Excursions Soroca Fortress & Orheiul Vechi

 Soroca Fortress is a Renaissance Gem on the Dniester Soroca is a border city in Moldova located on the right bank of the Dniester River, neighboring Ukraine. Its crown jewel is the Soroca Fortress, a unique architectural monument in Europe. The fortress embodies the finest achievements of the Italian Renaissance, bearing a striking resemblance to Northern Italian castles, specifically the Villa Caprarola.

It was here in Soroca that the famous Moldovan legend of the storks was born. During a Turkish invasion, the fortress defenders held out against the conquerors for a long time. When their supplies were exhausted, storks unexpectedly came to their rescue. The birds dropped clusters of grapes to the besieged soldiers, saving them from thirst and hunger. Since then, the stork has been revered in Moldova as a symbol of happiness, kindness, and prosperity.

The Orheiul Vechi region is shrouded in myths and ancient legends.

Orheiul Vechi is located between Trebujeni and Butuceni villages. Local legend tells of a wealthy girl who fell in love with a poor man named Butuc. When her father found out, he arranged a marriage with a "worthier" suitor. Distraught by the news, Butuc threw himself into the river; his beloved followed him immediately. Since then, the area has been known as Butuceni, named in memory of Butuc.

From the Golden Horde to Medieval Glory Later, this site was chosen by the Tatars, who built one of the capitals of the Golden Horde upon the ruins of an ancient city. To this day, the foundations of their mosque, mihrab, minaret, and public baths remain. Based on excavations conducted between 1948 and 1950, archaeologists reconstructed the layout of these baths. These stone structures featured thick walls (over a meter wide), complex water supply networks, heating systems, and specialized ventilation pipes. The bath complexes were vast, ranging from 18x28 meters to 23x38 meters, housing dressing rooms, furnaces, and various utility areas.

In the 15th century, after Moldovan forces reclaimed the land, a stone fortress was erected, the ruins of which are still visible today. By the 16th century, the territory faced new threats from the Ottoman Empire. The history of Old Orhei still preserves the memory of a "destructive love" that allegedly sealed the city's fate.

The Legend of Orhei’s Fall The name "Orhei" derives from the Hungarian word Őrhely, meaning "guarded place." According to legend, Turkish forces had besieged the city for many days, but the Moldovan soldiers defended it with such bravery that the enemy lost hope. However, the blind jealousy of a single soldier changed history. Fearing that his beloved Marioara would never be his, he betrayed the city’s defenses. While the residents managed to escape into the Codri forests, the city itself was razed to the ground by the Turks.

A UNESCO Heritage Candidate The value of Old Orhei lies in its "open-air museum" atmosphere, which perfectly reflects the multi-layered history of Moldova. Due to its immense cultural and historical significance, Old Orhei became the first site nominated by the Moldovan government for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list.