One of the first tourist routes through Moldova was organized in the 60's to Cosauti – the stone masons’ village, which is situated 7 km north of Soroca fortress (160 km north of Chisinau).

The craftsmen process stone in a very artistic manner giving each piece a unique form and shape: the crossroads are decorated with angels’ faces. Houses, tables, monuments, gravestones, etc. are decorated as well. On entering the village we already see the presence of these specific stone-works. Documentary evidence of the village dates back to 1509, but in an archaeological excavation the human activity was traced back 22 thousand years.

Not far from this excavation, a deep narrow valley shelters a medieval monastery rebuilt by the local stone craftsmen. Nearby there is a mineral water spring, the banks of the river Nistru and the only granite quarry in Moldova.


The monastery can be visited daily.