Soroca: fortress town on the Dniester

Soroca Fortress

The **Soroca Fortress** was built in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries under Ștefan cel Mare and his son Petru Rareș, replacing an older wooden fort. It is a near perfect circle of stone with five bastions, set right on the riverbank. Inside, wooden walkways and the upper galleries give views over the river to Ukraine on the far bank. It is part of a chain of fortresses that once defended Moldavia, and has been carefully restored. Check opening days before you go, as hours can change with the season.

The Candle of Gratitude

On the cliff above the town, the **Candle of Gratitude** (Lumânarea Recunoștinței) is a white tower built as a memorial to the creators of Moldovan culture and to the anonymous people who preserved its language, songs and traditions. It is reached by a steep staircase or by road, and the views over the Dniester valley are among the best in the country.

The Roma hill

Soroca is often called the unofficial Roma capital of Moldova. On the hill above the centre, the district known locally as **Cainari** or the Roma hill is lined with extravagant mansions, some modelled on famous buildings like the Bolshoi Theatre or the Capitol, with towers, columns and silver roofs. It is a residential area, not a museum: walk respectfully, do not photograph people without asking, and treat it as you would any neighbourhood.

The town

Soroca's centre is small, with a quiet park, a market, a few cafés and a riverside promenade. The **Soroca History and Ethnography Museum** covers local finds and traditions.

Nearby: the cliff monasteries

On the way north from Chișinău or as a detour, two cliff monasteries along the Dniester are worth a stop. **Țipova** is the largest cave monastery in Moldova, carved into the high riverbank, with a waterfall nearby and steep paths down. **Saharna**, further south, has a busy monastery in a wooded gorge with waterfalls and a rock where, by local tradition, the footprint of the Virgin Mary is visible. Both are on narrower roads and work best with a driver, and good shoes are essential.

Getting there

Buses and minibuses run from Chișinău's North bus station to Soroca several times a day, and the journey takes around three hours. A driver lets you add Țipova or Saharna on the same day. If you stay over, the town has a few simple hotels and guesthouses.

A note on location

Soroca faces Ukraine across the river. The town itself is peaceful, but always check your own government's latest travel advice for northern and border areas before you go.

A suggested day

Leave Chișinău early, stop at Saharna or Țipova on the way north, reach Soroca by early afternoon for the fortress, then climb to the Candle of Gratitude for late afternoon light over the Dniester. Walk through the Roma hill on the way back down, eat in town, and either stay overnight or return to the capital in the evening with a driver.

Plan your route with the free trip planner, and find more ideas in our places to visit list.