Besides the fact that you can visit the wineries located in the Valul lui Traian wine area, starting on this route, you have the opportunity to explore the Gagauz autonomy – a region populated by Turkish descendants, but the only ones in the world of Orthodox Christian faith, who speak another language and have traditions and a rich specific gastronomy. You need two days to cover this route for lovers of oeno-culinary and ethno-cultural discoveries. Don’t forget to put your swimsuit in your backpack, at Slobozia Mare, Lake Beleu is waiting to fascinate you with its diversity of birds and water lilies.
Tourist attractions of the route
Segment: Chisinau - Eco Village Văleni (Day 1)
- Length:about 235 km distance
- Travel time:up to 1 hours 45 minutes
- Transport:by car
Fautor Winery
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The Fautor Winery is a family operation that won more international awards for quality in 2017 and 2018 than any other Moldovan wine maker. One reason for the winery’s success is that its portfolio includes some rare vintages. The Fautor family said it approaches wine making like art, with the artist pouring beauty and emotion...
The Fautor Winery is a family operation that won more international awards for quality in 2017 and 2018 than any other Moldovan wine maker. One reason for the winery’s success is that its portfolio includes some rare vintages. The Fautor family said it approaches wine making like art, with the artist pouring beauty and emotion into their creations. The renowned American wine critic Robert Parker is one of the international experts who has praised Fautor vintages. He gave a Fautor Fumé Blanc a score of 90 and a Negre blend an 88 on his 100-point scale. Although Moldova’s wine-making tradition dates back thousands of years, the Fautor Winery is clearly one of the vintners that has taken it to a new level in recent times.
Gitana Winery
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The Gitana Winery is a true family operation, with Petru and Svetlana Dulgher in charge, daughter Iuliana overseeing production and her sister Lilia heading marketing. The Gitana Winery started in 1999, when the Dulgers began renovating the decrepit Tiganca Winery that they bought in Plopi. They realized it would take hard work to create a...
The Gitana Winery is a true family operation, with Petru and Svetlana Dulgher in charge, daughter Iuliana overseeing production and her sister Lilia heading marketing. The Gitana Winery started in 1999, when the Dulgers began renovating the decrepit Tiganca Winery that they bought in Plopi. They realized it would take hard work to create a winner, but they also knew they had a key to wine-making success – already constructed cellars with a constant temperature in summer and winter that were perfect for aging. The Dulgers obtain the grapes for their vintages from the best vineyards in the nearby Leova district. Contending that wine-making technology should only preserve what nature created when it made grapes, Petru and Svetlana decided not to buy enclosed fermenting tanks. Instead, they let their wine ferment in wooden tubs that allow the grapes to breathe.
Novak Winery
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Andrei Novak made a splash in Moldovan wine circles in 2017 when his new winery began creating blends based on a local variety called Alb de Onițcani. He became interested in blends when he saw 22 types of Riesling blends during a tour of a winery in Germany. “Why not bring the blend approach here?”...
Andrei Novak made a splash in Moldovan wine circles in 2017 when his new winery began creating blends based on a local variety called Alb de Onițcani. He became interested in blends when he saw 22 types of Riesling blends during a tour of a winery in Germany. “Why not bring the blend approach here?” he asked himself. One winning blend is 65 percent Alb de Onițcani and 35 percent Riesling. The first blend that Andrei entered in an international competition – Germany’s Mundus Vini Summer Tasting in 2018 – won a gold medal. His vision has prompted other Moldovan wine owners to rediscover the potential of indigenous grape varieties.
Vinăria din Vale Winery
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Ilie Davidescu laid the foundation for Vinăria din Vale Winery decades ago when he made wine for his family from a handful of grapevines in his yard. His son, Vladimir, turned the hobby into a business 20 years ago, although he stresses that it is still a family winery. Every family member works in the...
Ilie Davidescu laid the foundation for Vinăria din Vale Winery decades ago when he made wine for his family from a handful of grapevines in his yard. His son, Vladimir, turned the hobby into a business 20 years ago, although he stresses that it is still a family winery. Every family member works in the operation, which hires about 500 locals a year to harvest the grapes for the wine. Vinăria din Vale is in one of the most picturesque regions of southern Moldova. Not only does the Davidescu family love having visitors see its operation and taste its wine, but it also eager to show nature buffs the nearby Prutul de Jos Natural Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
After visiting so many impressive wineries, we are sure you will need some rest to catch up for the next Day. At the Eco Village Văleni pension you will find everything - a wine cellar that produces soulful wines, a pension where you can try the tastiest traditional dishes and exciting activities, but also a museum to discover Moldovan culture. We recommend that you stay here overnight, and in the morning go on an expedition around Văleni, we assure you that it is worth it.
