Moldova Tourism Center » Cities of Moldova

Magnificence of the Nature in Saharna

avimoldova — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:38:40 +0000

Saharna is a village located 110 km to the North from Chisinau. It is known for its Holy Trinity Monastery and magnificent nature. Those who have been here once dream to visit this place again and again. Noise of waterfalls, silence of ages, beauty of the nature and feeling of calmness - that is what attracts here visitors. The first settlement here is dated back to II century B.C. The monastery here was built at the second half of XVIII century. It is surrounded by rocks which are covered by forest and this place has the feel of calmness. The highest rock is called Grimidon. Every morning inhabitants of the village look at the rock and pronounce the old saying “Grimidon is on its place”. This means that everything is fine today.

Grimidon is famous for St. Maria footstep which according to the belief is on the top of the rock. The legend says that the monk once saw a shining figure of St. Maria on the top of Grimidon. He went there and saw a footstep. Later chapel was built there. Nowadays pilgrims come here to see this footstep and the place is considered to be holy. 20 monks love in the monastery, which is open for visitors every day.

However not just pilgrims come to this place. Saharna is also famous for its waterfalls. River Saharna has 22 waterfalls on its way. One of the most beautiful is very close to monastery. It falls down from a height of 10 meters. The water forms a deep gulf which is called “Gipsy Hole”. This waterfall is very beautiful; however others are not less interesting.

In Saharna you may seat in the shade of the old trees near the waterfall and enjoy the silence of ages. This is one of those places in Moldova which should be visited at least once.

Tiraspol, Transdniestr (Republic of Moldova)

avimoldova — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:08:03 +0000

Transdniestr (aka ‘Transdnistria’, aka ‘TransD’, aka ‘The Cuba of Europe’) has never been particularly fond of visitors. Indeed, if the Transdniestr border guards didn’t have a vested financial interest (bribes) in allowing visitors to pass, the area would probably be inaccessible to all but the most determined of souls. Transdniestr is a narrow strip of land covering only 3567 sq km on the eastern bank of the Dniestr River. Squashed between Moldova and Ukraine, it was the scene of a bloody civil war in the early 1990s when the movement for independence from Moldova began. With Tiraspol as its capital and independent in all but name, this ‘country’ has its own currency, police force, army and borders. Its population is predominantly Russian, with ethnic Ukrainians and a much-harassed Moldovan minority.

So why go to Tiraspol? Well, if you have any curiosity about life in Soviet times, it’s a living museum.

If you’re one to believe anecdotal evidence a visit to Transdniestr, particularly for a solo tourist, is guaranteed to feature one or more of the following: bribes, questioning while trying to exit, suspicion from or outright ostracism by locals and possible detainment.

So why go to Tiraspol? Well, if you have any curiosity about life in Soviet times, it’s a living museum. While there are a few forlorn sights and the celebrated Kvint brandy factory to visit (but not tour), the real attraction is just walking the streets and taking it all in. It’s as bizarre a sensation as you’re likely to encounter without a time machine.

In the weeks before my trip I’d absorbed several stories from other Tiraspol visitors. Some reported being followed by poorly disguised members of the Ministry of State Security (a modern KGB). One guy had been detained for speaking English, another for giving blankets to the poor. I’d never been so anxious about a trip in my life, but duty called. A guidebook needed updating.

My companion and translator was Tanya, a Moldovan journalism student keen to shadow a Lonely Planet author and learn about the electrifying tedium of road research. I have Tanya to thank for, well, everything.

They hinted they might turn us away because we’d violated a recently instituted rule about visitors needing letters of invitation.

At the initial checkpoint, we dodged the first imaginary infraction (’You’re supposed to stop there, not there!’) because the officer noticed that he and Tanya shared the same last name. Minutes later we were surrounded by eight grim guards at the Transdniestran ‘border’. They hinted they might turn us away because we’d violated a recently instituted rule about visitors needing letters of invitation. Tanya bluffed us through for a stunningly small bribe - US$7 for the two of us - and the sincere promise that we wouldn’t leave our ‘friend’s apartment’ (a homestay arranged through Your Friends in Moldova) during the entirety of our 24-hour visit.

No sir, we won’t visit innumerable hotels, restaurants, museums, sights and the bus station. Swear to god.

