Tourism in Moldova tries to offer the highest quality service for people.

Moldova attracts tourists all year round from different parts of the world, offering a variety of attractions.

More and more tourist routes appear, which are trying to reveal the corners of this beautiful country in more detail.

The number of tourists visiting Moldova has increased year by year. Moldova has attractions that interest tourists.

Due to its geographical location, Moldova is very convenient for tourism. You can get to Moldova by various means of transport, the simplest and most practical is flying by plane. Chisinau Airport, the main airport in Moldova. Moscow, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Rome, Kyiv and other cities offer flights to Chisinau.

There are also regular bus routes and a fairly well-developed railway transport.

The main attractions of Moldova include.

Moldova is an independent republic located in the south of Europe. It borders Romania on one side and Ukraine on the other. The population of the country fluctuates around 3 million people. According to this indicator, Moldova ranks 118th in the world.

Subtleties of the region

The description of Moldova is best to start with its capital. It is the city of Chisinau in any sense that is the heart of this sunny country. Moldovan is considered the state language, but Romanian is constitutionally valid on the territory of the republic.

The main organs of power are the President and the Parliament. Territorially, the unitary state is conditionally divided into 32 districts, 5 municipalities and 2 autonomous entities. The largest cities of Moldova, in addition to the capital: Balti, Soroca, Tiraspol, Orhei and Bendery. Most of the population professes Orthodoxy.

Moldova is not a very rich country. Its annual GDP is just over $7.5 billion. On the territory of the republic, the main monetary currency is the Moldovan leu.

Interestingly, the country became independent on political grounds only in August 1991, after the collapse of the USSR.

Advantages of the geographical location

Moldova on the map is located just west of the Black Sea. It has no common border with the water area. The territory has a second time zone. The largest and most famous rivers are the Dniester and the Prut. It is worth noting that Moldova has a long outlet to the Danube.

The total area of ​​the republic is about 33.7 thousand square meters. km. Villages such as Naslavcea, Giurgiulesti, Palanka and Kriva are considered extreme geographical points. There is practically no mountainous terrain in the region, with the exception of minor massifs and ridges. But in the ground there is a lot of sand, limestone, gravel, gypsum.

The climate here is continental and temperate. In winter, the average temperature is -10 degrees, in summer - from +22 to +25. Precipitation is rare, so their annual level varies from 380 to 500 mm.

Most of the territory is occupied by villages, villages, plowed fields and forests. The cities of Moldova are evenly dispersed throughout the region.

Historical property

Until the 14th century, such tribes as the Goths, Dacians and Antes lived on the territory of modern Moldova. Then they began to appear public entities, for example, the Galician and Old Russian principalities, the Golden Horde. From the end of the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire seized power over the region.

In 1711, the great sovereign of Moldavia swore allegiance to the Russian throne. Soon he became close to Peter I himself. At that time, Moldova was on the map Russian Empire hushed up only a small fraction, but it was extremely important from the point of view of military strategy. That is why the Turkish khans repeatedly captured it. And yet, the Russian army managed to win back the region after each enemy attack.

The republic was part of the Soviet Union as an autonomous MSSR.

Tourist destinations

Oddly enough, but all the sights of Moldova come down to historical heritage and winemaking. The tourism industry in the country is practically not developed. However, anyone, having arrived in Moldova, can easily check into a hotel for little money and book any kind of excursion. On the other hand, you can travel around the entire region on your own transport in a couple of days, visiting all the most interesting places and establishments.

Of course, the most important asset of the republic, which glorifies it throughout Europe, is winemaking. Even the most sophisticated taster must visit the famous cellars in Lesser Milesti and Cricova at least once in their life.

However, the sights of Moldova do not end with wines. There are a huge number of large and significant monuments and memorials on the territory of the country. Each city and village has its own historical monuments. The most remarkable are the monuments to Stefan cel Mare, victims of repression, Lenin, Kalinin, Kotovsky, Karl Marx, Pushkin, Komsomol heroes, Dzerzhinsky, etc. It will not be superfluous to visit under the name Eternitate. The monument is also popular with tourists. This monument was erected by the Azerbaijani sculptor A. Askerov in honor of the cult Persian classic.

The main wineries of the country

There are several factories and cellars in Moldova where the sparkling drink of the gods is produced in compliance with all norms and old traditions. However, the main winery of the country is considered to be the city of Cricova. It is located near Chisinau and is part of the Riscani municipality.

Here, branded wines of Moldova began to be produced from the end of the 16th century. The legendary Cricova cellars are located under the city. They stretch for many kilometers, keeping hundreds of wine collections within their walls. Such drinks cannot be tasted anywhere else in the world. All wines are squeezed only from berries growing in the country. The Cricova factory also produces branded champagne drinks.

The cellars of the city keep the optimum temperature for +12 degrees with a humidity of 97%. The total length of the complex is about 120 km.

History of Soroca Fortress

This building is a unique historical heritage of Moldova. Soroca fortress was built in the 14th century. Its task was to establish control over the Dniester River and the adjacent territory. Based in the city of Soroca, which is a two-hour drive from Chisinau.

The fortress is made in a typical medieval style of defensive architecture. In 1543, thanks to the nobles of Transylvania, work was carried out to strengthen the main walls of the complex. Until that moment, the Soroca fortress consisted of several towers and wooden fences. On the territory of the historical monument, artifacts of the ancient colony of Olkhonia and the Trypillia culture were repeatedly found.

