Discover the Cahul District
Tourism is first of all about the creation of memories, about emotions, about feelings. Before discovering the landscapes of a new destination, discover the PEOPLE because they are the most valuable touristic potential.
To get acquainted with the beauty of the local places, here you will find short information about the sights in Cahul district, but we leave it to you to discover them in their true splendor.
The natural tourist resources of Cahul district are notable for their great diversity and are of both national and international importance.
The "Lower Prut" Scientific Reserve
was created for the conservation of a representative aquatic and meadow natural complex located in the Prut riverbed, at the confluence with the Danube river. The reservation is located in the Prut river meadow, west of the Slobozia Mare village, and has an area of 1755.4 ha. The reservation includes Lake Beleu with an area of 628 ha (1/3 of the area of the reservation). The vegetation includes over 193 species of plants, 189 species of birds, 34 species of mammals, 7 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians, 27 species of fish.
The possibilities of visiting the Reservation are varied and depend on the available time of the visitors, on their age category, as well as on the hydrological level of Beleu Lake.
The administration of the reservation offers visitors two routes: one on land and one on water.
On November 13, 2018, the reservation was registered in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, becoming the first biosphere reserve established in the Republic of Moldova.
Contacts:
s.Slobozia Mare, Cahul district, “Prutul de Jos” Natural Reservation, Tel./Fax: 029960503; 062122295
Natural monument "The outcrop from Văleni"
A natural area protected by the state. It covers a surface of 3 ha, and is situated half a kilometer south of Văleni village, on the eastern slope of the Prut river valley. The outcrop is the place where rocks or minerals appear on the surface of the earth due to erosion, artificial discovery, or geological opening.
Here live 14 species of rare steppe plants included in the Red Book of Moldova.
The outcrop is also known as the “Golden Hills” or “Golden Mounds”.
Other areas protected by the state are:
The “Baurci – Români” forest nature reserve
The “Vadul lui Isac” forest nature reserve
The “Flămânda” forest nature reserve
The “Liceul Bolgrad” forest nature meserve
The Ravines of Văleni
The Ravine of Tartaul or Ravine Boierescu
Lakes and rivers
Aquatic surfaces have always been points of attraction either thanks to the landscapes they offer, the fauna and flora they host, or for the leisure activities that can be practiced. The Lake Beleu is situated near the villages of Slobozia Mare and Văleni, in the district of Cahul. The nature reserve “Prutul de Jos” was created on its premises, which are a heaven for pond birds, fish, mammals, and plants, many of which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova. The Lake Beleu occupies 628 ha or 1/3 of the area of the Prutul de Jos reservation. This is an over 5-6 thousand years old relic of the Danube and has been the source of survival of the locals over time. Its depth varies between 0.5 and 2 m and is 5 km in length, and 2 km in width. The lake is a resting place for many migratory water and pond birds. The fauna of the lake is represented by about 198 species of animals and 140 species of birds. Among the rare species of mammals found here can be mentioned the otter, the wild cat, the white-bellied cat, the ermine, the European mink, etc.
Lake Beleu is in fact a miniature Danube delta, with a lot of water and vegetation, having the status of a wetland of international importance. A really special phenomenon is marked by the annual arrival of several thousand pelicans for about 2-3 weeks on Beleu, where during a few days they consume significant amounts of fish from the lake. After stopping here for a while, the pelicans continue their journey to the Danube Delta.
With the pandemic, many visitors from all over the country suddenly
“noticed” this oasis of peace and wilderness, which became an important tourist attraction.
Lake Manta is the largest lake in the Republic of Moldova with an area of 2100 ha and a paradise for water-loving creatures, such as the cormorant, the white stork, the egret, the white stork, the heron, the gray heron, the Eurasian coot, the common crane, the pelican, the seagull, the swans, the raccoons, the nutria, the ground squirrel, the fox, the wild cat, the water snails, mussels, turtles, wild boar, deer, white water lily, yellow water lily, water mink and other plant and animal species contained in the Red Book of Moldova.
From the hill of Manta village, the ponds of Manta lake in the Prut meadow can be seen in the palm of your hand: Bădelnicul, Dracile, Rătundul, Lişteavul, Bătcăriile, Tinosul; the ravines – Balacea, Ciortul, Surda. Everywhere reeds, ridges, islands (islets), and floating islands.
