Things to see and do North

This nature reserve created in 1993 covers 5,736 ha. A particularly rich flora has remained preserved thanks to the maintenance of the flood zones which encourage its development (strong presence of the Prut river and construction of a dam at Costești in 1975). 730 species of local flora, which were already present in the 13th century, are represented. 31 species of rare plants grow on the site. The majority of the trees are pedunculate oaks, willows, black poplars... For the fruit trees, there are walnuts, currants, wild vines, tulips, snowdrops... It is near the village Moara Dumnească that the most important grouping of secular oaks is found, most of them are 200 to 250 years old, but the oldest is 450 years old and reaches more than 30 m high. The fauna includes 47 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 159 species of birds. In the forest, the fauna is characterized by deer, wild boar, wild cats, foxes, otters, martens, turtles, egrets, swans... Bison were also introduced into the reserve in 2006. From this reserve you can see the long ribbon of the river Prut and on the opposite bank you can see Romania.

In Cobani, a tourist pension was created in 2014 and allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of this reserve while respecting the environment. The places will please nature lovers.

It would be a shame not to allow enough time to enjoy a nice hike around the monastery, along the banks of the Dniestret river to the waterfalls south of the village. This walk is almost inevitable to capture the spirit of the place and understand its legends, because nature here has a mystical side to it. The reserve covers 306 ha and includes cliffs along the river, a gorge 150-200 m deep, caves, waterfalls 10-16 m high, wooded areas and grasslands. The vegetation is rich and includes many oaks, hazelnut trees, cherry trees, rosehips, mulberry trees, vine-trees, hawthorn... The panorama from the top of the cliffs is beautiful. In winter, the terraces at the bottom of the gorges are covered with ice but the Dniestr continues to flow. In February, the rays of sunshine crossing the frozen waterfalls form magnificent rainbows. In summer, the place is enchanting, you can rest at the foot of the waterfalls, swim and contemplate beautiful sunrises.

In addition to the natural beauties of the site, there are a few cultural monuments and an ancient troglodyte monastery occupied from the 11th to the 17th century. On the site of an ancient Gothic fortress, archaeologists have found fragments of amphoras or ceramics and jewellery. Under a waterfall, a plaque was found and, according to legend, Orpheus was buried there.

The monastic complex is also a nature reserve, it would be a shame to miss this lovely walk. With more than 670 hectares, it is a protected natural site. Two small rivers make it up, Saharna with a length of 10 km and Stohnia with a length of 6 km. These rivers have formed several waterfalls, small lakes, but also canyons up to 175 m high. The largest waterfall falls 4 m high and is located at the last bend of the river to the east, in front of the ranger's house and the rock monastery. At this place, a 10 m abyss is called by the locals "the Gypsy's pit". Wren hermitages are visible and some are open. To access the basin of the miraculous spring, you will have to cross a suspended but safe footbridge. In any season, it is an enchanting landscape of eternal calm, so it is best to avoid busy periods to walk there.

In order to have a superb panorama of the site, you can take the path on the cliffs opposite the monastery. A cross is visible at the top and from this location the view is magnificent. If you are not afraid of heights, you can visit the small turret of the Grimidon in which some monks retreat to pray. If a bit of adventure tempts you, from the main path you can take a steep secondary path leading to caves and old quarries from which there is also a nice view of the area.

Everyone in the region knows the centuries-old oak tree of Stefan cel Mare, the voivode prince who symbolizes courage, strength and resistance against Turkish aggression. He is the representative of Moldavia, an example for everyone and is the father of the Moldavian nation to which many legends are attached. One of these legends is that during his reign, in the 15th century, Stefan cel Mare emerged victorious from a battle against the Tatars here in Cobîlea. He decided to have a wooden church built here in 1484 next to an old oak tree. At that time the tree was 200 years old and had already been mentioned in 1456. Today, at over 750 years old, it is considered to be one of the oldest trees in Europe. It is a true natural monument protected by the state since January 8, 1975. This monumental tree is 17 m high, the diameter of its crown is 31 m and the diameter of the trunk is 2.44 m.

