Itinerary:
Chisinau-Leova(Valul lui Traian)-Cahul-The Lower Prut-Albota-Besalma-Chisinau.


Description:

The Bugeac Steppe is ranged in the south of Moldova from the Nistru to Prut Rivers reaching down to the Black Sea. It’s the biggest steppe in the country and site of the foundation of most of the country’s ethnic minority colonies. From Chisinau the road passes through beautiful area of Codri forest almost to Leova, where the traveler sees the first picturesque panorama of the Lower Prut. Up to Danube the Prut river forms an impressive lake, where large colonies of storks, egrets, pelicans and other rare species of birds, included in the Red Book live. For more than 75 km the road winds along the river from Leova to Cahul. At Leova fragments of Valul lui Traian de Sus (Upper Trajan’s Wave) can be seen. The population in this area is mostly involved in vegetable growing because the soil in this area is extraordinarily fertile. In Cahul visits should be made to the balneo-climatic area and the Nufarul Alb sanatorium with its thermal mineral water, the collection of the local museum, and a small medicinal herb nature reserve near the town.

Then follows a trip in the scientific nature reserve of the Lower Prut, founded on the swampy land of a former estuary of the Prut river. Where once the river flowed. now there is just a little lake called Beleu, where numerous waders nest in peace. In the nature reserve you can find almost all the species of water plants and animals native to Moldova. It the evening return to Cahul and stay at the Nufaul Alb sanatorium. Lodgings are also available at the famous tourist villa Albasadorf near Albota village, situated 30 kms to the east of Cahul.

On the second day the trip continues through towns and villages mostly founded by colonists, who came at the beginning of the XIXth century to the south of Moldova: Gagauzians. Bulgarians, Germans, Czechs, etc. In these villages, to the delight of tourists, the traditions and ceremonies of these ethnic groups have been very well preserved. In the village of Besalma there is a wonderful museum of Gagauzian culture, founded by the poet D. Cara-Ciobanu. In the little museum’s cinema room you can see a lot of original films from a rich collection, which were shot during important ethno- folkloric events in the Gagauzian region. From Besalma you can continue to Comrat, where in The Museum of Ethnography a local guide will elaborate the image of this unique nation of Turkish origin but with adherence to Orthodox christianity.

The way back to Chisinau passes through the little town of Cimislia and a few villages founded by German colonists. It is interesting to note how the provident spirit of Germans has found its reflection in the prevalence in the south of Moldova of their type of practical houses.


Visits:

• Cahul (2 hours), guide in museum, entrance fee, restaurant

• The Lower Prut reserve (2 hours), local guide available, entrance fee


• Besalma (2 hours), local guide available, entrance fee


• Comrat ( 1 hour), local guide available, entrance fee

 
 

Where to stay/eat:

• Cahul, Nufarul Alb sanatorium
• Albota, Albasadorf, (traditional accommodation and cuisine).