Nature sanctuary «One hundred hills»
- Geodesic "Arch of Struve"
- The Cave "Emil Rakovita" ("Cinderella")
- Reserve "Codru"
- Nature sanctuary "Prut Thresholds"
Distance from Chisinau: 200 km
Trip to the excursion place: 2-2,30 hours
Visiting: the Nature sanctuary «One hundred hills»
Moldova is the land of the unique, original and picturesque nature where many unique reserved landscapes, historical and archaeological monuments are kept. The Moldavian land is rich for the architecture monuments, each of them has its history tightly connected with the history of country.
Along the road to the Prut valley, 200 km from Chisinau between villages Branesti and Coban, you can see small, but interesting natural phenomenon which is called «One hundred hills». Actually, there are much more hills - in total over 3500, and they occupy the area of 1072 hectares, with the length over 8 km and width of 2,3 km. The height of the hills varies from 1,5 to 30,5 m (the latter is called "the Hill of the Gipsy»).
The first documentary mention of this landscape was made in 1716, in the famous work by Dimitri Cantemir «Description of Moldova» which called it “Centum monticulli”.
In 1927 the first research and the detailed description of the complex was performed to find out of the reasons of these hills appearance. Some researchers believe that «One hundred hills» is the unique place in Europe concentrating in such great quantity the underwater reeves of Mediterranean sea covering the territory of today's Republic Moldova 20 million years ago. Other scientists prefer to think that the hills appeared because of the landslips and landslides which were repeatedly tearing off the pieces of moving rocks earlier being a part of the Prut terrace slope, and seasonal flooding periodically modeled the hills, giving them the corresponding form.
The order of the hills location generated many legends referred to the civilizations disappeared long time ago. On the basis of several archaeological discoveries the myth appeared that all hills are allegedly the tombs of Gettaet-Dacian people. The Local population believes that the hills appeared long time ago, «at the time of Turks when this place witnessed the fight». However last researches revealed that actually the hills are still insufficiently studied phenomenon of the nature. Between the hills there are always gathering spring water and deposits, forming in some places the small lakes.
The territory with the located in it hills is covered by great variety of plants: anemone, iris, flax species, field pinks, hyacinth, etc. From the first shy spring flowers and to the hot July days, numerous steppe plants blossom one-by-one giving every day the new colors, new views, pleasing the eye and heart with the charm.
Services of the guide: Russian, Romanian, English, German languages
Transport services: Minivan, Minibus, Bus
Recommendations for the tourist:
Convenient footwear and clothes
The camera