Other aquatic resources:
- The Salt Lake of Cahul
- The Prut river
- The Frumoasa River
- The Larga River
- The Cahul River
The Ramsar area “Lakes of the Lower Prut”, was the first designated Ramsar area in the Republic of Moldova in 2000 and is located between the town of Cahul and the village of Giurgiulesti. This wetland is internationally recognized for its bird habitat, as well as for its aquatic plants and animals. It is one of the 1,600 wetlands in the Ramsar Convention
THE ANTHROPIC TOURIST POTENTIAL
The structure of the anthropic tourist potential is complex, it includes different components such as historical monuments, religious monuments, ancient cities, museums, craft centers, etc. Among the cultural buildings in the district we can mention:
Museums
Cahul County Museum was founded in 1958. It has over 16,000 exhibits. The museum building has historical value, as in 1858 Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu worked there as a judge. The “Ioan Vodă” Boys’ High School was established there in 1913 and the County Court and the City Hall of Cahul – in the Interwar Period The Ethnographical Complex, inaugurated in 1979 consists of a peasants’ house, a barn, and a blacksmith’s shop from the end of the 19th century – the beginning of the 20th century. The traditional house was built in natural size, respecting the traditional style, using as raw materials wood, clay, water, straw, being covered with reeds according to old techniques.
Contact details: Cahul, str. L. Tolstoi, 4, tel. +373 299 21 471
The “Plai Natal” Museum of History and Ethnography of Slobozia Mare
The museum building dating from 1941-to 1942 was originally built to serve as local town hall. Over the years, this building had several destinations: town hall, command of the border guard unit, hospital for typhus and dystrophy patients, and gymnasium.
Since 1988 it has been the building of the Museum of History and Study of the Land from Slobozia Mare.
The museum has several themed rooms dedicated the Lake Beleu, the history of the village, handicrafts, a room in memory of those lost during the famine and during World War II, as well as much information and many documents on the socio-economic and cultural evolution of the town.
Contact details: +373 299 61878
The Bread Museum
The Bread Museum of Văleni village was created in 2007, arranged in a traditional style, specific to the localities from Lunca Prutului. The “golden collection” of the museum is made up of 18 kinds of traditional bread that is molded and baked on the occasion of certain holidays and used in certain rituals. Among these types of bread are the “poclon” cake, the “bride’s hoopoe”, the “groom’s cake”, the “mother-in-law’s big hoopoe”, etc. The guide of the museum is a housewife dressed in traditional clothes explaining the role and importance of each of them on different holidays.
The museum organizes workshops in which visitors can get to know each other and become involved in the whole process of producing bread from kneading the dough to baking the bread. After the bread is browned, it is served with wine at the mouth of the oven according to the old custom – “călăhii”. Various rituals are also staged with the participation of local artistic groups.
Contact details: +373 794 14 019
“Dorului” House, Văleni village
is situated at the foot of the Golden Hills. It is the place where you can partake in ancient customs, enjoy traditional dishes, dance southern variations of traditional folk dances and get engaged in many other interesting activities.
The museum has been open since 2013 and has been the perfect host for many tourists from the country and abroad. It is actually a “living” museum because you can touch and use (carefully!) the exhibits, cook a rice cake in the oven, turn a few spindles, fish in the pond, and especially fill your lungs with the fresh air of the country.
The house museum arranged in 19th-century fashion has three rooms: the “Casa Mare”, the kitchen, and the living room. The most representative exhibits are wooden objects, ceramic tableware from the 19th century, a weaving loom, carpets and folk costumes a hundred years old, work tools from the 19th century XIX, and many others.
Contact details: +373 79017151
Other museums:
- Museum of History and Ethnography from Văleni
- Giurgiulesti Village Museum
CHIRCHES AND MONASTERIES
Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel from Colibaşi
was built in 1897. It has two old icons, one of which is the icon of the “Mother of God”, painted on Mount Athos, by a monk, especially for this church. The sanctuary is guarded by the oak tree behind it, which is of the same age
St. Nicholas Church
from the village of Tartaul de Salcie, built in 1859, hides many secrets. In the basement of this church, during the renovation, a tomb room with 4 tombs was discovered. Three of them had bones, one was empty. The locals say that they belong to the family of the former owner of the village, the boyar Mediu. At the church gate, there is a stone cross, which the locals say is the place where the boyar buried his second wife. On May 22, 2009, on the day celebrating the church’s saint patron, took place the official of this room, which can be visited by those interested.