The church was rebuilt in stone in 1822 but is nevertheless considered to be one of the oldest religious buildings in Moldova. It is a massive church with a simple longitudinal plan but elegant. The site is also completed by a bust of Stefan cel Mare and, not far away, a war memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Second World War. This small village is an important and very touching stopover, in homage to this national hero present on all Moldavian banknotes!

The Cobîlea Town Hall, located in the town of Chişinău in Moldavia, is a must for tourists seeking information about the region. Town hall staff are also on hand to answer any questions and help tourists plan their stay.

Part of the nature reserve at Pădurea Domnească is home to a poultry reserve with colonies of migratory birds, grey herons, black-crowned night herons and little egrets. The reserve extends over almost 1 ha and is made up of oak trees that shelter the birds' nests. The herons build their nests on the highest branches of the oaks, 20 m high. A very large number of birds concentrate on the site, from 500 to 1,000 birds are counted. The floodplain on the eastern bank of the Prut River provides a suitable environment for these birds to find shelter and food. The grey heron usually lives near various water sources: swamps, rivers and streams, lakes, sometimes even in urban areas. The water may be stagnant or salty, but the water must be shallow. It is noticeable by its greyish-white plumage and black feathered neck. Night herons feed at night (small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects and small mammals). They have white bellies and grey or reddish wings. They build their nests on tree branches or on the ground in protected areas (islands or reeds). They lay three to eight eggs. The little egret is recognizable by its white plumage. It is a rather silent bird that emits a loud cry to warn its fellow birds in case of danger.

It is possible to hire the services of a guide from the inhabitants or from the Moldsilva administration of the Glodeni district.

This reserve includes three gorges: Rudi, Arionești and Tătărăuca. The Rudi gorge is 5 km long and 250 m deep. You can find Văgăuna Lupilor (the ravine of the Wolves), Văgăuna Vânturilor (the ravine of the Winds), Stânca Balaurului (the Dragon's Rock), Harpa Eoliană (the Harp of the Wind), Peştera Răposaţilor (the Cave of the Dead). Near Rudi Monastery there is a citadel of Thracian origin (possibly the ancient city of Maetorium), a citadel ghetto and a medieval site called the Turk's Plate.

The Cave of the Dead: the entrance is an angular fissure 80 centimeters wide. It is a cave formed in Sarmatian limestone. It is located behind the village church, under the cemetery. Before entering the forest, take a path on the left that leads to the church. It is 1 kilometre long and consists of six rooms, 12.50 metres deep.

The Turk's Plate: this earthen fortress is ring-shaped. On a promontory, the inner courtyard of the fortress is 50 metres in diameter, surrounded by an earthen bastion 6 metres to the north and 4 metres to the south, with a moat 2 metres deep and 12-14 metres wide. Traces of it are still visible. According to archaeologists, these were two towns called "Turkish Plate" and "Germanariu", present between the 10th and 12th centuries. The fortress was built around the 10th century. The inhabitants lived in huts, practising agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts (pottery, blacksmith's work, bone objects, etc.)

Formed by the Prut River, the lake of Costești and its surroundings form a nature reserve stretching between Moldova and Romania. The lake is the second largest in Moldova, after the lake of Dubăsari, with an area of 59 km2. It flows up the Prut River to the village of Viișoara over a length of 70 km and can accumulate 1.285 billion cubic metres. Its maximum depth is 43 m. The dam built in the second half of the 1970s is 710 m wide. Its hydroelectric power plant has a capacity of 32,000 kWt. The Stânca Nature Reserve-Costești covers an area of 2,950 ha and 2,161 ha have the status of a special area for the protection of avifauna, which is home to 85 species of birds. The area includes wetlands, cereal growing areas and grasslands. They offer favourable nesting and feeding conditions for several migratory and sedentary bird species, some of which are protected at European level or are on the IUCN Red List. Among these bird species are herons, black-crowned night-herons, bald eagles, gulls, geese, ducks, egrets, storks... The reserve is also home to squirrels, wild boars, foxes and many other animals.

