Orheiul Vechi enhances heritage with new openings
International Monuments Day at the Orheiul Vechi museum complex was marked by two significant events: a historical reconstruction of the defensive rampart attributed to ruler Stephen the Great and Holy, and the inauguration of the Medieval Archaeology Museum inside the fortification complex, featuring artifacts unearthed at this historic site.
Students from the village of Trebujeni were the first visitors to the new Medieval Archaeology Museum, thus opening this latest attraction within the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve.
We have the chance to experience history, to see what it was like in the past. And the fact that we live right here is already a miracle!
It's very, very beautiful because of all the objects, because of the medieval era! These pots really impress me. They are so beautiful.
It was a long road from the initial idea for this project to the opening of the Archaeology Museum, which features artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations.
"This space tells the tumultuous history of the medieval city of Orhei and also serves an educational purpose, as it effectively combines scientific research and museum exhibition," said Ion Ciobanu, Director of the Orheiul Vechi Reserve.
"The exhibition is the result of the combined effort of the reserve's staff, including archaeologists, anthropologists, and numismatists," mentioned Daniela Hadârcă, a historian at the Orheiul Vechi Reserve. "Generations of archaeologists continue their excavations, and these digs bring to light discoveries that amaze us."
"Highlights of the exhibition include the coins, which were discovered here and were struck within the territory of Orheiul Vechi during the medieval era," highlighted Dumitru Yanov, Head of Section at the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve.
The exterior of the museum is also impressive, where, for the first time, a defensive rampart attributed to the period of ruler Stephen the Great was reconstructed.
"This is a defensive system closely modeled on the original medieval defense system," said Director Ion Ciobanu. "We have a ditch, a rampart, a palisade, and a guard walkway."
"I believe that even today it would be important for us to have walls of defense against the enemy, but never walls between us," stated Liliana Nicolăiescu-Onofrei, President of the Parliamentary Committee.
"The project was financed by the National Fund for Regional and Local Development, covering several components at Orheiul Vechi," stated Andrei Chistol, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture. "In total, the project totaled up to 30 million lei."
The team at the Orheiul Vechi Reserve, one of the oldest and most attractive tourist destinations in the Republic of Moldova, is also preparing other projects aimed at showcasing the beauty and rich history of this site.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
