Learn Russian in Chisinau

Archeological excavations discovered here the cultural layers of different epochs such as the Paleolithic, Eneolithic, and Iron Age. Old Orhei contains traces of different civilizations, including the earthen and wooden fortresses (6th-1st centuries BC), a Golden Horde fort (14th century), a Moldavian fort (14th-16th centuries), and Orthodox monasteries (14th century).

There is a well maintained and still active Orthodox cave monastery and an archeological museum that we will visit. There is also a church built in neo-Russian style (neo-Russian style means it is somewhat old and not really Russian).

We will also visit a traditional 19th-century peasant household, where we will see traditional handicrafts and agricultural implements of that era. We will see the remains of the Tartar baths (the Tartars being the people who came from afar to kill and rob the Moldovans). Apparently, they wanted to wash off after that. And then we are ready to sample the Moldovan cheese pies.

The enterprise runs underground cellars whose combined length is 200 kilometres. The limestone in the galleries maintains constant humidity (85–95%) and temperature (12 °C (54 °F) – 14 °C (57 °F)) throughout the year. The longer some specific red wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the more they improve. Some wines are cellared for several decades before being sold.

In August 2005, Milestii Mici was registered in the Guinness World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world. Overall, the complex holds nearly 2 million bottles. More than 70% of the stored wines are red, 20% are white and about 10% are dessert wines. The most valuable items of this collection, worth €480 a bottle, were produced in 1973–74; they are now exported only to Japan.

Half of the roadways are used for wine storage. The roads are named by the wines they store. This "wine city" has its warehouses, tasting rooms and other facilities underground. It goes down to 100 meters below ground and holds 1.25 million bottles of rare wine. The oldest wine dates back to 1902. The temperature is maintained at about 12 °C (54 °F) all year round (which is perfect for wine).

Cricova is one of the very few wineries in the world that produce sparkling wines in accordance with the classical French method, invented centuries ago by the monk Dom Perignon. Cricova makes a unique sparkling red wine, Kodrinskoie-sparkling, made from cabernet sauvignon stocks and marketed as having a 'rich velvet texture and a blackcurrant and cherry taste'.

The "Grand Cellars of Cricova" house a remarkable collection of wines – The National Oenotec. However, the pride of the Oenotec are, first of all, the wines bearing the name "Cricova", which brought the winery a collection of national and international tasting awards. As of 2008, the collection consists of over 70 silver, gold and Grand Prix awards.

Soroca fortress was built at the Nistru river crossing, on older fortifications. In 1499, on the order of Stefan cel Mare, a square wooden fortress was built, on the site of a former Genovan fortress called as Olihonia (Alciona). Between 1543–1546 the fortress was completely rebuilt in stone, and in the shape, one can see it today – a perfect circle, the diameter of which is 37,5 m and with 5 bastions situated at equal distances. Note that the walls are not built straight, but are curved to better resist the projectiles.

Soroca’s fortress is also famous for being the place where the Moldovan army, commanded by the famous statesman Dm. Cantemir, and the Russian army, led by Tsar Petr I, consolidated their forces during the Pruth campaign against the Turks in 1711. The fortress is the only medieval monument in Moldova, which has been preserved entirely as it was designed by its builders. Above the entrance gate, one can visit the small military church.

The capital city of Tiraspol was built along the Nistru River, developing rapidly under Russian imperial decree in 1792. On the orders of Count Alexander Suvorov, a wooden fort was initially established on the site of an older settlement to guard the new western borders of the empire. Throughout the 20th century, the city was completely transformed with classic Soviet architecture, and in the shape one can see it today—featuring wide avenues, grand monuments, and imposing statues of Lenin situated at central squares. Note that the preservation of these hammer-and-sickle symbols is not just for nostalgia, but reflects a deeply protected local identity.

The Transnistria region is also famous for being a place where historical layers overlap, from the massive Ottoman-era Bender Fortress to the modern, world-class Kvint brandy distillery. The territory remains one of the few places in Europe where the visual fabric of the USSR has been preserved almost entirely as it stood decades ago. Along the main boulevards, one can visit monumental war memorials and experience a truly unique cultural reality.