So much history to be found here

Orheiul Vechi is an area that has been inhabited since the Stone Age and with its combination of late medieval excavations, an orthodox cave monastery founded at the end of the 17th century and the special landscape in the river valley of the Răut is the most famous sight of the country. You can also find ruins from the earliest tribes more than 2000 years ago or from the Mongol and Tatar invasions. The approximately 6000 hectare area is the only nominated cultural world heritage site in Moldova.

It lies around 50 km in the north of Chișinău. A small minibus brought me and my Australian friend there. The trip took about 1.5 hours. The bus dropped us off at the foot of the hill on which the cave monastery is located. A short 15 minute walk and we reached the top of the hill.

Monastery inside a cave

Orthodox monks still inhabit the monastery inside the cave and maintain the church at the top of the hill. The caves nowdays function as chapels.

What I liked most about this place was the peace and wilderness of nature. You could hardly hear the sound of machines. Cows grazed freely in the nature and cemeteries were totally overgrown with plants. Together we enjoyed the view from the monastery and overlooked the many fields. Moldova is really rustic!

A very traditional country

Our bus back to Chișinău finally did not leave until the afternoon, so we had to wait several hours in the small village. In the meantime we saw plenty of wedding groups. Moldova is a very traditional country, the people here get married very young. On some days I heard the wedding bells ringing hourly there.