Cathedral of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel
from Cahul is an architectural monument of national category. The church was built as a result of the intention of the governor of Bessarabia P. Fyodorov to build a new church in the town. In 1850 the church was completed. During the Soviet period, the cathedral was closed, and in 1970 it was transformed into an art gallery, a branch of the museum. It was not until 1990 that this place was restored.
The Old Rite Church “The Shroud of the Mother of God”
Adherents of the old rite church, the Lipovans, built their place of worship in Cahul in 1882-1892. The church was built of red brick with stained glass and forged doors, a cell, and a library with an old church book from the 19th century. The bell tower subsequently collapsed, the murals are no longer preserved in their original version. After being repaired in 1913, it was closed in 1963, when the nearby cemetery – in which soldiers from the Russian-Turkish wars had been buried – was liquidated. In 1989, the reconstruction and restoration of the church began, and the work was completed in 1994.
Other monasteries:
- Bishopric of Southern Bessarabia
- Monastery of “Holy Prince Vladimir”
- Monastery “Holy Trinity Monastery”
- Descent of the Holy Spirit and the Nativity of the Mother of God”
CULTURAL-HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
In most villages in the Cahul district, there is a monument dedicated to the Second World War. In total, their number is 47. These include important monuments due to their uniqueness: the Monument of the Heroes of the Battle of Larga 1770, installed in 1914 at the Badicul Moldovenesc, the Monument of the Paratroopers from Baurci Moldoveni, the Monument in memory of those who fell in the Transnistrian War. There are several monuments in the city: the “Obelisk” erected in 1967 in memory of the Cahulans who fell in World War II and of the soldiers of the Red Army killed in August 1944 in the battles for Cahul. The memorial complex of the Cahul illegalists was built in 1968. The “tank” was inaugurated on May 9, 1975, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the victory over fascism. The “cannon” erected in memory of the soldiers of the 25th Ceapaev Division was inaugurated on May 9, 1977. The “plane” was inaugurated on August 24, 1985.
The Trajan’s Wall
is an archaeological monument of international importance, an objective that makes Moldova known worldwide. Trajan’s Wall has two branches: the “lower” has a length of 126 km and stretches from the village of Vadul lui Isac to the town of Tatarbunar, on Ukrainian territory. The height of the wall does not exceed 1.5-3 m. The “lower” wall is 138 km long, between Leova and Tighina.
The supposition that the Lower Wall was built by the Romans is only one of the theories in this regard, but there is no unitary opinion concerning the origins, or the precise time when it was built, especially since not much research has been done in the area. Scientists date the wall within the timeframe 1st century BC – 7th century AD. Some even talk about the late medieval period. There is an opinion that Trajan’s Walls are the remnants of defensive constructions from the time of Emperor Trajan, or the demarcation line between the territories occupied by Greuthungi, Threvingi, and the Geto-Dacians.
The column with three doves was installed in 2002, in the Cahul Independence Square, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the first documentary mention of the locality. The three pigeons on the column represent the three dimensions of the city’s history: past, present, and future, being inscribed the three names that the city has borne over time: Şcheia – Frumoasa – Cahul.
Petru Rareş’s road, Văleni village
An absolutely picturesque place that can be capitalized upon in tourism is Petru Rareş’s Road from Văleni -the road used by Petru Rareş to transport fish to Galaţi, also called “The Fish Road”. Legend has it that he was on this road when he learned he had been crowned.
“Petru Rareș’s road” has remained untouched, over the centuries, as a testimony of the place’s past and history. This route winds 9 km through thickets, reeds, willows, and reaches the other bank of the Prut.
It is said that at one time, through these places, the great ruler of Moldavia (1527-1538 and 1541-1546) wandered with his henchmen on the hunt. Legend has it that in one of these hunts, Petru Rareș dreamed of the Golden Hills of Văleni kneeling in front of him, and the next day he found out the news that he would become the ruler of Moldova.
