Virtual Meeting Place Romania

Moldavia is a Romanian historical province placed in the North Eastern part of the country. Wherever your steps will lead, you will notice that here the ancient heritage is still alive. Tourists can visit approx. 400 museums and collections that preserve our cultural and spiritual values. They are spread in more than 300 localities all over the country but many of these museums are in Moldavia. You may conclude that we show great respect for our history and traditions. Besides, there are many monuments placed in open air just to remember a victory in battle against those intruders who came to conquer our territory. The monument built in Marasesti (in the mountains) will impress you a lot. During the final phase of the World War I (1917) in Marasti, Marasesti and Oituz the Romanians won memorable victories with the sacrifice of thousands lives.

Take a look at the following pictures: the main room in a traditional Moldavian house (19^th century) and the interior of a traditional Moldavian restaurant. At the countryside it is not unusual to find old houses decorated like that. All Romanians love colors and try to make nice things for their daily life. In our folk costumes, carpets, towels, covers and pillows you will admire many patterns inspired by nature. No picture is good enough to show you the beautiful world of a Romanian village. Our advice: you must see this with your own eyes!

Many things you will learn and see while taking a tour of Moldavia. In the Neamt county you have the opportunity to visit the Neamt fortress. It is placed in the West side of the Tirgu Neamt town. The fortress was very important for Moldavian fight against the intruders. Build in two phases (14^th century and 15^th century) this impressive fortress has 12 m high walls having a thickness of 3-4 m, towers for observations, an entrance wooden bridge and it is surrounded by a defense water ditch. Inside there were built houses, a church, royal residence, food and ammunition storehouses and many workshops. Despite its crucial role during war times, at the beginning of 18^th century Neamt fortress became ruins. It was forgotten that this fortress resisted to King Sigismund of Hungary in 1395 and to the powerful army lead by Pasha Mahomed the 2^nd in 1496. Also in this area there was a mint (1662-1672) for copper coins.

The most important cities in Moldavia are: Iasi, Roman, Bacau, Piatra Neamt, Vaslui, Birlad, Focsani and Galati. Let's start with Iasi - the biggest town of this region often called the capital of Moldavia.

Iasi

In any season you want to visit this city, you will be delighted by its charm. Iasi is the main town of the county with the same name. In 1647 Bishop Marcus Bandinus compared Iasi with the capital of Italy - Rome - because it is placed on seven hills and had a unique romantic atmosphere hard to describe into words.

The name of the city was mentioned for the first time in a document talking about a commercial privilege granted by Alexandru cel Bun to the Polish merchants of Lvov in 1408. In fact, archaeological investigations certified the presence of human communities on this territory since the prehistoric age. From this particular town, the Moldavian leaders (also called princes) as Alexandru cel Bun, Stefan cel Mare, Vasile Lupu and Dimitrie Cantemir ruled their principality from 1565 to 1860. Don't think that "the heart of Moldavia region" had a peaceful history. Many times Iasi was devastated by fire being burnt by Tartars in 1513, by Turks in 1538 and by Russians in 1686.

During "the golden age" of Romanian culture - 17^th century - the Romanian famous chroniclers Grigore Ureche, Miron Costin and later Ion Neculce wrote most of their works here. This cultural tradition never disappeared. It is in Iasi where the first Romanian university was founded in 1860 during the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. As a matter of fact, this town was the place where Alexandru loan Cuza was elected ruler of Moldavia (January 5^th, 1859), the first step in fulfilling the Romanians desire of forming a single unified country named Romania. Many personalities of Romanian culture were connected to Iasi (historians, poets, writers, chemists, philosophers, sociologists, geographers, etc.).

A very good perspective of the whole town you can get from Bucium hill - the entrance in Iasi coming from Vaslui city. Once the traveler admired from this high point forests and large vineyards around the town but little by little Iasi became bigger and bigger and the landscape has changed. The old image of a patriarchal town disappeared completely during the time. But its old churches and monasteries are still here remembering other lost centuries: Trei Ierarhi, Golia, Galata and Cetatuia to name just the most famous of them. Also you may find many statues spread all over the city.