The complex has an oval shape. It consists of 5 towers, one of which is an observation tower above the main entrance. The walls rise to 21 meters. Their thickness varies within 3 m. It is worth noting that the foundation of the fortress is 7 m deep. The complex itself is small - 30.5 meters in diameter, but it never ceases to amaze with its majesty and massiveness.

Museum "Old Orhei"

To the east of the capital are almost the main historical sights of Moldova. First of all, this is the ancient architectural complex "Old Orhei". It is a kind of museum of the remains of the settlements of ancient civilizations in the open air.

The complex is located in a gorge 200 meters deep. The age of the caves dates back hundreds of thousands of years. This is evidenced by the remains of the first people.

Today, in the "Old Orhei" a favorite place for tourists is the male rock monastery of the 12th century. The territory of the museum occupies almost 1 sq. km.

Bendery fortress

This architectural monument has been located on the banks of the Dniester since the middle of the 16th century. The construction of a fortress in Bendery began in 1538 on the instructions of the Ottoman Emperor.

During the Russian-Turkish war from the 18th to the 19th century, the complex was repeatedly taken by the Russian army. The most significant and final victory was marked by 1789. Then, under the leadership of A. Suvorov, the Russian army dealt a crushing blow to the Turks on the banks of the Dniester.

Currently, there is a military unit and the Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky on the territory of the complex. In addition, the attractions of Moldova include the Medieval Museum at the Bendery Fortress. Here are collected such exhibits as an iron lady, a knee-crusher, an interrogation chair, sticking goats, etc.

Monastery "Holy Trinity"

Built about 200 years ago in the village of Saharna. According to legend, here on the rock an old hermit monk saw an image Mother of God, who turned to him with instructions to erect a chapel on this site. Later, the monastery of the Holy Trinity was founded in Saharna.

The local nature is picturesque, detached. Thousands of Orthodox people and pilgrims from all over the country come here every year. The monastery is also popular among foreign tourists.

The complex impresses with its majesty. It covers an area of ​​650 hectares. In the monastery are the relics of the Great Martyr Macarius and the footprint of the Mother of God. Nearby is a holy spring.

Kitskansky monastery

This Ascension-Nyametskaya shrine is an hour's drive from Chisinau. The Kitskansky monastery is purely male. It belongs to the Orthodox Church as part of the Moldavian Metropolis.

The complex consists of 4 churches: Voznesensky, Assumption, Nikolsky and Vozdvizhensky. Oak alleys lead to each cathedral with figures of novices carved on tree trunks. The Orthodox complex has its own hotel for pilgrims, its own library with ancient writings, a large museum, an icon-painting workshop and a full-fledged printing house.

Interestingly, the bell tower of the Kitskansky Monastery is considered the highest point in the republic.

Holy complex in Tsypovo

The local Orthodox prayer service was founded in 1746. Thanks to her, the small village of Tsypovo became famous far beyond the borders of Moldova. The monastery is located near the Dniester. It is a historical rock complex, where medieval monks lived one and a half millennia ago. It is noteworthy that this monastery is one of the ten largest rock shrines in Europe. About 20 spacious cells and 3 sheer levels with balconies have survived to this day.

The Tsypovo reserve and waterfalls are also famous sights of Moldova. Nature here delights with its unique beauty. It is worth noting that it is in Tsypovo that the largest waterfalls in the country are located.

Opera and Ballet Theatre

This is the primary cultural heritage of the country. The National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Moldova is based in Chisinau. The famous artist Maria Bieshu is considered its founder. The foundation stone was laid in 1955.

The debut production of the theater was Gershfeld's performance called "Grozovan". The first ballet was staged in 1957 by the master of his craft Astafiev - "The Fountain of Bakhchisaray". Since then, the National Theater annually gathers within its walls tens of thousands of lovers of the classics. Troupes and directors from all over the world come here. Local actors have repeatedly toured in Romania, Bulgaria and many other European countries.

Every year within the walls of the Chisinau Opera and Ballet Theater are held international festivals in honor of Maria Biesu.

For many people in Russia, a country like Moldova is unknown. Despite its small area, low population, it has a fairly rich history and culture. The sights of Moldova are unique in their kind and each of them deserves attention. During its existence, the state "suffered" several historical transformations. What to see in Moldova is described below, if possible, the places suggested in the list are better to visit.

What to see in Moldova first of all?

Any trip should be carefully planned, then it will definitely be remembered for bright events, interesting places. In the Middle Ages, there were whole wars of independence in this country, these and other events are reflected in some sights. Below is a ranking of the most significant for the state.

1. Chisinau Botanical Garden

Chisinau Botanical Garden from a bird's eye view

For residents of Chisinau, this piece of land, planted with bushes, flowers and trees, is one of the main attractions, a favorite vacation spot. The year of its creation is 1950. Today, the area of ​​more than 100 hectares is divided into sectors. Some contain exclusively arboretums, shrubs, there is a flower production site. Not without plants of tropical, subtropical origin in the garden. A lot of space in the garden is allocated exclusively for experiments, there is also a hybridization sector. What to see in Moldova in 1 day? You can get acquainted with the varieties of the country's relief, of which there are 24 species in one place.

2. Kurki Monastery

Kurki Gikü Orthodox Monastery

An immovable remarkable object of spiritual creativity of the 17th century is considered one of the main attractions of Moldova. It rises on beautiful hills with dense forests. On one terrace there is a monastery along with buildings for household purposes, and on the other there is a pool-pond made of natural stone. Since 2000, the Kurki monastery has been under the auspices of the UN. A decision was made to cash organizations to begin restoration work in order to restore the building. To date, they have not been completed.