Today, this route has remained a historical and cultural heritage of undeniable importance for the South of Moldova.
Two rustic gazebos have been put on this trail, the first at the entrance to the tourist route “Drumul lui Petru Rareș”, near the fountain, and the second at the wooden bridge, at the place also called “Petru Rareș’s willow”.
Republican Musical-Dramatic Theater „B.P. Hasdeu ”
from Cahul, founded in 1987, was located in the former House of Culture – an abandoned building after the inauguration of the Palace of Culture. The theater was founded by a team of artists, graduates of the University of Arts in Chișinău.
On 14 July 1998, a committee of experts in the field found that “the load-bearing walls and the ceiling had cracks of 80-100 mm as a result of the groundwater rising”, and as a result, on August 1 the same year, the Ministry of Culture ruled that “the operation of the theater building is strictly prohibited.”
Pursuant to Decision No. 131 of February 15, 2000, the Government of the Republic of Moldova allocated 100 thousand lei for the restoration of the branch on 31 August Street 9 “b” – the seat of the former People’s Court offered to the theater by the decision of September 27, 1991, of the Town Hall. The new auditorium was inaugurated on February 18, 2002.
It is the only theater in the south of Moldova. The theater became internationally known, thanks to the team of emeritus actors who participated in various theater festivals and won many awards. The theater’s repertoire includes plays for children, matinees, comedy, and humor shows.
Soon, the famous plays will be performed on a new and big stage in the new headquarters that started to be built in 2016.
Contact details: str.31 August 9 b, + 373 299 20475; +373 696 12 258 www.teatrulcahul.md
“B.P. Hasdeu” State University of Cahul
is a symbol of the city, built in the ’50s, it is a true architectural monument, preserving the defining elements of those times. Until 1999, it was the headquarters of the Pedagogical College, which in 1999 became a University. The “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” State University of Cahul, founded on June 7, 1999, aims to prepare and provide highly qualified specialists for the localities in the south of the Republic of Moldova. All guests of the city of Cahul, no matter the reason for ther visit, do not pass indifferently by this special building through the architectural style. The location of the University in the city center, Independence Square, the column with three doves, the fountains, all in the complex have become a special place for the citizens, as well as for the guests of the city, who do not miss any opportunity to immortalize this view www.usch.md
LEISURE AREAS
The Green Horseshoe
from the village of Slobozia Mare is a riding center, where those interested have the opportunity to ride a horse on the territory of the reservation “Prutul de Jos”. At the moment, the center has 7 horses, a cart for 8 people, 5 tents. Visitors have the opportunity to ride in the specially arranged riding space, rent tents, go for boat rides, and for walks in the natural reserve.
Contact details: +373 696 89 393
“La Cotihana”
This leisure and recreation base is a complex agro touristic destination, which was conceived in 2008 on an area of 2 ha of private land in the village of Cotihana in Cahul district. Landscaping ensures the presence of the necessary natural conditions for the growth of water and land plants, which exhibit their beauty and diversity. Here you can admire white and yellow water lilies, various species of plants, swans, and wild ducks.
Services offered: possibilities for fishing, preparation of skewers, various national grilled and baked dishes, including fish, poultry, vegetables grown organically on the territory of the base, organization of various events, etc.
The area has 7 pavilions for 15-60 people each, 4 lakes with fish and crayfish, and a boat. A cottage for 2 people, with all the amenities, is currently under construction.
The “Horelor” Square
is the place where every Sunday the people of Cahul and the guests of the town gather to dance the Hora – a collective national dance. Also here take place various activities on various occasions, such as sports competitions, concerts, and festivals of national and international importance.
“Grigore Vieru” Town Leisure Park
dates from 1850, and on its territory is situated the Cathedral. The park is a resting place for all the inhabitants and guests of the city, being equipped with benches, cafes, terraces, and playgrounds for children. Since May 6, 2010, according to the decision of the Cahul City Council, the Central Park in the city of Cahul has been given the name “Grigore Vieru” Town Leisure Park, and in 2014 the bust of the poet was installed in the park. Capital renovation works have started in 2020.
