Moldova
Europe · Chișinău · MD
Moldova is the small, largely agricultural republic of the south-eastern Europe, the wine country of the rolling hills between Romania and Ukraine that holds some of the oldest and the most astonishing cellars of the wine world. The country, internationally famous for the underground cities of the Cricova and the Milestii Mici where the bottles are stored by the millions in the kilometres of the limestone galleries, spreads the vineyards of the hills, the sunflower fields and the scattered villages of the countryside. The capital of the Chisinau, the green, leafy city of the parks, the churches and the boulevards of the Russian era, anchors the government and the culture of the nation, and the cave monasteries of the old river valley, the fortified manor houses and the traditional crafts of the country complete the picture. Modest, friendly and proudly agricultural, Moldova is the quiet wine heart of the eastern Europe.
Overview
Moldova is a country in Europe. Its capital is Chișinău and the international dialling code is +373. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Romanian. Local currency is the Moldovan Leu (MDL). We also list 1 city in Moldova: Chișinău.
The Cellars of the Milestii and the Wines of the Country
The wine cellars of the country, the vast underground galleries of the limestone that the wine industry of the region has turned into one of the great tourist attractions of the eastern Europe, hold millions of bottles in the kilometres of the barrel-lined tunnels. The complex of the Milestii, the largest cellar of its kind in the world, and the famous galleries of the Cricova, offer the guided visits that ride the electric cars through the great halls of the ancient vintage and the collections of the wines of the country and the world, each with the tasting rooms of the underground. The wine roads of the countryside, the wineries of the small producers and the cellars of the monasteries, complete the picture of the country as the quiet, generous heart of the regional wine world.
The Monastery of the Orheiul Vechi and the Caves of the Cliff
The extraordinary settlement of the Orheiul Vechi, the old archaeological and religious complex of the river valley north of the capital, is the most remarkable historic sight of the country, a world heritage of the cave monasteries, the fortresses and the layers of the civilisations of two thousand years. The complex, set on the high promontory of the rocks above the bend of the Raut river, holds the ruined fortress of the ancient era, the remains of the medieval town and the cave monastery of the sixteenth century carved into the chalk cliffs with its cells and its carved church. The cave complex, still used by the monks of the orthodox church, and the ethnographic museum of the villages of the valley give the rare, powerful sense of the deep history of the land.
The Capital of the Chisinau and the Parks of the City
The capital of the Chisinau, the green, spacious city of the south of the country, is the prosperous, orderly heart of the nation, rebuilt after the wars with the grand boulevards, the parks and the vineyards of the city that gave it the name of the city of the wine. The centre of the town, with the cathedral, the gates of the triumphal arch and the broad avenues of the government quarter, holds the architecture of the Tsarist and the Soviet eras, and the museums of the city, from the national museum of the history and the archaeology to the museum of the arts, preserve the culture and the story of the country. The parks of the city, the vineyards of the outskirts and the markets of the town give the modest, pleasant leisure of the small capital.
The Vineyards of the South and the Villages of the Countryside
The countryside of the country, the rolling hills of the vineyards, the orchards and the fields of the sunflowers and the wheat, holds the villages of the traditional houses, the churches of the every valley and the wine presses of the hillside. The small wineries and the wine routes of the south of the country, the cellars of the family and the guest houses of the villages, offer the tasting of the local wines and the simple, delicious food of the rural table, the mamaliga, the stuffed cabbage and the wines of the region. The crafts of the countryside, the ceramics, the weaving and the making of the wine, and the festivals of the harvest of the autumn, keep the gentle, agricultural rhythm of the nation alive.
The Monasteries and the Forests of the Northern Hills
The north of the country, the flatter, more forested region of the old provinces of the land, holds the monasteries and the churches of the orthodox tradition that survive in the villages and the wooded hills of the region. The cave monasteries and the painted churches of the north, the medieval defensive churches of the herders and the holy springs of the countryside, reward the road trip of the region with their quiet beauty and their deep atmosphere, and the forests of the Codru and the reserve parks of the north protect the woods and the wildlife of the region. The towns of the north, with their markets and their museums and the slow rhythm of the provincial life, complete the picture of the country away from the capital.
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- Capital
- Chișinău
- Currency
- Moldovan Leu (MDL)
- Languages
- Romanian
- Calling code
- +373
- Internet TLD
- md
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Moldova.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Moldova?
Chișinău is the capital of Moldova, and the country sits in Europe.
What currency is used in Moldova?
You pay with Moldovan Leu (MDL) in Moldova. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Moldova?
The languages we list for Moldova are Romanian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Moldova?
The dialling code for Moldova is +373 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Moldova do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Moldova: Chișinău (capital).