During the good times of the year, visitors can rest on the beaches of the lake, go boating, fishing... The places are perfect for beautiful walks.

The natural reserve of the Hundred Hills (Suta de movile) is located between the lake of Costești and Cobani. It is bordered to the west by Braniște, Răteni, Avrămeni and the Prut River which marks the border with Romania. The reserve covers 1,072 ha and is administered by the local authorities and an agricultural company. The environment is characterised by a covered steppe of 3 500 mounds of various sizes, ranging in height from 1.50 to 30 m (like the Gypsy hill), extending over a length of 8 km and a width of 2.3 to 1.7 km. The landscape is remarkable and undulating. It is part of the great chain of coral reefs extending to the north-west of the country. Scientists and geologists believe that these are ancient submarine reefs dating back 20 million years. For some, landslides also played a role. For a long time, many legends were linked to these hills. For some, they were burial mounds erected after battles. Dimitrie Cantemir mentioned this place in his book Discriptio Moldaviae from 1716. General Bauer indicated the place on his map of 1772.

The landscape is beautiful with its undulating steppe, small plains, plateaus, hills and terraces that invite to walk. The place is green with many oak and cherry trees. Herds of cows can be seen. At the top of some hills, you will have a beautiful panorama of the surroundings.

The "Prut reefs" or toltrels are concentrated in a small area covering the rivers Larga, Vilia, Lopatnic, Draghiste, Racovat, Ciuhur and Camenca, flowing into the Middle Prut area. Even though some of these reefs are very fragmented, the chain is joined together over a distance of about 200 km. Thus, the Prut toltrels are not located directly on the bank of the Prut but in the basin of the related rivers, a few kilometres from the left bank. These limestone reefs are formed from the remains of corals, shells, algae, animals and other sea creatures that are 10 to 20 million years old. These reefs have the same history as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, except that the Great Barrier Reef is almost entirely underwater with cliffs emerging from the ocean 2 to 5 m high, while these land-based reefs can be over 100 m high.

Reefs of Buteşti: Creeks at Camenca have carved out the narrow chain of picturesque looking reefs called reefs of Buteşti, surrounded on three sides by the river and its tributaries. The reefs are 2 km long, 125 m wide and 40 m high. They are pierced by caves and caverns, serving as a refuge for large animals during the Ice Age and for man in the Paleolithic period. They owe their composition to the corals and skeletons of marine animals (molluscs, crabs, sea urchins, and more rarely seals and dolphins in limestone rock).

The Glodeni town hall is located in the centre of the town, 200 m south of the central park and the hospital. The building is distinguished by its typical Soviet architecture. Information about the locality and possible public events can be found on site or on the website. There are few attractions in the town. Places of interest are two Orthodox churches in the south-west and south-east and a monument to the unknown hero in the south-east of the town. There are a few hotels and three coffee shops (Mojito, La Gratar and Butoiaș).

A nature reserve between the villages of Cosăuți and Iorjniţa, near the monastery, it is the remnant of a huge forest that was called "the forest of Soroca". It extends over approximately 530 ha and is home to a very diverse fauna and flora. The forest was exploited in the past for the shipbuilding of the Russian fleet in the 19th century, the construction of bridges or fortifications. The development of agriculture has transformed forest areas into cultivated fields, leading to soil erosion and changes in the landscape.

The country's ^4th largest reserve abounds in water springs that continue to create a special microclimate, gigantic rocks emerging from the surface are witnesses to the transformations undergone by the earth's crust over the centuries. Caves exist, the best known of which is called "the cave". The river basin is home to a great diversity of animals, wild boar, deer, foxes, and rare species such as the rhinolophes, the Great Horned Owl, the Black Woodpecker, the Semi-Apollon butterflies, the diane and the European Lucan. The forests on the sloping banks of the river, planted mainly with oaks (including a 400 year old secular oak) and cherry trees, have a dense and rich flora, with a multitude of protected plants such as ferns and flowers, bird's nest neottie, pulsating anemone and the superb lily, to name but a few. Some wooded areas exist on the opposite bank in Ukraine.