Eco Village Vаleni
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The owners of Eco Village Valeni will not only provide you with lodging, but also wooden boats you can use to glide across Lake Beleu, one of Eastern Europe’s most pristine bodies of water. In the boats you can float among water lilies so lovely that it looks like they have been painted on the...
The owners of Eco Village Valeni will not only provide you with lodging, but also wooden boats you can use to glide across Lake Beleu, one of Eastern Europe’s most pristine bodies of water. In the boats you can float among water lilies so lovely that it looks like they have been painted on the lake’s surface. If you like fishing, try your luck! An amazing sight is flocks of water birds arriving in Lake Beleu, particularly pelicans. The village of Valeni offers delights as well. You can watch traditional carpets being made on sturdy old looms or visit the Bread Museum, which contains dozens of varieties of this Moldovan staple. Another intriguing spot is a wine cellar with a secret chamber where the women of Valeni hid from invading soldiers in both world wars.
A natural monument that can be found near the village of Văleni is the "Aflorimentul de la Văleni" Natural Monument or as it is popularly called "Colinele de Aur" ("Golden Hills").
Segment: Southern attractions (Day 2)
- Length:about 15 km
- Travel time:up to 2 hours
- Transport:waking / biking
Colinele de Aur, Văleni village
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At 30 kilometers from the city of Cahul there is a chain of hills that the locals called “Colinele de aur” ("Golden Hills") due to the reddish-yellow hue of the clay that came to the surface. These attracted the attention of several researchers who discovered geological and paleontological vestiges here that testify to the past...
At 30 kilometers from the city of Cahul there is a chain of hills that the locals called “Colinele de aur” ("Golden Hills") due to the reddish-yellow hue of the clay that came to the surface. These attracted the attention of several researchers who discovered geological and paleontological vestiges here that testify to the past of the places. Skeletal remains of mastodons, camels, rhinos and other creatures were found here. Travelers can stop to admire this natural monument, or even climb it and admire the village of Văleni and Lake Beleu visible from atop the "Golden Hills.
Petru Rareș’s Road
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Văleni village Legend has it that, before ascending the Chair of the Land of Moldova, Petru Rareș, son of Ștefan cel Mare, would have lived a quiet life as a fisherman around Văleni. "Petru Rareș's Road" is a route that winds for a distance of 9 km among the thickets of reeds, willows and legends,...
Văleni village Legend has it that, before ascending the Chair of the Land of Moldova, Petru Rareș, son of Ștefan cel Mare, would have lived a quiet life as a fisherman around Văleni. "Petru Rareș's Road" is a route that winds for a distance of 9 km among the thickets of reeds, willows and legends, connecting with the other bank of the Prut. Another story says that while on a hunt in the region, Petru Rareș dreamed of the Golden Hills of Văleni knealing to him, and the next day he found out the news that he would become the ruler of Moldova. At present, this route has remained a historical and cultural heritage shrouded in mystery for the South of Moldova.
In the immediate vicinity of Eco Village Văleni and Crama Corbu there is the Natural Reserve "Prutul De Jos" and Beleu Lake - a magical place that will conquer you with its beauty and diversity. Feel free to take a boat ride and a birdwatching session.
Lake Beleu
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Beleu, Moldova’s largest lake, is on UNESCO’s list of global habitats that should be preserved for their biodiversity. Part of the Prutul de Jos reserve in southern Moldova’s Cahul district, the lake is at its most captivating when its white and yellow water lilies are flourishing. You can see them up close on a boat...
Beleu, Moldova’s largest lake, is on UNESCO’s list of global habitats that should be preserved for their biodiversity. Part of the Prutul de Jos reserve in southern Moldova’s Cahul district, the lake is at its most captivating when its white and yellow water lilies are flourishing. You can see them up close on a boat ride, which you can line up at the Bread Museum in Valeni village.
Another attraction is pelicans, which flock in by the thousands looking for food. A tip for pelican watchers: Stay overnight in a tent on the lakeshore so you can get good views of the birds at sunrise. After they eat, many fly to the Danube for more feasting, returning late at night.
Corbu Winery
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Recently founded, Corbu winery is an extension of the existing touristic complex and guest house Eco Village Valeni. This winery has embarked on a mission to promote the natural and cultural heritage of Southern Moldova, which are also the UNESCO protected regions of Lunca Prutului de Jos and Lake Beleu. The tours are targeting nature-lovers...