Our homestay ended up being in a surprisingly nice apartment overlooking the main square. While Tanya and the key-bearing babushka stepped out for food, I conducted a previously arranged interview with a Tiraspol resident, a Moldovan ex-pat who relocated to Tiraspol for university and ended up staying to start a family. My loaded questions about the state of corruption and crime in TransD were met with on-message, propagandistic replies about how the saintly Transdniestran government were the victims of Moldovan slander.

Chatty and affable, when told that we were tourists, she sincerely replied ‘I don’t understand’.

In fact, Transdniestr’s president, the generously eyebrowed Igor Smirnov, stands accused of an alarming list of crimes. Allegations of arms dealing and extortion notwithstanding, Smirnov is charged with the undeniable land-grabbing of Transdniestr from its rightful owner, the sovereign state of Moldova. As such he and his entire cabinet, at least one of whom is still wanted by Interpol for murder in Latvia, are banned from entering any EU countries, but not Russia.

Ex-KGB Smirnov was ‘elected’ president of Transdniestr in 1991 following the region’s declaration of independence. With Russia’s mystifying support and Moldova’s lack of resources, TransD has soldiered on ever since as an unrecognised country and international problem child.

With the interview bagged, Tanya and I hit the pavement in the true style of Lonely Planet authors - running.

Tree-lined, wide, orderly and impeccably clean, Ulitsa 25 Oktober is Tiraspol’s backbone and main commercial strip. New boutiques adjoin photo studios displaying hand-coloured portraits from the 1970s. Police stand watch at intersections like overlords, monitoring their minions.

At night, the city is largely deserted, save for teenagers dry humping on park benches. Later we visited Prokhlada, the hippest club in Tiraspol. It was a Friday night, but there were only three people huddled in one corner.
Map of Moldova

The next day was ‘lively’. After tense moments at the first hotel, where one too many questions and my English invoked narrowed eyes and pursed lips, Tanya took over, doing all the talking for the rest of the day. Recalling the guy that was detained for simply speaking English, I hung back silently, taking mental notes about hotels and restaurants which I furiously tapped into my Palm Pilot whenever we found a quiet corner.

Later, determined to dine on ‘dirt-cheap meals that are bland but hit the spot fine’ (according to the previous edition), we were barred entrance to the desired cafe after the owner spied me taking a photo down the street. I gladly struck them from the book. When we visited the Kvint brandy factory to buy a few souvenir bottles, the patently suspicious clerk performed the entire transaction uttering only a single word, ‘ngugh!’, in response to ‘thank you’.

The only person in Tiraspol who was happy to see us that day was the old woman, selling fruit from a folding table on the street. Chatty and affable, when told that we were tourists, she sincerely replied ‘I don’t understand’.

Fact About Basarabeasca

avimoldova — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:59:58 +0000

Basarabeasca is a city on the south of Moldova on 46°20′N, 28°58′E. The city, formerly an urban-type settlement, is located on the border with Ukraine. It is 94 km to the south of Chisinau, 25 km from Cimislia, and 25 km from Comrat. The river Cogilnic flows through the city from northwest to southeast, continuing on to the Black Sea. The main populated areas are in the lowland, and is effectively divided into several areas, such as Romanovka and Flemynda.

A settlement at the site of Basarabeasca appeared in 1846 as a Jewish colony, originally named Romanovka in honor of the imperial family of Romanovs. In 1859 there were 86 resident Jewish families who worked the land, 263 men and 249 women. In their possession were 1750 desyatinas of farmland. At the time of the abolition of Jewish land tenure in 1866, 57 families were occupied in farming - 209 men and 183 women, who mainly went over to wine production; a part engaged in commerce and trade. In order to improve the lot of the colonists, the Zemstvo of Bender instituted market days - once a week on Wednesday. This was done at the request of Captain Fyodor Oleynikov on October 29, 1876.

In 1897, 597 settlers lived in Romanovka (293 men and 304 women). There were a synagogue and a prayer school (Cheder). According to the Russian census of 1897, 1625 people lived in Romanovka, with 71% (1150 people) Jewish[1]. The first secular school, where there was only one class, opened in 1899 thanks to Georgiy Gimishli, who helped with the facilities. The class was taught by Anna Shidlovskaya, who worked there for many years. For his support of the school, George Gimishli was awarded a silver medal of zeal on December 6, 1904. In the 1905-1906 school year, 12 boys and 2 girls studied at the school.

It is situated on the border with Ukraine. The city is a center of Basarabeasca district. River Cogilnic runs through the city. It flows into Black sea. On the place where nowadays Basarabeasca is situated there appeared village in 1846. It was Jewish colony. The village was called Romanovka. Here lived 86 Jewish families. They all tilled the ground. Late some families started to practice winemaking, crafts and commerce.