Here begins the course of the Dniestr on Moldavian territory. Naslavcea is the northernmost village of the country and its banks offer a splendid landscape. The region is characterized by gently sloping plains and hills, but also numerous rivers and steep areas of limestone rock. The forests cover nearly 7,200 hectares and are home to the oldest villages such as Grinăuţi, Ocniţa, Lipnic or Mihălăşeni. In Naslavcea, the rivers meander like a ribbon, drawing strange and sublime landscapes. The village was founded on the banks of the Dniestr, where dry summers formed "fords" (vaduri), which disappeared in 1936 when the riverbed rose. On the other bank of the Dniestr, you can see Ukraine.

There are three nature reserves in the Naslavcea region:

Ripa lui Carp, on the banks, where the shale layers are full of fossil footprints of flora and fauna. The area is also rich in phosphorus called ghiule.

Ripa Rocilor, which extends close to the village. Singular for their geological diversity, the rocks present here are very varied, for connoisseurs (chalk, schist, flint in various shades).

Finally, Treizeci si trei of Vaduri (Thirty-three Ges), here the river is very eventful, with waterfalls, rocks with beautiful strata. Not far away is an old stone mill. Near the village flows a mineral water source rich in radium and uranium.

This small tourist agency run by Vitalii Dascal was founded in April 2010. It can help you to discover the city and the localities of the surroundings. Various services are offered. The agency can organize excursions to the region's tourist attractions (museums, cemeteries, churches, monasteries, natural sites...), guided tours, help you with hotel reservations and transportation. The director of this tourist agency knows his region well and will be happy to help you discover it.

In 1959, following an explosion triggered for the extraction of gypsum, this huge cave was discovered. Situated on the outskirts of the village of Criva, it is one of the largest gypsum caves in the world, which the locals call "Cenusareasa" (The Cinderella). It is 91 km long and has a vertical drop of 50 metres. In 1969, a group of geographers from the Moldavian Academy of Sciences entered it for the first time, and in 1977 a map and the architecture of the complex were determined.

The cavers discovered several rooms, the largest of which are called "the 100-metre room" and "the waiting room". In most of them, the ceiling is vaulted, the height can reach 11 m, the width of the tunnels 30 to 40 m, their length 60 to 100 m. In the "waiting room", eleven columns support the ceiling. In some rooms, there are gigantic stones or crystals in animal-like shapes ("the penguin room", "the dinosaur cemetery"). The empty spaces inside the cave have three to four levels, the most accessible being the two intermediate levels. The upper level is in places inaccessible and the lower level is still wet, and toxic underground gas vapours persist. The karst lakes discovered inside the cave also have their names ("green lake", "blue lake", "transparent lake"). The water of these lakes is very rich in minerals and has healing properties.

The Ciaica tourist agency is located in the centre of Orhei, near the town hall, the court and the park. It offers different types of services and can organize excursions to the attractions of the area (Vartely Castle, Orhei Vechi...). The agency can book hotels in Moldova or abroad, plane tickets and organize your transportation. The agency's website provides some information (in Romanian and Russian).

This 32 ha bison reserve is part of the nature reserve of Pădurea Domnească (which covers 6,032 ha and was opened in 1993). You enter through a magnificent carved wooden gate. Originally, in 2005, the Polish government donated three bison to Moldova, one male and two females. By the 1920s, this species had almost disappeared. By 1947, only thirty-nine were left in the world and seventeen in Europe. Today there are 3,500, but that is still too few. There are seven in this reserve, two females and five males. These are fragile animals that require great care and special conditions. The director of the reserve must report regularly on the condition of his buffalo. The bison are not really wild because they are already accustomed to humans. They can grow up to 3.5 m long. Other animals living in the reserve include horses, badgers, deer, roe deer, wild boar, martens, mink, otters and feral cats. There is also a large colony of herons. A beautiful covered wooden bridge overlooks one of the plots and provides a good view of the bison. The bison reserve and the nature reserve at Pădurea Domnească will delight children and nature lovers. The places are magnificent and perfect to recharge your batteries in the peace and quiet of nature.