3. National Museum of the History of Moldova

Exhibit of the National Museum of the History of Moldova U.S. Embassy Moldova

Performing a review of the institution in which historical monuments are collected and stored, I would like to say that the institution is located in a former general education institution for men. It was the first in the described state. Today there are 10 sites where products are presented. The expositions are not only permanent, but also temporary. Numismatic and archaeological collections are of great interest to tourists. The one-of-a-kind exhibits include the tip of a war chariot, the helmet of a representative of the ancient warlike Thracian people, and a bronze candlestick.

4. Cathedral of the Nativity in Chisinau

View of the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Chisinau

This attraction of Moldova is one of the main religious ones, it is located at the intersection of two main streets in Tiraspol. It was built in just a year. The large church is part of an architectural complex that includes several buildings. We are talking about the parish house, the diocesan administration, the Sunday school, the church for baptism. Excursions in Moldova are often organized here, because the place is very beautiful, the building is stylized as Russian classics.

5. Museum of Ethnography and Natural History

Facade of the Museum of Ethnography and Natural History Luytique

Throughout the territory of the described state, it is the largest, oldest. Located in the city of Chisinau, back in 1889 the Museum of Agriculture was created. It was located in another building, because there was not enough space to store all the expositions. Nowadays, this landmark of Moldova is considered an important scientific and cultural center historical region in southeastern Europe. His fame spread far beyond the borders of the state. The room consists of two large halls, one is decorated on the theme of flora and fauna, the other introduces historically important events, culture and customs of Moldova.

Be sure to watch this beautiful video about Moldova!

6. Tsypova Monastery

Tsypova rock monastery

Do not know what to see in Moldova, go to a mysterious place - a small village. Nothing has changed since the first mention. There is a unique historical monument that attracts tourists with many legends and tales about itself. Reviews of this place testify that its beauty and originality simply cannot but be admired. Along with the monastery, you can see many waterfalls here, which are breathtaking. Moldovan guides tell a lot of interesting things about the monastery and the settlement itself.

7. Caprian Monastery

Caprian Holy Assumption Monastery

It is located in the village of the same name, located 40 km from Chisinau. It was first built of wood in 1429, but a few centuries later a large stone church "grew" in its place. About 70 years ago, the monastery was closed, dispersing all the monks, it was decided to use the building as a children's tuberculosis dispensary, but in the early 90s it was returned to believers. Thinking about where to go in Moldova? Visit Capriana Monastery, you won't regret it.

8. Pushkin House Museum in Chisinau

Pushkin House Museum in Chisinau

Pushkin House Museum in Chisinau. The sights of Moldova are scattered throughout the country, but most of them are concentrated in Chisinau. One of them is the house where the famous poet A.S. Pushkin lived during his exile. He described this period of his life in the work "Black Shawl". There was also the poem "Prisoner of the Caucasus", which was created under the impression of the beauty of Moldova.

Sights of Moldova: what else to visit in Moldova?

9. Stefan cel Mare Park

Monument to Stephen the Great in the park "Stefan cel Mare"

What to see in Moldova? Visit the oldest park and you won't regret it. It was built in 1818, the initiator was the governor's wife. Other sights of Moldova are located on the territory of the park, namely, the monument to Pushkin, Stefan cel Mare, many beautiful fountains, stone lions. It is believed that visiting the oldest park in Chisinau in Moldova is really worth it.

10. Soroca Fortress

Entrance to the 15th century Soroca Fortress Adam Jones

It is a unique example of defensive architecture of the 15th century. This landmark of Moldova was once built to protect the garrison and local residents (the city of Soroca) from the Tatar invasions. In the photo it can be seen that the fortress today is in good condition. It includes 5 towers, the height of the walls is 21 m, the thickness is as much as 3 m. A characteristic of the Soroca fortress is the similarity with those in northern Italy.

11. Wine factory Cricova

Interior of Cricova Cellars for VIPs Hans Põldoja

It is possible to think that today it is the most famous plant in the country. Its uniqueness lies in the production of champagne using the classic champagne technology. The official description says that the company is engaged in the production of vintage and ordinary wines. The length of the cellars reaches 120 km, the collection itself already includes more than a million bottles of wine. Still do not know what to visit in Moldova? Take a look at the winery, where the remains of the world-famous Goering collection are stored in its cellars.

12. Old Orhei

Museum-Reserve Old Orhei Serbinov Maria

This is the name of a full-fledged historical and archaeological complex. It has a rich history, is characterized by an incredibly beautiful landscape, and many legends are associated with this place. Going on a trip , try to see high limestone hills with powerful energy. Their appearance cannot but fascinate, it is also surprising that they are more than 14 million years old. Excavations at this site have been going on since the 1940s; the museum complex itself was formed in 1968. Now this attraction of Moldova is one of the most visited.

13. Wine cellars in Milestii Mici

Famous wine cellars in Milestii Mici

This is not only a famous landmark of Moldova, but also the oldest wine storage in the country. The length of the underground city is about 200 km, only 55 km are used for technological purposes. The tour of the site includes a wine tasting. On the territory of the complex there are places to take interesting photos, for example, against the background of wine-themed fountains.

There are no problems with hotels in Moldova, you can find a suitable option for yourself using special services, such as https://www.booking.com/index.ru.html. Well, in general, in Moldova there really is something to see. Going on vacation to this country, you will not regret it. The above is not a complete list of attractions in Moldova, more information can be found on the Internet. All of it is freely available.

What else to see in Moldova? There are interesting places in the cities of Chisinau, Balti, Bendery, Rybnitsa, Orhei, Tiraspol. By planning your trip responsibly, you will ensure a great vacation.

