhei is an open-air museum situated 60 km North East from Chisinau consisting of a system of unique historical monuments and natural landscapes. One who wants to find out more about the history of Moldova should start his journey from here, the place where more than 500 years ago a big city with centralized water supply and sewerage systems existed. Famous for the cave monasteries which sheltered the early Christian communities, the Old Orhei keeps the secrets of its history in the walls of the 3rd century BC Gaetic fortress, of the Medieval Fortress or of the Khan (medieval Central Asian roadside inn).

Soroca Fortress

     The famous landmark of Soroca town is a well-preserved Middle Age fortress with stout stone walls right down by the riverside, intended to daunt unwelcome guests.

     Having the shape of a perfect circle, when designing the fortress the builders incorporated the supreme law of harmony “the golden section”, which makes the fortress unique among examples of European defensive architecture.

     Soroca fortress is the only medieval monument of Moldova that has been preserved entirely as it was designed by its builders. Depicted on most old forms of currency, on the backside of the current 20 lei (national currency of Republic of Moldova) bank note, and even on the backside of the Personal Identification Cards of the citizens of Moldova, the Soroca Fortress is obviously something that local people are proud of. Looking so gloriously redoubtable and sturdily impregnable outwardly and so securely inspiring within, it has long been a symbol of stability and confidence for the Moldovan people...

Milestii Mici

     In a 250 kilometer-long underground labyrinth, the biggest treasure of Moldova is kept. More than 2 million bottles of delicious Moldovan wine are stored in perfect climatic conditions in the largest "wine city" of Europe. This means world record and even found entry in the Guiness Book. Impressively broad wine barrel avenues named Aligote, Cabernet or Traminer lead to the heart of the winery. In a massive, dusty cave all sorts of rare wines are piled: Codru, Dnestrovscoe, Negru de Purcari, Trandafirul Moldovei, Sauvignon and Cabernet. The high quality wines are hidden behind a secret door. One just can open it by shifting the right bottle...

Cricova Winery

     Just 15 km (some 9 miles) North of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Cricova mines lay deep underground. The mined limestone has been used for centuries to build the city of Chisinau and surrounding towns. They were converted into an underground wine emporium in the 1950s .Nowadays, the length of mines is about 100 km (or 60 miles) and the winery located there uses about 2/3 of them (or 53 ha). It is a labyrinth of subterranean streets, named after wine types, so you can stagger along Cabernet Street before crawling east into Pinot Noir Street and then on Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Feteasca, Aligote, Muscat Streets and so on. The most fun is to drive a car in this world of large oak barrels filled with aged wine. It is so spacious down there that even a large truck can drive in. Don’t be surprised if you see a traffic light. A big underground "town" with streets, that have names, little train, that takes you through cellars, wine collections, luxurious rooms for wine-tasting. ..those of you who love to travel and are interested in visiting this man-made wonder, mark it in your tourist map. You would not regret it!.

Tipova monastery

     Amidst the rocks and caves on the banks of Nistru, 100 km north from Chişinău in Tipova, is Eastern Europe's largest orthodox monastery to be set in caves.