The bison's "cousin", the aurochs, appears on the national coat of arms of Moldova (in the coat of arms in the centre of the eagle).

Located north of Țaul, the village of Plop was already mentioned in a document of 1559. It is located on a hill and extends to the banks of the Cubolta river. It is famous for its "valley of springs" (called in Romanian izvoarele satului Plop, "the springs of the village of Plop"). These have been known since antiquity and spring from a slope made of Sarmatian limestone. For a long time, the water from the springs of Plop has been believed to have healing properties. Originally, there were about 50 springs, but many disappeared due to landslides or lack of maintenance. This natural hydrological monument has been under state protection since 1998. Starting in 2010, many springs were cleaned and restored. They are surrounded by small stone pavilions resembling small castles, with crenellations and a red pointed roof. The surrounding area has been redeveloped to create a recreation area for villagers and tourists passing through. The flow rate of the spring is 120 l per minute. The spring water is potable and its quality is frequently monitored. Water from one of the springs is bottled locally and sold under the name Aqua-Plop. This hydrocarbon sulphate water is rich in sodium, calcium and magnesium.

The place is quiet and charming, perfect for a walk. A path leads to the springs which are surrounded by willows. In the village of Plop, you can also visit the church of Saints-Archanges-Michel-et-Gabriel.

The gorges are located southwest of the village of Trinca and are crossed by the river Draghiște, which dug these limestone rocks. They extend over 58.3 ha and form a valley 500 m long, 200 m wide and 40 m deep. The places will delight the amateurs of walks in an exceptional setting. The slopes of the gorges shelter caves that were used by Neanderthal hunters. Several hundred animal bones have been found there, including about fifteen bears. The site was placed under state protection in 1975 and this status was renewed in 1998. The site is of great scientific interest to archaeologists and geologists, but it is threatened by the uncontrolled extraction of limestone. Trinca Lime is renowned in the country but the quarry from which its raw material was extracted has been exhausted. This activity and the production of lime have caused environmental damage. In recent years, Moldovan parliamentarians have taken an interest in this problem and measures have been taken to safeguard this important natural heritage.

From the top of the cliffs, you can enjoy a superb panorama. Herds of goats can sometimes be seen coming from farms in the surrounding area. At the bottom of the canyon, the banks of the Draghiște are lined with trees and offer a charming spot for a cool picnic in the summer. It is a beautiful and exotic place. In Trinca as in other natural sites, don't forget to respect the environment!

The nature reserve at Fetești is also called "Little Switzerland" because of the relief of its landscapes. Located about ten kilometres from the Prut in the west and the river Racovăț in the east, it covers 563 ha and is under the protection of the local authorities. The reserve is made up of many varieties of trees, such as hornbeams growing on rocky slopes, oaks, ash, cherry, hazelnut and hawthorn. There are also about 160 plant species. Going down 5 km to the south, you can see the parade of Burlănești. It covers 10 ha and is protected by the state. The river Draghiște crosses this area in long meanders surrounding rocky promontories and small limestone plateaux. The Grandfather's rock (stânca lui Bunic) can be seen here. The gorge is 140 m deep and has caves. The area is of archaeological value: fossils of ectoproteins, prehistoric animal bones and flint tools from the Paleolithic period have been found here. Following the river Draghiște, we reach the Buzdugeni and Brînzeni gorges. South of the village of Gordinești you can admire a gorge in the middle of the forest called the Castle (la Castel). Finally, between Fetești and Gordinești, there is a quarry with impressive rock formations.

The nature reserve of Fetești and its surroundings are perfect for long hikes in the middle of nature, in a magnificent setting.