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Sights of Moldova. The most interesting and main attractions of cities and regions of Moldova: photos and descriptions, location. What to see in Moldova.

Moldova has great potential in tourism. This is due to the large number of historical sights and recreational resources. Generally speaking, Moldova is a very picturesque and original country. Let's move on to the story the main attractions of Moldova.

Capital of Moldova. The city is located on seven hills on the banks of the Byk River (a tributary of the Dniester). In the central part of the city, densely surrounded by new buildings, few old buildings have survived - many were destroyed during the Second World War.

There are many picturesque places in Chisinau, including parks. The most popular of them are the Valya Trandafirilor Park, the square of the Cathedral, the Valya Morilor Park with the Teatrul de Varé theater, La Izvor Park with a cascade of ponds and others. Lake Chisinau is one of the most favorite places for recreation of the residents of the capital. Of the ancient buildings, the Annunciation, Ryshkanov and Mazaraki churches have survived to this day.

There are many war memorials in Chisinau. These include, for example, the monument to Stephen the Great, located in the Stefan cel Mare park. Also in Chisinau there is a monument to A.S. Pushkin, installed back in 1885.

Wine lovers will need to drive 15 km from Chisinau to the city of Cricova. In fact, this is a network of underground storages, which contain thousands of liters of various wines. The size of this dungeon is so large that it has its own streets - Cabernet, Pino, Isabella. Not far from Cricova is the city of Koshusna, which produces many types of alcohol. Even further from Chisinau is the famous Romanesti winery, which held the palm in the USSR.

Orhei-Vechi

The city is the oldest in Moldova. On its territory are the remains of an old fortress, once built by Stephen the Great.

Bendery

One of the oldest Moldovan cities. The fortress located on its territory (XVII century) was badly damaged. Balti is also the center of industrial Moldova.

The Trojan Wall is part of the defensive structure of the Roman Empire period, located near the city of Leova. This shaft is part of a whole chain of such structures, passing through almost all of Europe.

40 kilometers from Chisinau is the Sherpen memorial complex, built in memory of the fallen soldiers Soviet army who fell in 1944 in the battles for the capital of Moldova.

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As a rule, it is not tourists who go shopping in Moldova. Not smart! It is here that you can buy digital equipment, locally produced shoes and even cars at a surprisingly favorable price. When visiting the country, remember that it is not used to pampering guests with expensive shiny trinkets. However, this is where you will surely find everything you need and at a very attractive price.

Friends who have remained at home will not understand you if you do not bring wine, the symbol of the Republic of Moldova, from your trip. You can buy it literally anywhere. However, the easiest way to find wine is in Chisinau and Bender - the largest cities in the country.

Transport

Moldovan rail transport will be useless for tourists: the communication is very poor and the system itself is not in the best condition. The most adequate and easiest option for traveling around the country is a car. The whole country can be crossed in 4 hours.

River transport is the most acceptable for tourists. The presence of ports (one of them in Bendery) makes this type of transportation not only cheap, but also exciting. River trips are inexpensive and leave more impressions than you can imagine.

In addition, there are plenty bus routes However, the state of roads in this country is not always satisfactory.

Unfortunately, Moldova does not have access to the sea. No matter what the cunning tour operators tell you.

Connection

Before you buy a SIM card in Moldova or deal with your own mobile operator, take note of the fact that in big cities there are plenty of various Internet cafes, as well as a lot of Wi-Fi access points. The average cost of one hour online is $0.5. And given the popularity of mobile gadgets and laptops with access to programs like Skype, you can save a lot on communicating with relatives at home. Naturally, this is only possible if you are located on the territory of Chisinau, Bender or another large city in the country.

If the option with interactive communication does not suit you, roaming is at your service.

Safety

Due to the events taking place on the territory of the country, tourists are not recommended to travel on their own, especially in unfamiliar regions of the country. The capital and developed cities are still safe, but the borders of Moldova can present a number of unpleasant surprises to an inexperienced tourist, related to the not particularly favorable political situation in the country.

In addition, every tourist should remember that any big city entails the possibility of leaving you completely without money, and this is provided that you do not spend a dime. Beware of pickpocketing and bypass unfamiliar areas of the city.

Tourists do not need any vaccinations before traveling to Moldova.

Business

According to experts, the most profitable segment of the Moldovan market is agricultural. Strong demand also rests on alcohol and tobacco products. Medicine is also a profitable market segment.

Real estate

Compared to housing prices in the CIS countries, housing in Moldova can be called fairly budget. By the way, three bedroom apartment with a good repair in a new house will cost around $ 50,000. Own cottage, in a good area, with at least 6 rooms, excellent repair, will also be inexpensive - the average cost of quality housing in the suburbs does not exceed $ 150,000. There are no restrictions on the acquisition of real estate in this country. The state does not put obstacles for those who want to acquire their own apartment or land in Moldova.

As mentioned above, tourists, and especially beginners, are not recommended to travel to cities of Moldova remote from the capital. Due to the unstable political situation in the country, its guests may encounter a number of troubles.

Please note that export alcoholic beverages, including wine, is strictly limited. You can find out what and in what quantity is allowed to be transported across the border on the website of the embassy.

Visa information

Moldova is not part of the Schengen countries.

To visit Moldova for a period not exceeding 90 days, residents of the CIS countries do not need a visa. Citizens of most European countries do not need a visa at all and can freely cross the border. Residents of other countries must apply for a visa in a standard way.

