We spent part of a day exploring two amazing cave monasteries in the north-eastern part of Moldova, Ţîpova and Orhei Vechi. I’ve visited both before (see my previous post about Orhei Vechi here, and my previous post about Ţîpova here).
We began with Ţîpova, located between Soroca and Orhei Vechi. This cave monastery consists of three complexes. The first was built between the 11th and 15th centuries. The second was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and includes the Church of St. Nicholas. The third was built between the 16th and 18th centuries and is a row of 18 separate rooms linked by an interior passage. In additional to being a monastery, the location was also used for defense due to its easily-protected location. According to legend, the great leader Ştefan cel Mare married one of his wives there and she is also buried in the monastery. Today, a long set up steep steps leads down to the monastery, which is currently being restored. There is a small exhibit showing past photos of the complex as well as plans for restoration. We visited the cave church as well as the caves where monks once lived.
Orhei Vechi is a historic site that encompasses one of the earliest-settled parts of Moldova. The main attraction, however, is the cave monastery that overlooks the Răut River. The monastery was built into a series of small caves by Orthodox monks in the 13th century. The monastery was inhabited until the 18th century, and then restored in 1996 after Moldova gained its independence. The location was ideal for early Christian monks, as it was isolated from the outside world.
Each of these cave monasteries offer sweeping views of one of two river valleys (the Răut and the Nistru) in the area.
Notes and tips about visiting Ţîpova and Orhei Vechi:
- There is limited (and difficult to navigate) public transportation to both locations, so it’s best to have private transportation.
- Ţîpova in particular has rather steep steps that are a fairly difficult climb. We had no problem getting up and down them, but you should be aware of that.
- Each location charges for admission, which was between 10 and 20 MDL per person.
- The first time I visited Ţîpova there was a man there who could do guided tours, but this time there was not. On my first visit, there was a 50 MDL charge for the group tour (in total, not per person).
- At Ţîpova there is parking space outside the main gate. At Orhei Vechi, you’ll need to stop at the large building that houses the small museum to purchase your ticket. You can also generally park there.
The Oke Den 