Pilgrimage to Curchi -Tabăra - Orheiul Vechi Monasteries

Tour Details

The Orheiul Vechi cultural-natural reserve is the most important cultural site in the Republic of Moldova and is in the process of being nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the territory of the complex there are two museums, a rock monastery open to visitors, as well as several private hotels in the villages of Butuceni and Trebujeni.

Place of Departure & Return

33 Circus Street (Circus of Chisinau)

Departure Time

08:00

Price Includes

• Tour-return transport
• All excursions indicated in the program
• Licensed guide

Price does not include

• Entrance fees - 20 Lei

Additional Services

Guide in foreign languages (50 €)

Description

Old Orheiul is located in the valley of the Răutului, a right tributary of the Nistru river, on the territory of Trebujeni commune in the Orhei district of the Republic of Moldova. The cultural-natural reserve Orheiul Vechi has a special status and is the most important cultural site in the Republic of Moldova, and is in the process of being nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Orheiul Vechi landscape represents an exceptional work of human adaptation and transformation of the natural environment, which made possible the creation of regional centres of political, military, economic and cultural power at various times.

Did you know?

• Orheiul Vechi is one of the main tourist attractions in the Republic of Moldova, candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage.
• The name of the town comes from the Hungarian vár + hely (fortress + place), meaning "place of the fortress", with the meaning "place where there was a fortress".

Programme

• Departure from Chisinau at 08:00
• Curchi Monastery, considered one of the most beautiful and famous monasteries in Bessarabia. Pilgrims will visit:
  
  • The summer church "Nativity of the Mother of God", an architectural jewel, built according to the design of the Italian architect Rasstrelly;
  • Church of St. Hierarch Nicholas, built in Byzantine style.
  • Church shop.
• Village of Vatici
  
  • Visiting the village museum in the village of Vatici "Vatra Strămoșeasca". (Entry fee 10 Lei)
• Arrival at the archaeological site Orheiul Vechi - "the place with 1001 mysteries", here we will visit :
  
  • Ruins of the oriental city of Seihr-al-Gedid of the Golden Horde (13th-14th century);
  • Ruins of the medieval fortress Orhei, with traces of the 15th century palace of the "pârcalab";
  • Rupestra Monastery "The Assumption of the Mother of God", a place of worship for hundreds and hundreds of monks, founded in the 13th-16th century;
  • The Cross of Healing; where the whole world comes to ask the Lord for mercy and salvation;
  • The earthly church of the Nativity of the Mother of God;
  • Traces of the Geto-Dacian city;
  • Museum "The Peasant Court" (19th century); (PRICE 10 Lei)
    Landscape reserve "Trebujeni;
• Arrival in Chisinau between 16:00 - 18:00

Tips for tourists 

• Complexity of the trip - by coach and pedestrian.
• It will be 3-5 km on foot on hill relief and country road.
• Clothing and footwear as comfortable as possible.
• For visiting monasteries - strictly decent dress code.