The Moldovan embassy is located in Moscow at the address: st. Kuznetsky Most, 18. Phone: (+7 495) 624 53 53.

Story

The ancestors of the Moldavian people are the Vlachs (Volochs), the ethnic basis for the formation of which, as modern science suggests, was the Romanized Geto-Dacian population that lived on both banks of the Danube. The Vlachs in ancient times lived in communities. The community was ruled by a council of wealthy peasants. The council also included a “knez” (leader), who initially exercised power in wartime. Gradually, power passed to the knez and became hereditary.

The first political formations of the Vlachs arose in the form of "knezats" and voivodeships, the socio-political prerequisites for the Moldavian statehood were formed in the bowels of the Old Russian state. In the middle of the 13th c. Mongols seized power over the region, in the 14th century. - Hungarians. In 1359, voivode Bogdan, with part of the Vlachs, moved to the territory called in the sources "Moldovan land" (the center is the basin of the Moldova River) and established his power over most of the Eastern Carpathian region, and in 1365 he achieved recognition of the state's independence. Thus, an independent Moldavian principality arose with its capital in the city of Siret.

The first Moldavian rulers had the title of "voivode", and from the beginning of the 15th century. - "lord." The first to wear this title was Alexander the Good (1400–1432). His power was formally unlimited: he issued charters, signed treaties with foreign countries, was the supreme commander and judge. However, the boyars, who were members of the Boyar Rada, played an important role in the state: not a single issue of domestic and foreign policy was resolved without their participation.

In the fall of 1455, the ruler Peter III Aron was forced to agree to pay tribute to the Turkish sultan, but Stephen III the Great (1457–1504), who deposed Aron and built a network of fortresses and border fortifications, in 1473 refused to pay tribute. The Sultan, who decided to subjugate Stephen by force, suffered a defeat in January 1475 at the Vaslui River. During the reign of Stefan, Moldova's foreign policy ties with Russia strengthened. The union was supplemented by family ties: the son of Grand Duke Ivan III was married to Elena, daughter of Stephen III.

However, at the beginning of the 16th century. The Moldavian principality fell into vassal dependence on Turkey. The Sultan was paid an annual tribute - harazhd. The Moldavian ruler was confirmed on the throne by the sultan, as a sign of loyalty to whom the rulers were obliged to send sons or close relatives to Istanbul, who were practically in the position of hostages there. During the 16th and 17th centuries almost 50 lords changed on the Moldavian throne. The central government was weak, the country was actually ruled by the boyar oligarchy - representatives of the 75 most influential families. The class of feudal lords also included "servants" - Moldavian nobles who served in the army of the ruler and received land holdings on the right of the estate for their service.

The peasants, who in the 15th century. were considered formally free, from the second half of the 17th century. began to fall into serfdom from the boyars. According to the new order, a peasant who lived on boyar land for 12 years became a serf. Such peasants (called vechins) worked on the feudal lord's household for a fixed number of days, paid quitrents in kind and money to their master, and delivered to him handicrafts; they could be inherited, mortgaged, sold along with the land. The serf gypsies were in an even worse position.

During the reign of Vasily Lupu (1634–1653), the first set of Moldovan laws was drawn up - the Code (1646). The norms of criminal law, reflected in the Code, were in force until the middle of the 18th century, and civil law - until the spread of the all-Russian legislation in the territory of Bessarabia in the first half of the 19th century.

In February 1654, the ruler Gheorghe Stefan sent his representative Ivan Grigoriev to Moscow with a request to accept Moldavia as Russian citizenship; in March 1656, Russian-Moldovan negotiations began on this issue. Due to the complicated international relations(Russian-Swedish war and other events), the negotiations remained without consequences, but their very fact caused a negative reaction from the Turkish sultan: in March 1658, George Stefan was removed from the throne.

In 1711, the ruler Dmitry Cantemir concluded an agreement with Peter I, according to which he became Peter's vassal, and the latter was obliged to restore Moldavia within its former borders. The Moldavian army fought together with the Russian against the Turks, but the failure of the Prut campaign of Peter I prevented the implementation of this agreement. Dmitry Kantemir himself with his associates moved to Russia, where he wrote most of his works.

Since 1711, the Moldavian boyars lost the right to elect rulers, and the Turkish government every three years began to appoint people alien to Moldavia from among the Greek aristocracy, who had transferred to the service of the Sultan, as rulers. These representatives of the Greek nobility (called Phanariotes) ruled Moldova for over 100 years. The Phanariot rulers did not have the right to maintain their army and lead foreign policy, but had to collect and send tribute to the Sultan.

During the Russian-Turkish wars of the 18th century. The Russian army liberated Moldavia from the Turks three times. According to the Kyuchuk-Kainarji peace of 1774 with Turkey, Russia received patronage over Moldavia. Turkey undertook to return to Moldavia the lands taken from her, to exempt the taxable population from taxes for two years and not to demand tax arrears from them during the years of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. The result was the weakening of Turkish oppression and the strengthening of economic ties with Russia, where Moldova exported wine and fruits and imported furs, iron products, linen and ropes.

As a result of the Russo-Turkish war of 1787–1791, according to the Treaty of Jassy, ​​the territory between the Bug and the Dniester was annexed to Russia, and according to the Bucharest peace treaty, which summed up the Russo-Turkish war of 1806–1812, the territory between the Dniester and Prut (Bessarabia) was annexed.

The inclusion of Moldovan lands in the Russian Empire did not mean the restoration of Moldovan statehood. Moldovan lands were divided among various administrative units. Special legal status received only Bessarabia, where the compact majority of Moldovans lived.