A very impressive monument is Palatul Culturii (The Cultural Palace), now surrounded both by modern architecture and old constructions. This palace had initially an administrative role but later became a museum. It was built in the neo-Gothic style between 1890 and 1926. It has 365 rooms and an imposing clock tower admired both by tourists and locals. Museums found in Iasi will create special feelings into your heart : The Theatre Museum, The Union Museum, Mihai Eminescu Museum, Romanian Literature Museum, Ion Creanga House, Mihail Sadoveanu House, and the four museums set up in the Cultural Palace (Art Museum, Technical Museum, Moldavian History Museum and Ethnographical Museum).

The Botanical Garden is a huge area placed on Copou hill. It has splendid greenhouses. Here visitors may take a look at rare species coming from all over the world. You must know that it is one of the biggest botanical gardens in Romania and one of the oldest too. Every autumn it is organized a beautiful exhibition of chrysanthemums famous in the whole country. In 2001 the main attraction was a rare variety of chrysanthemum with green flowers. It is well known that being surrounded by flowers is a good therapy for nerves so all visitors who will come to visit this unique exhibition will have a great advantage referring to their health! To be honest, Copou is an attractive place full of history and parks. The most visited park is the one where still lives Eminescu's Linden Tree. Here you will have the sensation that time stopped for the last 100 years.

In Iasi is the seat of the Orthodox metropolitan region of Moldavia and of the Roman-Catholic archbishopric. The Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral is one of the most famous monasteries of the town. It has an architecture inspired by Italian Renaissance. The monument looks like the famous church "Trinita del Monte" (Rome, Italy). From 1889 until today here are deposed the relics of Saint Parascheva who is considered to be the protector of the whole Moldavia region. She sits in a special silver coffin and thousands of people are coming to pray near her bones. Many miracles were made during the last 110 years in this cathedral. On the occasion of Saint Paracheva's Day, on 14^th of October, city officials organize every year a big celebration called "Feasts of Iasi".

During the first World War, Iasi temporarily replaced Bucharest as the capital of Romania. With this historic background and cultural inheritance, nowadays Iasi is an important Romanian town. United States granted this city with the qualification "Five Stars City". Here are studying thousands of students in one of the biggest state universities of Romania: "Al. I. Cuza" University, "Gh. Asachi" Technical University, "Gr. T. Popa" Medicine and Pharmacy University, The Academy of Arts "G. Enescu" and The Agronomic Institute. The largest library of Iasi is "Mihai Eminescu Library" placed at the foot of Copou Hill. Also in Iasi was built the only Supermaket called Mall in Moldavia (near the Tudor Vladimirescu university campus).

If you want to know how to reach Iasi is a simple: you may go by train, by car or by plane. Its International Airport just opened in October 2001. Iasi Station is linked with the major railways in the country. As for travelling by car, you need only a map to get a good orientation. Once in Iasi, you may rent a room at "Unirea Hotel" (Union Hotel) or "Traian Hotel" (both placed in the Union Place) or "Moldova Hotel" (placed near the Cultural Palace). The most fancy hotel in Iasi is "Europa" (opened recently). Also you may stay at "Bucium Motel" but it is a little far from the center of the city.

As for food, Romanian dishes were greatly influenced by history. In ancient history, Romania was like a gate for entering into Central Europe coming from South or East so recipes had changed during the time, depending to the intruders. At the beginning of the 20^th century, it was fashionable in the rich families to eat foreign dishes as German or French. In a word, you will find in Iasi fancy restaurants, McDonalds's, Pizza Hut, fast-foods and restaurants where you may taste our traditional food too. In the last category can be placed Bolta Rece (Cold Vault) and Hanul Trei Sarmale ("sarmale" is a Romanian food which can be translated in English as "cabbage rolls").

It is highly recommended to eat Romanian food when you visit Romania!!!! Moldavian cuisine is said to be the most refined of all! Don't forget to order "sarmale" and you may choose as dessert the famous sweet pies called "poale-n briu". A Romanian proverb says "Two meals won't do any harm, two beatings do".

