Orheiul Vechi – a 40 thousand year-old amphitheatre

Grottoes, ancient fortifications, cave monasteries, monks, hermits… You can watch the living history with your own eyes in the region called Old Orhei. This is an open-air museum-complex revealing a territory which was first inhabited almost 40 thousand years ago.
The tour continues at the Wine Cellars of Branesti. Here you are welcome to linger over the network of caves with a glass of traditional Moldavian wine accompanied with splendid food typical for the region – "mititei de Branesti” and "placinte cu brinza si cozi de ceapa”.
Recommended to: people interested in history, culture, Moldavian customs and traditions, as well as to gourmands and good wine amateurs.

Hint: casual clothes and shoes are recommended for this tour.
Duration: 7 hours
Tourist route: Chisinau - Orheiul Vechi - Branesti - Chisinau

Things interesting to see/learn:

• The medieval town Orheiul Vechi – an open air museum-complex
• Natural and anthropological elements
• Natural peculiar landscape
• Traditional peasant architecture in the neighboring villages
• The "Bosie” monastery
• The cave monastery (church, 11 monk cells)
• Rocky buildings and formations
• Six earth mounds – the remains of the antique fortress
• The ruins of the Turkish bath-house
• The underground wine factory "Pivnitele din Branesti”

Food and drinks to savour:

• Traditional food specific for the Branesti village (mici, placinte ca la Branesti)
• Wine-tasting (6 – 7 types of wine)