In the first years after the accession, the old system of administration of the region was preserved, which was beneficial to the Moldavian boyars, as well as the former land relations, laws and customs. In accordance with the Rules of the Provisional Government of the Bessarabia Oblast adopted in 1813, Bessarabia was administered by a governor (the boyar Scarlat Sturdza became him) and a provisional regional government. The region was divided into 9 tsinuts, in each of which police officers from the Moldavian boyars were appointed by the governor. Police officers were subordinate to okolashi (volost foremen).

In 1816, the position of governor was established in Bessarabia, and in 1818, the Supreme Council of 11 people and the regional court, consisting of the criminal and civil chambers. The criminal court was guided by Russian, civil - Moldovan laws. In 1828, with the adoption of the Institution for the management of the Bessarabia region, an all-Russian administrative system of government was introduced on the territory of Bessarabia. Office work in the Moldavian language ceased, in 1873 the Bessarabian region was turned into a province.

A stream of immigrants rushed to the annexed territories: both from abroad (Bulgarians, Gagauz, Germans, etc.), and from the central and Ukrainian provinces. Here military-economic settlements were created from retired soldiers, Cossacks, military personnel. Less severe feudal oppression and favorable natural conditions attracted peasants who fled from serfdom here. Moldavian lands continued to be agricultural, but the ratio between livestock and agriculture changed, the last in the middle of the 19th century. became the dominant industry. The industry developed slowly, in the pre-reform period, specific industries prevailed - salt and fishing with fish processing.

In 1818, the local boyars were equalized in rights and privileges with the Russian nobility, the lower strata of the ruling class (boernashi) in the 40s received the right to personal nobility. However, the main category of peasants - the Tsarane - were not equated with serfs in Russia. They were declared "free farmers", but for the use of landlords and monastic lands they had to serve corvee and pay dues. Small landowners - rezeshi - were less dependent on the feudal lords and were mainly in the position of taxable peasants.

In 1820 Kishinev became one of the centers of the revolutionary movement in Russia. The Decembrists created the Kishinev Council here, headed by M.F. Orlov, who commanded the 16th division. The Chisinau Decembrists launched propaganda among the soldiers, preparing them for an armed uprising. For the training of cadets and soldiers, Lancaster schools were created, the leader of which was the poet VF Raevsky, a participant in the Patriotic War of 1812. To expand their influence, the Decembrists also used the Ovid Masonic Lodge, founded in Kishinev in 1821. A close relationship was also established with the secret political society of the Greek rebels "Filiki Eteria" operating on the territory of Bessarabia.

The revolutionary propaganda of the Decembrists led to the fact that at the end of 1821 there were unrest in four of the six regiments of the 16th division. After their suppression, M.F. Orlov was removed from command of the division, and V.F. Raevsky was arrested and imprisoned in the Tiraspol fortress.

Peasant reform in the Moldovan lands was carried out at different times. In the left-bank regions of Transnistria, which were part of the Kherson and Podolsk provinces, it was carried out on the basis of the Regulations on peasants who emerged from serfdom on February 19, 1861. For the Kherson province, it was planned to free the peasants and allocate them with land in the amount of 3 to 7 acres for a ransom .

In Bessarabia, the Regulations concerned only an insignificant part of the peasants, since the serfs made up only one percent of the population here. For the bulk of the peasants, the tsarans, the reform was carried out on the basis of the law of July 14, 1868. The allotment (an average of 2.9 acres) was transferred here for family use. For state peasants and colonists, special reforms were carried out in 1869 and 1871, according to which they received from 8 to 11 acres of land per capita, and for a smaller ransom.

In southern Bessarabia, a reform was carried out in 1864. The peasants received land here for hereditary family use, but their allotment was smaller than in the Novorossiysk provinces. In the south of the region, where the bulk of the land was in the use of state peasants and colonists, the peasants received land on favorable terms for ownership, respectively, 30 and 50 acres per head of the family. The existing land system was preserved here even after the return of these areas to Russia in 1878.

The peasant reform contributed to the development of capitalist forms of production, farming, and rent. Bessarabia became one of the provinces of commercial grain farming, viticulture, horticulture, and tobacco growing also began to develop at a faster pace. Trade played an important role in the economy of the province; the share of industry continued to be insignificant.

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, volunteer detachments were formed on the territory of Moldova to fight against Turkey, including the formation of the Bulgarian militia. In Chisinau, the Red Cross Society prepared brothers of mercy for Bulgaria. As a result of the war, the southern part of Bessarabia with ports on the Danube again became part of Russia.

The revolution of 1905–1907 in Russia also spread to the Moldavian lands. On August 21, 1905, a general political strike began in Kishinev, which escalated into a demonstration the next day and led to an armed clash between the workers and the troops and police. In October, the railroad workers from Chisinau, Balti, Tiraspol, as well as printers and workers from many workshops, joined the all-Russian political strike. Unrest also gripped the peasants, the army and the navy. In January 1906, a peasant uprising broke out in the village of Komrat, Bendery district, which had to be suppressed with the help of troops. The national liberation movement intensified, a demand was put forward for the education of children in mother tongue, newspapers began to be published in the Moldovan language.

Stolypin's agrarian reform also affected Bessarabia. During 1907–1913, 11,810 peasant farms of the Bessarabian province separated from the community and secured 130,000 acres of land as private property. About 60 thousand peasants moved to Siberia and Kazakhstan.

