Romania and the neighboring Republic of Moldova have launched a joint tourist route covering historical and cultural sites related to the rule of Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), a voivode of Moldavia from 1457 to 1504.

The route covers 24 sites in Romania and 30 in Moldova, ranging from monasteries, churches, museums and fortresses to art galleries. It also has a wine tourism component, which the initiators say references the growth in grapevine cultivation during Stephen the Great’s rule.

“During the rule of Stephen the Great, viticulture knew a prodigious development in Moldavia, and the voivode introduced the rank of cup-bearer at the court. This is why we thought that Moldova can add some wine cellars to the route, among which we can count Cricova, with its endless galleries, Mileștii Mici, with its gold collection registered in the Guinness Book, Castel Mimi (Mimi Castle) or Ascony Winery, which offers visitors an experience of rural life,” Rodica Verbeniuc, the general director of the Investments Agency in Moldova, explained.

The route targets visitors from both Moldova and Romania, but also from abroad, from Japan, the Middle East, Israel or US.

Moldova’s domestic and incoming tourism developed significantly in the last years. Bloomberg included Moldova among the fastest developing destinations, with an increase of 19.6% of foreign tourists between January and September of 2018.

(Photo from the launch of the route at Romania's Tourism Fair. Photo by Mihnea Ciulei)

editor@romania-insider.com