Comprehensive Guide Collection for Orhei National Park in Moldova Central Region

Moldova's first national park protecting central Codri forests and medieval heritage

Orhei National Park

Orhei National Park represents Moldova's most significant protected area initiative, created in 2013 to preserve the country's unique blend of natural landscapes and cultural heritage in central Moldova. The park occupies the Codri region—a distinctive hilly area in the center of the country characterized by gentle but defined elevation changes, dense forest coverage, and deeply incised valleys carved by rivers and streams. The Răut River, one of Moldova's major waterways, flows through the park's territory, creating riparian corridors that support additional biodiversity and add to the scenic character of the landscape. The park's territory spans four administrative districts and includes numerous villages and rural communities whose traditional land use practices have shaped the landscape over centuries. The protected area was established not only to conserve the natural forest ecosystems of the Codri region but also to protect an extraordinary concentration of archaeological and architectural heritage. The Old Orhei cultural and natural reserve forms the park's centerpiece—a complex of cave dwellings, monastery complexes, and archaeological sites representing continuous human occupation from medieval times through the present. Beyond Old Orhei, the park contains the remains of Shehr al-Jedid, a medieval city of the Golden Horde, along with multiple monasteries, noble estates, and other historical monuments. This combination of intact forest ecosystems, significant cultural sites, and ongoing traditional land use makes Orhei National Park essential for both conservation and understanding Moldova's heritage.