At the end of XIX century there was synagogue and heder in the village. The population of the village little by little grew. The first school was opened here in 1899. At the beginning it consisted of one single class.

At the early XX century there was built a railway station not far from the village. A new railway station was called Basarabeasca. In this period the village is characterized by fast developing. A new synagogue is built, in some houses there appear telephones… In 1923 this village was considered to be a big one. Here were 690 houses, school, drug store, retail outlets and so on.

The village became a city and was renamed into Basarabeasca in 1957 when it was united with former German colony located not far from it.

Nowadays in Basarabeasca live about 11 000 people. The city is divided into regions (Romanovka, Flaminda and others). Three lyceums work in the city. The city also has its own TV channel and radio station.

Chisinau, the Moldova Capital

avimoldova — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:35:32 +0000

The capital of our country, city of Chisinau is the main administrative, economic, scientific and cultural center of the Republic of Moldova. Situated in Chisinau – 100 years old pictures
a picturesque environment, on seven hills, Chisinau is impressing local citizens and guests of the city. It is situated in latitude 47′2″ North and longitude 28′50″ East, occupying 120 square km. The capital of the Republic of Moldova counts almost one million citizens.

Chisinau is divided in five administrative sectors-Botanica, Buiucani, Center, Ciocana and Riscani and has its own flag and coat of arms. Among the most awaited holidays of city folks is Day of the City, celebrated in October. For the first time Chisinau was mentioned in papers in a master’s charter.

In the XlXth century the plan of growth of the city was developed. Many buildings were designed and built in a beautiful architectural frame, a lot of which embellish the city till nowadays. In 1836 the construction of the Cathedral and Belfry was finished.

During soviet time, the Belfry was demolished and only after regaining the independence, following the initiative of renowned people, the Municipality of Chisinau and thousands of citizens, the Belfry was rebuilt and the Cathedral was renovated.

During last years the capital of Moldova definitely changed its appearance. The following streets were renovated: Ismail, Ceucari, Ciuflea, new trolleybus-lines were opened to the Gate of the City, South Station, Posta Veche, Old Buiucani, Durlesti. New cultural centers were opened: “House of Romanian Language”, Eminescu Academic Center, “Petru Movila” Cultural Center.

The Alley of Classics in the heart of Chisinau is a unique place in the world. In the last years the new busts of great writers were added here - Nichita Stanescu, Octavian Goga, George Cosbuc, George Bacovia, Mihail Sadoveanu. The monuments to Mihai Eminescu, Vasile Alecsandri, Petru Movila, Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici were successfully added to city architecture line.

Chisinau is the cultural center of the republic. During 30 years here were held the International Festival “Martisor”, the international opera festival “Maria Biesu”, International ballroom dances festival, where “Codreanca” team is performing marvelously, humor festival “Danila Prepeleac”. Inhabitants of the city are proud of the municipal puppet-show “Guguta”, “Satiricus” theatre, Creative Association “Buciumul”, Theater of one actor.

The pride of our city and all the national culture are prominent figures such as Maria Cebotari, Alexei Mateevici, Tamara Ciobanu, Maria Biesu, Nicolae Sulac, Nico-ae Botgros, Gheorghe Esanu, Serghei Lunchevici, Maria Dragan, Grigore Vieru, Spiridon Vangheli, Dumitru Matcovschi, Mihai Cimpoi, Eugeniu Ureche, Veniamin Apostol, Domnica Darienco, Constantin Constantinov, Ecaterina Cazimirova, Mihai Grecu, Glebus Sainciuc, Valentina Rusu-Ciobanu, Mihai Muntean, Ion Paulencu, Dumitru Gheorghita, Vasile Zagorschi, Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici, Petre Teodorovici, Ion Dumeniuc, Liviu Deleanu, Liviu Damian, Ion Vatamanu, Vladimir Curbet, Eugen Doga, Ion Druta, Nelli Cameneva, Ion Suruceanu, Mihai Dolgan, Liubomir lorga, Vasile lovu, Ion C. Ciobanu and many others.

Chisinau is an European city. Large and bright streets and boulevards, buried in verdure parks and alleys, buildings of modern architecture along houses with traditional-popular trends give the city a special colour.

Still the main feature of Chisinau is its hospitality. The city that is always open to guests of the capital of the Republic of Moldova and being glad to everyone that comes to admire its beauty.