Moldova

Overview

One of the smallest former Soviet republics has a quite a varied selection of museums and natural attractions. The visitor may wish to go to the Alexandr Pushkin, the Constantin Stamati or Ethnography and Archaeology museum amongst several. There are a number of museums or possibly the Codrii nature reserve, which has a very large number of plant species.

The visitor should be aware that the public transport system is not well developed so extra time should be allowed for travel between sights.

History

Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.