Moldovan localities interested in creating tourist routes of type Dor de Codru

Chisinau, 15 August /MOLDPRES/ – Three communities – Selemet (Cimislia), Sipoteni (Calarasi) and Bahrinesti (Floresti) were interested in tourism project: Dor de Codru, realised in 2018 in the centre of Moldova, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Government of Switzerland. The delegates from the three localities have gone recently on study visits to Micleuseni, Dolna (Straseni) and Cioresti (Nisporeni), to take over the experience of villages that manage this project.

All the mentioned localities are partners of the UNDP project: Migration and local development, financed by the Government of Switzerland, and they have a common interest – promoting rural tourism as a branch of development of local economy. That is why, the representatives of local administration and native associations from three localities visited the route and learnt more about managing the included tourist objectives.

Thus, the delegation visited the tourist stop at the entrance to village Micleuseni, with the tourist map of the route, Honey House of Victor Ciolacu, Cemetery of Romanian heroes, Mansion house of boyar Zamfirache Ralli (currently the house – museum of Alexandr Puskin), boyar cellar and spring of Zamfira in village Dolna.

The mayor of Micleuseni, Ion Dima, explained the process of creating a tourist route, and the representatives of the mayor's office of Dolna and museum told the story of the village, from the period of exile of poet A. Pushkin in Moldova.

Further, the delegates were greeted at the largest wooden gate in Moldova, located at the entrance to village Cioresti. This gate was designed and built with the involvement of the mayor's office and the native community of Cioresti.

The next stop was at the workshop of folk craftsman, Zaharia Triboi, the only one in Moldova who makes black ceramic objects. The master presented a master class to the guests, supported by a poetry recital of his own creation. Later, it was visited the house of folk craftsman, Parascovia Marza, where it was presented the experience in setting up a museum – pension, with the support of several donors.

"It was a really useful visit for us, which are interested in developing a tourist route in village Selemet, especially since we have all the premises for it. When you see the success of other communities, you gain confidence and belief that it is possible. We went home very inspired and we are ready for concrete actions”, said mayor of Selemet village, Tatiana Badan.

In the end, the guests visited the guesthouse of Iulia Axente, where they took stock of what they had seen and learnt, being convinced to start tourism projects in their communities.

Three localities in the centre of Moldova, Cioresti, Dolna and Micleuseni, created the rural tourism route: Dor de Codru. The picturesque places, secular settlements, folk crafts and agrotourist pensions are among 20 objectives included in the route. The creation of the Dor de Codru route is a project initiated by the local authorities and inhabitants, with the support of UNDP project: Migration and local development. For the development of the tourist route, the Swiss Government has granted $50,000, the local administrations have allocated about $22,000, and the natives have donated over $8,000.

UNDP and Government of Switzerland support 35 partner communities in promoting positive experiences, in supporting projects and businesses for local economic development.