Recently founded, Corbu winery is an extension of the existing touristic complex and guest house Eco Village Valeni. This winery has embarked on a mission to promote the natural and cultural heritage of Southern Moldova, which are also the UNESCO protected regions of Lunca Prutului de Jos and Lake Beleu. The tours are targeting nature-lovers and those who want to learn about Moldova's traditions and heritage.
Segment: Kara Gani - Vinuri de Comrat (Day3)
- Length:about 150 km distance
- Travel time:up to 2.5 hours
- Transport:by car
Kara Gani Winery
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Vulcanesti is a place where many ethnic groups live side by side, offering visitors a view of a tapestry of cultures. One of those ethnic groups is the Gagauz, who put great food on their tables, along with good will, hospitality, generosity, and noisiness. The Kara Gani winery will serve up all of these, plus...
Vulcanesti is a place where many ethnic groups live side by side, offering visitors a view of a tapestry of cultures. One of those ethnic groups is the Gagauz, who put great food on their tables, along with good will, hospitality, generosity, and noisiness. The Kara Gani winery will serve up all of these, plus a good glass of wine. Some visitors prefer rosé, others grape brandy. You’re sure to find one you like. And Gagauz food? Everything they serve is yummy. This includes cheese made from sheep’s milk; pide, a pie containing cow’s cheese; gozleme, a pie filled with a mix of cow’s and sheep’s cheese; shorpa, a spicy lamb soup; mangia, a tomato and pepper stew that can include chicken; and bulgur — or wheat — with sheep's offal.
Vinia Traian
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Two thousand years ago the Romans made wine on the slopes of the Bugeac Plain, where the Vinia Traian operation is located. The winery is in an area where the Moldovan, Ukrainian and Romanian borders meet. The Bugeac Plain is home to the misnamed Trajan’s Wall, earthen fortifications that Germanic tribes – not Romans –...
Two thousand years ago the Romans made wine on the slopes of the Bugeac Plain, where the Vinia Traian operation is located. The winery is in an area where the Moldovan, Ukrainian and Romanian borders meet. The Bugeac Plain is home to the misnamed Trajan’s Wall, earthen fortifications that Germanic tribes – not Romans – erected against local tribes in the 3rd and 4th centuries. The winery, started during the Soviet era in 1975, selects its grapes from the best that growers in the area have to offer. It is also creating its own vineyard. Guests can not only enjoy the operation’s wines, but also local cheeses and traditional Gagauz dishes, such as a hearty stew called kavarma and meat-stuffed cabbage, or sarmale.
В южной части страны мы рекомендуем вам непременно заехать в село Бешалма. Если вас интересуют история и культура гагаузского народа, тогда стоит посетить и Национальный гагаузский историко-этнографический музей. В этом же селе туристы смогут увидеть и ветряную мельницу – одну из последних четырех, которые еще остались в Молдове.
Gagauz National Museum of History and Ethnography
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The Gagauz National Museum of History and Ethnography presents unique exhibits of Gagauz national costume, traditional women's jewelry, work tools, household items and ethnography of Gagauz peasants from the 19th century. You will also learn about the traditions and customs of the Gagauz people and get acquainted with their wedding customs. In fact, the Gagauz...
The Gagauz National Museum of History and Ethnography presents unique exhibits of Gagauz national costume, traditional women's jewelry, work tools, household items and ethnography of Gagauz peasants from the 19th century. You will also learn about the traditions and customs of the Gagauz people and get acquainted with their wedding customs. In fact, the Gagauz are the only Christian Orthodox people of Turkish origin.
Comrat Wines
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Founded in 1897, Comrat Wines is one of southeast Moldova’s oldest vintners. It has weathered tragedies to retain its great wine-making reputation. The first tragedy was the destruction of Comrat’s vineyards during fighting on its grounds in World War I. The second tragedy was there was no attempt to resurrect the wine-making operation for 40...
Founded in 1897, Comrat Wines is one of southeast Moldova’s oldest vintners. It has weathered tragedies to retain its great wine-making reputation. The first tragedy was the destruction of Comrat’s vineyards during fighting on its grounds in World War I. The second tragedy was there was no attempt to resurrect the wine-making operation for 40 years. The Soviets finally brought it back in the 1960s when they started a collective farm on the property that included grape and wine production. Today, Comrat makes dozens of wine varieties, sells them in its own retail stores across Moldova, and exports them to Europe and Asia. Visitors rave about the combination of Comrat’s wines and the local Gagauz cuisine, a blend of Bulgarian, Turkish and Moldovan fare. Comrat Wines produces both standard and rare vintages, including a Rosu de Comrat 1996 and a sweet white Auriu 1994.
