Destinations
Balti, the northern capital
With a population of 125,000, Balti is Moldova’s second-largest city. Its homes, public buildings, churches and schools are a mix of architectural styles, including early 19th Century Romanian, Soviet and neo-Romanian. Balti’s streets are quieter than Chisinau’s bustling thoroughfares. But it isn’t boring, and it offers a few mysteries. For example, why is a tank sitting in the main square, and why…
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Suta de Movile (Valley of the Hundred Hills)
Although it is called the Valley of the Hundred Hills, the rolling landscape near Braniste actually contains more than 3,000 undulations. It is such an unusual formation that you are unlikely to see anything like it elsewhere. Legend has it that the mounds are the graves of Getae, an ancient tribal people who lived along the lower Danube River and nearby plains….
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Mount Balanesti
If you like climbing, but don’t want a grueling or death-defying excursion, you will enjoy ascending Mount Balanesti, at 429 meters – or 1,400 feet – Moldova’s highest peak. The trek will start at the village that carries the mountain’s name and wind through a peaceful landscape of wheat and corn fields. When you reach the top, you will find a breathtaking…
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Decanter Wineshop & Cafe
Decanter Wineshop & Café is a modern sanctuary of good wines, seductive gastronomic experiences, and warm and sincere discussions. The wine shop is located in a XIX century historic building, in proximity to “Muzeul Zemstvei,” which used to be an orphanage.
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Giurgiulesti’s
Giurgiulesti is Moldova’s southernmost village, so it would make sense that its inhabitants have no use for the cold. Lending truth to that assumption are the village’s colorful traditions about chasing away winter and ushering in spring. The day before the Christmas fasting season starts, villagers gather at the community’s biggest intersection, light a bonfire and jump over it, shouting, “Uliliga!” —…
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Bread Museum
Moldova’s traditional bread says a lot about our culinary habits and holiday rituals. A good place to learn the ins and outs of bread is Valeni village, home of the Bread Museum. Your schooling will include which types of festive breads are served on various holidays, and what rituals each type pertains to. Among the festive breads are bagels, hoopoe, pigeons, 12…
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Lake Beleu
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…
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Comrat
Comrat, the de facto capital of Gagauzia, will conquer you through gastronomy first. Gagauz cuisine is rooted in their nomadic past. Two staples are lamb with herbs cooked for hours in a pot and ribs coated with a couscous paste of hot pepper and other spices. For color and tradition, you can’t beat a Gagauz wedding — so if you get a…
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Gagauzia
Known as the most colorful part of Moldova, the southwestern enclave of Gagauzia will amaze you with its energy, traditions and people. Gagauzia, which declared itself autonomous in 1995, is culturally distinct. Gagauz are closer to the Turks than Moldovans, although they are Orthodox Christians rather than Muslim. UNESCO highlighted another distinction when it declared the Gagauz language extinct, like Latin. Gagauz…
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