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 chance, by all means go to one in Comrat. A particularly exuberant part of a wedding is the celebration of a bride taking her dowry from her parents’ home to her new in-laws’. The whole village gathers on the street to mark the occasion with singing and dancing. The best time to come to Comrat is May, during the Hederlez festivities, which feature horse races and the earth shaking as Gagauz do a communal dance known as the Horo.
Comrat
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 costumes and traditions are also different. The people even have an unusual way to celebrate Christmas. When the holiday they call Colada rolls around, Gagauz hunt wild pigs, using their spleens to make new year’s predictions and their skin to make shoes.
Gordinesti
The Gordinesti Gorge’s winding green valleys and other-worldly rock formations are stunning, and its caves hide traces of prehistoric animals and people. Locals have given the name La Castel to the area between the villages of Gordinești and Buzdugeni because a castle once stood there.
In addition to hiking, you can look for the rock formations known as the Treasure of the Turks or Stefan’s Hat. La Castel is full of history and legend. Its caves hide drawings and other signs of ancient peoples, and mammoth bones have been found in them. You won’t find the bones in a museum.
Ask locals how to get to the farmer who keeps them in his cellar. We recommend that you catch the sunset at La Castel. It is nothing short of phenomenal.
Domulgeni
If you think you have already tried every delicacy that Moldova has to offer — from soup to stew to sarmale cabbage rolls — then go to Domulgeni. The village looks the same as others, but it hides a secret. It produces one of the world’s tastiest smoked sausages. This is not just Moldovans’ opinion — tourists from all over say the same. Each Domulgeni family considers its sausage recipe sacred, handing it down from generation to generation. In addition to boiled sausages in garlic, the village fare includes blood sausage and smoked ribs with cherry sprigs.
Do you want to get satiated? Then be sure to stop in Domulgeni.
Tipova monastery
Tipova Monastery, a medieval hideaway carved into limestone rock, is one of Moldova’s oldest monastic complexes. It has three sections — the Holy Cross Churches, St. Nicholas, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. All rooms are interconnected by tunnels, galleries and stairs. The breathtaking Tipova waterfall is near the complex.
Those eager for a spiritual escape come to the monastery and the falls to meditate, do yoga or pick fragrant plants.
Padurea Domneasca, or princely forest
Padurea Domneasca is one of Europe’s oldest and largest wooded meadows, covering 6,032 hectares. It is along the Prut River, which separates Moldova from Romania. Rare animals such as wild cats, forest martens, shrews, otter and mink live in the reserve. Since 2005, it has also had bison — the symbol of Moldova, found on the country’s coat of arms.
The bison are kept in a 32-acre field. Carefully chosen viewing locations provide tourists with insightful glimpses into the lives of these fascinating animals. The reserve’s largest reservoir is Lake La Fontal in the village of Ciobani.
Akvatir Sturgeon Factory
One of Europe’s largest sturgeon farms is in Tiraspol. Some of its excellent caviar stays in the area, but a lot ends up tens of thousands of kilometers away on the tables of connoisseurs and fine restaurants. The fish are as long as a man is tall, leaving caviar buyers and tourists — especially children — agape. This makes it a great place to bring the family. Another attraction is seeing how one of the world’s most expensive culinary delights — black caviar — is processed. The best part is that after you’ve watched it, a fairy-tale tasting awaits you.The seven-hectare farm can produce 50 tons of fish and five tons of caviar a year. The grounds include seven ponds for breeding, growing the fish and recirculating the water. Each pool can accommodate 30 to 100 tons of sturgeon. The complex includes state-of-the-art laboratories.
Casa Parinteasca Museum
It is in Palanca village in the Calarasi area near Chisinau. Your visit will start with an introduction to one of Moldova’s most beautiful women — your hostess, Tatiana Popa. She will welcome you to the home of her parents, whom the communists banished after seizing their possessions.
After years of effort, Tatiana was able to recover the home and turn it into a museum. To enhance the flavor of yesteryear that the structure invokes, she brought back handicraft traditions. Palanca’s mostly ethnic Ukrainians, known as Hutsuls, celebrate their rituals at this landmark, passing them on to their children. You will not only get a glimpse of traditional Ukrainian life in the community, but also taste the Hutsuls’ special dishes. They start with white cherry jam served on cherry leaves. Next are potato pancakes, a green-tomato jam, cherry pie, and a scrumptious cheese pudding. As for drinks, Tatiana is likely to serve you socata, a refreshing brew of elderflowers, sugar, lemon and water. Or a peppermint liqueur, brandy or tea made from plants in her garden.
Manuc Bey Palace
Manuc Bey is a French-style castle with a winter garden, guard towers and a well-maintained park. Designed by Alexandru Bernardazzi, it was built during the second half of the Nineteenth Century. A recent renovation ensures that its dazzling architecture will captivate a new generation of visitors.