Contact details: +373 688 65 666
“Nufărul Alb” spa
is a sanatorium with a tradition in the art of medicine, a modern center for health recovery that has a clinic, a hotel complex with a capacity of 502 seats, 400 rooms with varying degrees of comfort: simple, semi-luxury, and luxury for 1 and 2 people, a food block and cultural-entertaining objects. Mineral water, for external use, is applied to treat diseases of the nervous system, related to gynecology, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal systems, and skin disorders. “Nufărul Alb” drinking mineral water contributes to the normalization of gastric secretion, activates the elimination of iron and urine, regulates the functions of the gastrointestinal organs and kidneys, improves metabolism. Services: outdoor pool, sauna, bar, dance floor, sports field, billiard, board games, movie theater, post office, currency exchange, hairdresser, mixed shops.
In 2016, a unique in the Rep. Moldova salt mine was set up on the territory of the sanatorium.
Contact details: or. Cahul, str. Nucilor, 1, +373 299 23440, www.nufarul.md
Wineries
As on the whole territory of the Republic of Moldova, the cultivation of vines was one of the main occupations of many locals in the Cahul district since ancient times. A number of favorable factors such as relief, mild climate, fertile soils, etc., have favored the development of this branch of agriculture in the southern part of the country, including on the territory of Cahul district. Obviously, the growth of vines on a large part of the territory determined the establishment of several wineries: “Bostovan” Winery LLC, RadaciniWines, “Vierul-Vin” LLC, “Vinia Traian” LLC, “Slobozia Mare Wine Factory” etc.
The French cellars from Borceag
belonging to the “Grappe Valley” winery in Borceag, which is said to have been built in 1890 (along with the winery) by some French barons. They are made of red brick, in which the temperature of 12ºC is constant. They have a width and height of 2.5m, and cover an area of about 1.6ha, with 6 fans installed on the surface in order to ventilate the cellar. The tunnel has 9 branches that form galleries with a total length of 1000 m, at the moment wine bottles have been kept here since 1977.
ARTISTIC ENSEMBLES
The modern dance ensemble “Iuventa”, the folk music and dance ensemble “Nufărul”, the music and dance ensemble “Bobocelul”, the folk dance ensemble “Izvoraş”, the folk dance ensemble “Vălenaşii”, “Crăițele”, are just some of those groups that bring world fame to our lands and delight to the inhabitants and guests of the city at various festivals and celebrations: the International Folk Festival “White Water Lily”, the National Interethnic Festival “Ethnic Festival”, the Folk Festival “Sunday of Flowers” in Cîșlița Prut village, the National Wine Day in Cahul, and many others.
ACCOMMODATION STRUCTURES
Grandpa’s house
from the village of Pascani, it is an agro-pension that was born out of love – out of love for the family, for our traditions, for the beauty of the native land. Here the tourist can escape from the noise of the city and spend a holiday in nature. You can relax by reading a hammock book, in the cleanest air and sun, and in the evening you can have traditional Moldovan dishes with homemade wine in an open gazebo. Grandpa’s House is the favorite resting place for fishermen and is the perfect holiday choice for tourists.
Contact details: +373 76 008 350, www.casabunicului.com
The rural house “La grandma Clava”
from the village of Văleni, built 60 years ago and recently restored, is a piece of the history of our grandparents, a fragment of the culture and ethnography of the southern region of the Republic of Moldova. It’s not just about those old clay walls, built with dedication and responsibility by close relatives, it’s not about the effort to gather in the man’s house the necessities of modest living, it’s not about the dozens of coats of paint on the doors of the house that Grandma Clava painted diligently year after year.
Visitors have the opportunity to follow two routes with a history behind them:
“Over the ravine to the vineyard”
“To the Prut wool washing place”
Contact details: +373 791 36651
Văleni Eco Village, Văleni village.
The rural house “At Grandma Clava” is about people. About those who passed the clay pots from hand to hand until the walls took shape, it is about those who breathed the air between the walls, it is about those who planted trees and love, it is about them, about us, and about the guests, those who have written, are writing and will write the history of the house.
Far away from the urban hustle and bustle, the cottages are worthy of the “Fairytale House” title, being decorated in a traditional spirit and built of clay – in a traditional fashion, and are waiting to accommodate their guests.