Photos of Orheiul Vechi, a unique historical place, Moldova

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Orheiul Vechi, a unique historical place

Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) is a historical and archaeological site overlooking Trebujeni, a village about 60 kilometres north-east of Chişinău, on the Răut River. It is thought to have been formed by the withdrawal of the Sarmatian Sea around 12 Million years ago. In Old Orhei archeological excavations have discovered cultural layers of different epochs: Paleolithic, Eneolithic, and Iron Age.

View to Orheiul Vechi
 
Răut River gorge
 
Trebujeni village
 
Trebujeni village
 
Trebujeni village
 
Butuceni village
 
House, Butuceni village
 
Cooks, Butuceni village
 
Farmer's house, Butuceni village
 
In a farmer's house, Butuceni village
 
House, Butuceni village
 
Răut River
 
Răut River from Orheiul Vechi
 
Cells, Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery
 
Chapel, Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery
 
Priest, Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery
 
Wedding party, Orheiul Vechi
 
Family photo, Orheiul Vechi
 
Ascension of St Mary church
 
Ascension of St Mary church
 
Wedding party, Orheiul Vechi
 
Monastery, Orheiul Vechi
 
Ascension of St Mary church
 
Walking back to Butuceni
 

Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery, overlooking the Răut River, was carved into the massive limestone cliff in the 13th century by Orthodox monks; it remained inhabited until the 18th century when up to 13 monks lived there for decades at a time. It was abandoned, but in 1996 a handful of monks returned and began restoring it. There is a chapel in the cave which acts as a church for three neighbouring villages, as it did in the 13th century.

An additional church, dedicated to the Ascension of St Mary, was built above ground but was shut down by the Soviets in 1944; it remained abandoned throughout the Communist time. After independence, services resumed in 1996. On the other side of the cliff is the small village of Butuceni, with traditional Moldovan houses and an excellent open-air restaurant where typical local fare can be had.