Moldova Between Rocky Landscapes, Wine and Culture

The archaeological landscape of Orheiul Vechi lies in the central-eastern part of Moldova, along the gorge of the lower Răut River. High, rocky banks line the river; archaeological remains here span from around 30,000 BC to AD 1800. Nature and a long history meet at this site. Anyone interested in landscapes and archaeology will find a distinctive focus for a trip through Moldova here.

Orheiul Vechi: Landscape, Trails and Nature Watching

The Orheiul Vechi Reserve offers six tourist routes for birdwatching, hiking and cycling. They vary in length—from 4 to 23 kilometres—and have different difficulty levels. Length and difficulty give you two specific criteria to consider when choosing; before your trip, also check trail conditions and signage.

The Orheiul Vechi Cultural and Natural History Reserve has five natural habitats and six birdwatching trails. Around 100 bird species breed there. Since sightings vary by season, the time of year is an important part of planning for anyone wishing to focus their trip particularly on nature watching.

The cave monastery of Orheiul Vechi in the Butuceni cave complex is also one of the country’s defining cultural sites. It comprises a church, eleven monastic cells, a bell tower and a large stone cross. Its varied architectural forms shape the character of the monastery complex.

Orhei National Park offers opportunities for scientific, educational and tourist activities, and promotes organic farming and ecotourism. Taul Park offers a different perspective on plant life: across 49 hectares, it is home to 150 species of trees, shrubs, climbing plants and flowers. The activities in Orhei National Park and the plant diversity of Taul Park represent different aspects of Moldova’s natural environment.

Wine Traditions and Carpet Weaving

Moldova has four wine regions with protected geographical indications: Codru, Ștefan Vodă, Valul lui Traian and Divin. All four geographical indications are protected both in the Republic of Moldova and in the EU. National Wine Day takes place on the first weekend of October and celebrates Moldova’s millennia-old winemaking traditions. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year in advance.

Carpet-making is also part of the country’s culture. The traditional carpet-making techniques of Romania and the Republic of Moldova are included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The “Arta Rustica” Cultural Complex presents Moldovan carpet weaving and its history, and also demonstrates how carpets are woven. Since programmes and visitor arrangements may change, ask about the current visitor offer in advance.

Rural guesthouses near Orheiul Vechi organise cooking workshops on request. The programme includes traditional bread made with homemade yeast, sarmale wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves, and cherry dumplings made according to the Orheiul Vechi recipe. Advance requests are required, and which guesthouses take part may change. For planning, ask the guesthouse directly about its current offer.

Chișinău: Urban History, Art and the Market

In Chișinău, the Water Tower connects city history with museum exhibits: it was built between 1860 and 1888, and the Chișinău City Museum in the tower has four permanent exhibition halls. The museum’s oldest exhibit is a clay vessel from the 4th century AD. The National Museum of Fine Arts displays artworks ranging from prehistory to the present day. Together, the two museums offer different historical perspectives—from a single early object with a known date to a broad sweep of art history.

The Central Market of Chișinău, the city’s largest open-air market, is also part of everyday city life. Local fruit and vegetables are available there in summer.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Leova District, Chișinău, Dubăsari, Orhei District, Transnistria, Fălești, Edineț District, Glodeni District, Ungheni, Soroca District, Ștefan Vodă District, Căușeni, Cahul District, Hîncești District, Varnița, Rezina, Strășeni, Șoldănești, Ialoveni District, Butuceni, Ocnița, Bender, Bălți, Călărași District, Ștefan Vodă District, Sîngerei District, Drochia District, Anenii Noi, Budești.

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