photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Matthew Haswell | profile | all galleries >> Moldova >> Orheiul Vechi tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Chişinău | Orheiul Vechi | Soroca | Tiraspol

Orheiul Vechi

An atmospheric holy site set along a winding valley of the Răut River ten kilometers southeast of modern Orhei city, Orheiul Vechi is arguably Moldova's premier tourist attraction. Quiet and relatively untouristed nonetheless, it offers a look into one of the oldest religious communities in the country, as well as a unique monastery built into a plateau cave.
Humble visitor's center and cafe at the site
Humble visitor's center and cafe at the site		 View over the site upon arrival
View over the site upon arrival		 Geese beside the Răut
Geese beside the Răut		 Looking down the river valley
Looking down the river valley
Cow grazing below the cliff face
Cow grazing below the cliff face		 Windows of the cave church on the cliff wall
Windows of the cave church on the cliff wall		 Cliffs overlooking the Răut
Cliffs overlooking the Răut		 Fields rising away from the river bed
Fields rising away from the river bed
Ascending to the monastery site
Ascending to the monastery site		 Above the Răut River
Above the Răut River		 Path to the half-completed belfry
Path to the half-completed belfry		 Stone cross atop the plateau
Stone cross atop the plateau
Stone cross and fields beyond
Stone cross and fields beyond		 Bare concrete belfry and village below
Bare concrete belfry and village below		 Clifftop cross and the lazy Răut
Clifftop cross and the lazy Răut		 Path to the hilltop church
Path to the hilltop church
Modern church atop the plateau
Modern church atop the plateau		 Church and view of the surrounding valley
Church and view of the surrounding valley		 Inside the cave church
Inside the cave church		 Former sleeping quarters of the ascetic monks
Former sleeping quarters of the ascetic monks
Doorway onto the cliff 'terrace'
Doorway onto the cliff 'terrace'		 Icons and candle oil in the church
Icons and candle oil in the church		 View up the river valley
View up the river valley		 Cups on the windowsill
Cups on the windowsill
Steps down into the cave church
Steps down into the cave church		 Entering Butuceni village
Entering Butuceni village		 Decorative gate outside the village mill
Decorative gate outside the village mill		 Crucifix on the edge of the village
Crucifix on the edge of the village
Crucifix within Butuceni
Crucifix within Butuceni		 Rough backroad through the village
Rough backroad through the village		 Doubling up on a bike, Butuceni
Doubling up on a bike, Butuceni		 Another ornate gate outside a village house
Another ornate gate outside a village house
House and stone wall in Butuceni
House and stone wall in Butuceni		 Moldovan peasant motif on a house gate
Moldovan peasant motif on a house gate		 Little boy on the dirt road
Little boy on the dirt road		 Last look across the site before departing
Last look across the site before departing

comment | share
click on thumbnails for full image