During the First World War, railroad construction developed at an accelerated pace in Moldova, caused by the needs of the front. At the same time, a decline began in agriculture, caused by the mobilization of the able-bodied male population into the army and economic ruin, and expressed in a reduction in sown areas and gross grain harvest. Almost with the beginning of the war, the peasant movement intensified in the region. In connection with the conscription into the army, the peasantry refused to pay state and zemstvo taxes, resisted the requisition of livestock.

In the early days February Revolution 1917 bodies of the Provisional Government were formed in Moldova. On March 6, the chairman of the zemstvo council of the Bessarabian province, the landowner Mimi, was appointed provincial commissar. Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies arose in Chisinau, Bendery, Balti and other large cities.

In October 1917, Sfatul tsarii (“Council of the Country”) was created and the autonomy of Moldova was declared, a decision was made to create a Moldavian national army. December 2, 1917 Council proclaimed Bessarabia Moldavian Democratic Republic, and January 24, 1918 announced its independence. By agreement with Sfatul tsarii, Romanian troops entered the territory of Bessarabia. At the same time, the II Congress of Rumcherod (the executive committee of the Soviets of the Romanian Front, the Black Sea Fleet and the Odessa region) held in Odessa on December 10–23, 1917, proclaimed a course towards establishing the power of the Soviets on the territory of Moldavia. In response to the advance of the Romanian troops, the Council of People's Commissars of Russia severed diplomatic relations with Romania and sent units of the Red Army to Bessarabia.

The conflict led to the division of Moldovan lands. On April 9, 1918, Sfatul tsarii, by an insignificant majority of votes, decided to unite the MDR with Romania, and Soviet power was established on the territory of the left bank of the Dniester region during 1919–1921. In the autumn of 1924, at the III session of the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee of the VIII convocation, the Law on Education within the Ukrainian Socialist Republic of the Autonomous Moldavian Socialist Soviet Republic (MASSR) was adopted. The republic included 11 districts on the left bank of the Dniester, the capital was the city of Balta, since 1929 - the city of Tiraspol.

The First All-Moldavian Congress of Soviets (April 19–23, 1925) adopted a constitution that determined the state structure of the republic, a manifesto To the Peoples of Moldavia, and elected the Central Executive Committee of the Moldavian ASSR. G.I. Stary was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the CEC at the first session of the CEC, A.I. Stroev became the head of government. The Moldavian ASSR was thus included in the system government agencies Soviet Union.

The creation of a large-scale industry began in the republic, primarily food and building materials. In 1935, the Tiraspol Thermal Power Plant went into operation. Private enterprises were nationalized, and in 1929-1931, a complete collectivization of peasant farms was carried out.

In the second half of the 30s, the leadership of the MASSR, as well as many ordinary people have been subjected Stalinist repressions. In May 1937, a number of members of the government (including the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the MASSR G.I. Stary), party, Komsomol and Soviet workers were dismissed, and then arrested and repressed. All of them were accused of treason and espionage "in favor of royal Romania."

On June 26 and 27, 1940, the government of the USSR sent two notes to the Romanian government, which contained demands for the return of Bessarabia and the transfer of northern Bukovina to the USSR as a means of "compensating for the enormous damage that had been inflicted Soviet Union and the population of Bessarabia by the 22-year domination of Romania in Bessarabia. On June 28, Romania withdrew its troops and administration from Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina.

On August 2, 1940, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted a law on the formation of the Moldavian SSR. 6 out of 9 Bessarabian counties and 6 out of 14 districts of the former MASSR became part of the new union republic. The northern part of Bukovina, Khotyn, Akkerman and Izmail districts of Bessarabia were included in the Ukrainian SSR. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 4, 1940, 8 regions of the MASSR were also transferred to Ukraine.

In the cities, villages and towns of Moldova, new authorities were created: the executive committees of the soviets and local Soviet governments. In January 1941, elections were held to the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR, at the first session of which the constitution of the republic, similar to the soviet, was approved.

In accordance with the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 15, 1940, banks and credit institutions, loan and savings banks, railway and water transport, trams and buses, communications facilities, basic industrial enterprises, power plants, large trading enterprises, oil tanks, medical and socio-cultural institutions, large residential buildings. About 500 industrial enterprises were nationalized on the territory of 6 counties of the former MASSR.

In late July - early August 1941, the territory of the Moldavian SSR was completely occupied by fascist troops. The right-bank districts became part of the so-called Bessarabia governorate, the left-bank districts became part of the so-called Trasnistria (Transnistria) governorate. Unlike "Transnistria", transferred by the Nazis to the Romanian kingdom for temporary "administration and economic exploitation", the governorships of "Bessarabia" and "Bukovina" were declared integral part Romania. In the period 1941-1944, about 80 anti-fascist underground organizations and groups operated on the territory of Moldova; by the beginning of 1944, almost all of them were defeated. The partisan movement intensified only in the summer of 1944 during the preparation of the Iasi-Kishinev operation.

On March 17, 1944, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front reached the Dniester and the border of the Moldavian SSR, and by March 25, Soviet troops had already occupied more than 100 settlements right-bank Moldova. Troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front captured Tiraspol on April 12, 1944.

On August 20, 1944, the Iasi-Chisinau operation began, in which the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts, the Black Sea Fleet and the Danube military flotilla took part. On August 21, the city of Yassy was taken, on August 24, Chisinau was liberated. In just 10 days, 22 German divisions were surrounded and liquidated.

