After very long periods of annexation and occupation, the small Republic of Moldova finally gained independence on 27 August 1991. Moldova, with a population of less than 5 million, is isolated between Romania and Ukraine, with which it maintains complex diplomatic and political relations. Like its neighbouring countries, it has managed to preserve its environment intact and still has a very important biological diversity today. The country has no less than 30 nature reserves, such as Codru, one of the oldest in the country, 13 protected territories and 5 scientific reserves, for a total of nearly 74,000 hectares of ecological network. Moldova is therefore an ideal destination for lovers of green tourism. Moldavia enjoys a temperate continental climate, characterised by very hot and particularly sunny summers and, in contrast, very cold winters - January is the coldest month of the year and July the warmest. But the amateurs of historical and religious culture can also find their account there: Moldavia covers very numerous monasteries, with the image for example of that of Hîncu, erected in 1678 in a site formerly occupied by a former convent of nuns or that of Orheiul Vechi, literally the Old Orhei, located about sixty kilometres from the capital Chisinau. The highlight of the destination, the medieval fortress of Soroca, 160 kilometres north of the Moldovan capital, is an attractive tourist destination in Moldova. With its 5 towers of 24 meters, it reaches us practically in the state where it was at the time of its conception in the XVth century. A detour to Chisinau, the Moldovan capital, is part of anyone's itinerary to discover this country. Despite very deep marks of Soviet architecture, the Moldovan capital seduces visitors because of its abundance of parks, which makes it a green city and its colorful markets. The nights are also dynamic and last until the early morning. On the other hand, Moldavia also presents a very deep rural face: some observers do not hesitate to establish a very clear separation between Chisinau and the Moldavian villages, where you will be able to taste the local production of the country and the conviviality of its inhabitants. Beware, however, of the state of Moldovan roads: the road network, which dates back to the Soviet era, is not maintained at all because of the lack of public investment. Besides this rather clear dichotomy between the Moldavian villages and its capital, Moldavia also presents an interesting geographical and political peculiarity: covering an area of some 4163 square kilometres, the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria, which is also known by other names in Russia or Romania, is a republic not recognised by the international community and which decided to secede from the Republic of Moldova in 1991, following the independence of the former states of the USSR. It nevertheless remains occupied by a Russian regiment and this country continues to ensure investments to it, making this state a richer territory than Moldavia. Its capital is Tiraspol. Moldova had tried to retake this territory in 1992 but the operation had ended in failure. Art and culture in Moldova If, since Moldova's independence in 1991, Western influences such as rock, pop and rap have taken hold of Moldovan youth, the country still has a very long tradition of folk music, dating back to the 15th century. Over the centuries, this music has been enriched by the influences of Greek music. The doina is thus a traditional music in Moldova. Traditional dances have also been added to this music. During weddings, we will for example dance kumetriya, bulgeryaska, moldovenyaska, syrba, and olyandra. Moldova also has a Moldovan folk music and dance orchestra, created in 1949. What to visit in Moldova During a stay in Moldavia, the visit of its monasteries remains impossible to circumvent: three of them deserve that one lingers there: the monastery of Capriana, that of Hincu and that of Hirjeuca. For history lovers, the historic city of Orheiul Vechi or the ruins of the 15th century Moldovan city and the Church of Caucani will have to integrate the travel itineraries, as well as the medieval fortress of Soroca. The Moldovan capital Chisinau is also one of the cities to see. Gastronomic specialities in Moldova Moldovan cuisine is a cuisine with several influences, Bulgarian, Ukrainian or Russian at the same time.