Taul Park and Pommer Manor

96,8 km 1 h 30 min.

Located in Taul Village, Taul Park is the largest in the country. Inside the park is the stately manor house of Ivan Pommer, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s a testament to landscape architecture and was highly revered in its time. The park itself is comprised of two parts. The upper part is where you’ll find the manor house with tons of footpaths being swallowed by amazing flower beds. The lower park feels more like a forest. Various tree groups have been planted and each group is characteristic of a different geographical area. Discover 150 varieties of trees and bushes – many exotic – when you walk the 12.5k of trails.

The Cosăuți Monastery

73,7 km 1 h 13 min.

The Cosauti monks monastery is located to the north of Soroca. As it is said, “in a deep gorge, there is an ancient medieval monastery, which has been recently restored by a few skilled craftsmen. Next to the monastery, there is a fountain with mineral water, the Brinks of the Nistru river and the granite quarry of Moldova”.

28.jūnijs

CURCHI MONASTERY

Once you visit Chisinau and have a couple of hours free, you may drive out of the urban city and be caught by the beauty of Moldavian nature and religion. One very inviting place that is highly recommended by tourists would be Curchi Monastery. It is situated in the Vatici valley, on a bank of the Vatic River and hidden in the branchy Codru woods. It will take you about an hour to drive there by car, as it is only 55 km far from the capital. The monastery is known as one of the most fascinating and essential architectural heritages of Bessarabia.

Cultural, religious and historical background of over two centuries makes Curchi Monastery highly qualified institution among the most significant monuments of Moldavian architecture.

The exceptional style of the whole monastery was mostly established during the Governorate of Bessarabia period. The monastery's main church, the Cathedral “Naşterea Domnului”, was designed in the baroque style by a well-known Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and inspired by the Church of St. Andrew in Kiev. The cathedral does not look very massive, I would even say it is quite charming, considering the fact that its dome is 57 meters heigh, and being the highest one in Moldova.

This monastery wins the award for the most beautiful in all of Moldova. The complex is made up of five churches, a refectory, several abbeys, and monk cells. Its beauty comes from the Bessarabia architectural style. The centrepiece for the complex is the Mother of God Church, built at the end of the 19th century. After you’ve explored the grounds and learnt about the unique history of the monastery (it was once a psychiatric hospital during the Soviet era) enjoy a nice stroll through the orchards.

CRICOVA WINERY

The wine cellars of Cricova are the second largest wine cellar in Moldova, after Milestii Mici (the largest in the world). It boasts 120 kilometres (75 mi) of labyrinthine roadways, versus MM's 200 kilometres (120 mi). Tunnels have existed under Cricova since the 15th century, when limestone was dug out to help build Chişinău. They were converted into an underground wine emporium in the 1950s.

Half of the roadways are used for wine storage. The roads are named by the wines they store. This "wine city" has its warehouses, tasting rooms, and other facilities underground. It goes down to 100 metres (330 ft) below ground and holds 1.25 million bottles of rare wine. The oldest wine dates back to 1902. The temperature is maintained at about 12 °C (54 °F) all year round (which is perfect for wine).

Legend has it that in 1966 cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin entered the cellars, re-emerging (with assistance) two days later. Russian president Vladimir Putin celebrated his 50th birthday here.^[1]

The territory used to be a mine for limestone, a building material. In some branches excavation is still active, so the cellar is still growing. Other famous wineries in Moldova include Cojuşna and Mileştii Mici.

The largest importer of Cricova wines is Kazakhstan. Previously Russia was the main importer, however this changed in 2014 when Russia imposed embargoes on Moldovan wine in retaliation for Moldova making moves towards joining the European Union.

CĂPRIANA MONASTERY

Căpriana monastery (Romanian: Mănăstirea Căpriana) is one of the oldest monasteries ^[1] of Moldova, located in Căpriana, 40 km (25 miles) north-west of Chișinău.^[2]

Established in medieval Moldavia, Căpriana is situated in a picturesque forested area once called Codrii Lăpușnei.

The first significant reference dates from a document issued in 1429 that gave Căpriana the status of royal monastery on behalf of Alexander the Good. In this deed the holy abode was referred to as "mănăstirea de la Vâșnovăț unde este egumen Chiprian" (the monastery of Vâșnovăț where the hegumen is Chiprian) and was given in the possession of Alexander's wife - princess Marena.

After a period of decay, the monastery was rebuilt at the behest of Petru Rareș, from 1542 to 1545.

Churches[edit]

There are three churches on the monastery site. The Church of the Dormition (a stone summer church) is the oldest extant church in Moldova. The winter church of St George is a twentieth century building. The nineteenth century church is dedicated to St Nicholas. The Church of the Dormition contains the tomb of Metropolitan Gavril Bănulescu-Bodoni.

Sitting in a lush green forest in Capriana is one of the oldest monasteries in Moldova. Founded in the 15th century by Alexander the Good, it was once the home of the Moldavian bishop as well as Chiprian, one of the first Moldavian poets. It houses the largest convent library in the country and after years of neglect, was reopened in 1989 as a symbol of national revival. While you’re there, you can make some stops nearby to visit the oak tree of Stefan the Great and Codru, the oldest nature reserve in the country.

BĂLĂNEȘTI HILL

Bălănești Hill (Romanian: Dealul Bălănești, pronunciation: [bələneʃti]) is the highest geographical point in Moldova,^[2] with an altitude of 430 m (429 m according to some sources). It is located in Bălănești and belongs to the Cornești Hills.

BĂLĂNEȘTI HILL

Bălănești Hill (Romanian: Dealul Bălănești, pronunciation: [bələneʃti]) is the highest geographical point in Moldova,^[2] with an altitude of 430 m (429 m according to some sources). It is located in Bălănești and belongs to the Cornești Hills.

Causeni

No Kišiņevas 70 km 1 h 15 min.

The 17th century Assumption of Our Lady Church is the oldest surviving building in the town.^[3] It is set more than 3 feet (0.91 m) below ground level and preserves the only medieval fresco in the Republic of Moldova. Executed by Walachian painters in a late Byzantine-Romanian style, the interiors feature religious scenes and iconography in vibrant reds, gold, and blues.

At one time it was a vibrant Jewish shtetl. In 1897, 45 percent of the population (1,675) was Jewish, most working in agriculture.^[4]

Manta lakes.

CAHUL THERMAL SPAS