After the war, 245,000 hectares of farmland were transferred into the hands of landless and landless peasants, seed and fodder loans, and loans for the purchase of livestock were allocated. Part of the peasant farms was exempted from taxes. In 1946-1947, the territory of Moldavia was subjected to a terrible drought, which led to extremely low yields of cereals and grasses. However, the Stalinist system of compulsory grain procurements, extended to the republic, forced local party and Soviet bodies to continue to carry out state deliveries. This led to mass starvation and even death of the population. The federal government urgently provided food and grain assistance to the republic, which did not improve the situation, since grain deliveries, which deprived the peasants of insurance food supplies, were not canceled. “A paradoxical situation developed in the republic,” modern Moldovan historians note. - The Moldavian village in the autumn months became a place of oncoming transportation of bread. One stream - aid from the district points "Zagotzerno" went to the villages, and the other - grain procurements - went in the opposite direction to the same points. "According to various estimates, from 150 to 300 thousand people died of starvation in the republic during these years .

In 1949, a mass collectivization of agriculture was carried out, accompanied by the expulsion of the prosperous part of the peasantry.

In 1988, two opposition groups emerged: the Democratic Movement in Support of Perestroika and the Aleksey Mateevich Musical and Literary Club. On May 20, 1989, the Popular Front of Moldova was created, which advocated the autonomy of the republic. With the direct participation of these organizations in the summer of 1989, numerous demonstrations took place in Chisinau under the slogan: “Moldova to Moldovans!” The demonstrators demanded the political and economic independence of Moldova, the annulment of the consequences of the German-Soviet treaty of 1939, and the recognition of the status of the official language of the republic for the Moldovan language. In response to this, on July 8, the founding congress of the inter-movement "Unitate-Unity" was held.

On August 31, 1989, the Supreme Council of the MSSR proclaimed Moldavian the official language in "political, economic, social and cultural spheres”, Russian - the language of interethnic communication. A law was passed on the return of the Latin script to the Moldovan language. Mircea Snegur was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council with the support of the Popular Front.

February 25, 1990 elections were held to the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR. Most of the seats were won by supporters of the Popular Front. On April 27, the country changed state symbols, a blue-yellow-red tricolor reminiscent of the Romanian blue-yellow-red tricolor was introduced as the state flag. Deputies opposed to the Popular Front left the parliament on May 24.

On August 2, at the II Extraordinary Congress of the working people of Transnistria, who did not want to secede from the USSR, a decision was made to form the Pridnestrovian Moldavian SSR, and on November 22–25 elections to the Supreme Council of the republic were held. However, the Supreme Soviet of the MSSR declared these elections invalid.

On March 6, 2005, parliamentary elections were held in Moldova, in which 64.84% of voters took part. 45.98% of voters voted for the "Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova" (PCRM), 28.53% for the "Democratic Moldova" bloc (BDM), and 9.07% for the "Christian Democratic People's Party" (PPCD). The elections were monitored by 747 observers from the OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Union, as well as 2.5 thousand local observers. Russian observers were expelled from Moldova on the eve of the elections.

On April 4, 2005, the Parliament re-elected the incumbent President Vladimir Nikolaevich Voronin for new term(75 deputies voted for him). The second candidate, Giorgi Duku (head of the republic's Academy of Sciences, also a candidate from the Communist Party) received one vote. Voronin's inauguration took place on April 7, 2005.

Economy

Agriculture remains the most important area economic activity. Private ownership of land was legalized only in 1991, but the sale of agricultural land began only after 2001. Agriculture provides more than 2/5 of the national income. The mild climate and fertile soils make it possible to grow a large number of crops. Moldova is a major producer of grapes and wine products. Its orchards produce large crops of plums, apricots, cherries and peaches. Fruit cultivation is concentrated in the north, in the central regions and in the Dniester valley. Tobacco is an important commercial crop. Sugar beet is grown everywhere in the country, which provides raw materials for numerous sugar factories. Sunflower is grown for vegetable oil. Corn and wheat are sown everywhere; they are consumed in the domestic market, used as fodder and exported. Meat production accounts for less than half of total agricultural production. About half of the meat products are pork, followed by beef, poultry, and lamb.

In Moldova, some branches of heavy industry are developed, which arose in Soviet period, as well as light and food industries. The leading branch of heavy industry is mechanical engineering, the main products of which are electric motors, electrical and agricultural equipment. There is a chemical industry (production of plastics, synthetic fibers, paints and varnishes), as well as building materials and cement. Among the consumer goods are fabrics, clothing, refrigerators, furniture, televisions, radios. Great importance has the food industry. According to IMF estimates, in Moldova (with the exception of Transnistria) the share of food products in 1995 was 50% of the total production. The food industry produces a wide range of products, including canned vegetables and fruits (jams, jellies, fruit juices), refined sugar and vegetable oil. Moldova is known for its wines, including sparkling and cognacs.

Industry, including mining, construction, and energy production, made up an ever-increasing significant share of the Moldovan economy in the early 1990s, despite a general decline in production. In 1995, industry accounted for 36.4% of the increase in net material product. In 1994, 19.4% of the country's able-bodied population was employed in the industrial sector. In the second half of the 1990s, there was a significant reduction in industrial production.

During the Soviet period, Moldova was an importer of industrial raw materials, manufactured goods and fuel. The main export items were fresh and processed agricultural products. After gaining independence, the volume of foreign trade, oriented to a large extent to the CIS countries, fell sharply, although trade with these countries accounts for more than 2/3 of the total volume of foreign trade operations. The main trading partners are Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus and Germany. Exports are dominated by agricultural products (primarily wines and tobacco), textiles, machinery and chemical products. The main import items are oil, natural gas, coal, cars, food. In 1996, Moldova's trade deficit reached $254.1 million.