Vaslui

This city lies on the Central tableland of Moldavia along the Birlad river. Vaslui was recorded as a town in 1435. Its history is the same of the whole region with wars against the intruders and periods of peace between them. Nearby you may visit an impressive monument called Podu Inalt (High Bridge). This historical site remembers to the visitors a great victory won by the Moldavian troops against Turkish army lead by Soliman Pasha in January 1475. After 500 years (1975) the statue of Stephen the Great was placed exactly on the site of that battle. In the 17^th and 18^th centuries the town decayed especially after the big fire of 1659. But Vaslui recovered its importance little by little. It contributed to the Union of the Romanian countries. Today Vaslui is a modern industrial town - one of the biggest in Moldavia.

Bacau

At 83 km from Vaslui you may find a beautiful city - the seat of Bacau county. On this territory there were found human vestiges dated in 4^th, 6^th and 7^th centuries. The settlement was mentioned as a market town in 1408. Later Bacau became an important custom post in the trade relations between Moldavia, Transylvania and Wallachia. Stephen the Great built here a princely court. In the Middle Ages Bacau was a commercial town but in the 19^th century it turned into an industrial centre because of its mills (paper mills, tanneries, leather clothes workshops, alcohol factories, brick and roofing tile factories, etc). Nowadays this city is known for its cultural and economic importance. You may visit here the ruins of the Princely Palace, an old church built by the Prince Alexander (Stephen the Great's son), a History Museum and a few memorial houses of Romanian personalities.

Piatra Neamt

One of the most picturesque Romanian cities is Piatra Neamt. Around 2^nd century A.D. it was a Dacian settlement (Petrodava) in this area. There were found two sanctuaries similar to those discovered in Orastie Mountains. In 1453 the place was mentioned as a market town. Its importance grew under the reign of Stephen the Great who built a princely palace and a church here (1497-1498). This church can be seen even nowadays. Starting with the 19^th century Piatra Neamt became an industrial centre especially in wood working, food production, chemical industry and building materials. You may visit an interesting Fine Arts Museum, the Natural Sciences Museum, the History Museum, and spend a relaxing time in the Cozla Park.

At 40 km far from Piatra Neamt you may admire a beautiful monastery called Agapia. It is placed in a splendid landscape on the Topolnita river. The first Agapia monastery was built in the middle of 16^th century and the second was raised up between 1642-1644. Repeated renovations were made during the time and many additional buildings were added. The interior of the church was repainted by the famous Romanian painter Nicolae Grigorescu between 1858-1862. The museum of Agapia Monastery was set up in 1968. Here you may feel the history and admire old beautiful things : 17^th century icons, cult objects, embroideries with silver and golden yarns, Moldavian carpets, and many others. To be honest Neamt county has a great touristic potential. Not far from Agapia it is situated another famous Moldavian monastery Varatec. The road will lead you through the woods and you will have the possibility to see small cottages built in the traditional style. This monastery was built in the 18^th century and it had a major restoration between 1960 - 1964. Its museum has many interesting things to show.

Going South you will reach the picturesque Vrancea land where almost every hill is covered with orchards and vineyards. In any European country you may find wine coming from these places. Odobesti is maybe the famous vineyard of this region well known abroad from the 18^th century. Focsani city was the border between Wallachia and Moldavia before the Great Union of the Romanian Principalities. The History Museum of Focsani will let you know the whole story of this major event. Between these amazing things, you will discover collections of Cucuteni ceramics, documents, traditional clothes and household objects.

If you plan to visit the Danube Delta, you will go to Galati another big Romanian city. Galati was the most important port of Moldavia after the 16^th century and here were set up shipyards in the 18^th century. In 1836 Galati became a free port which helped a lot its development. Greatly damaged by Nazi armies in 1944, the town was rebuilt after modern plans. Today it is a lovely city and it worth to visit its Natural Sciences Museum.