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Cricova Winery: An Underground Wine City

Explore Cricova's vast underground wine cellars, a national treasure of Moldova, with unique tours and exquisite wine tastings.

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Cricova is a Moldovan town renowned for its extensive underground wine cellars, often called an 'underground wine city'. These cellars house a vast collection of wines and offer guided tours and tastings, making it a paradise for wine enthusiasts.

A brief summary to Cricova moldova

  • Cricova, MD

Local tips

  • Book a tour in advance, as the wine cellars are a popular attraction.
  • Wear warm clothes, as the temperature in the cellars is around 12-14 degrees Celsius.
  • Take a bus from Chișinău to Cricova for an affordable travel option.
  • Explore the five underground halls, each uniquely decorated, for wine tastings.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Chișinău, take bus number 2 from the corner of Strada Vasile Alecsandri and Strada Alexandru cel Bun towards Cricova. Tickets cost around 4.5 MDL (approximately €0.20) and can be purchased on the bus. The journey takes about 30-40 minutes. Get off at the Cricova Primaria stop in the town center and walk about 1 km to the visitor center.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Chișinău. A taxi ride to Cricova takes approximately 17 minutes and costs between $5 and $7 (USD). Several taxi companies operate in Chișinău, including Taxi 14222, Taxi 14700, and Taxi 14008. Note: Prices may vary depending on the taxi company and time of day.

  • Driving

    From Chișinău, follow the M1 highway north towards Cricova. After approximately 15 kilometers, take the E583 road to Cricova. Parking is available in designated areas upon arrival. Note: Parking availability may be limited.

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Discover more about Cricova moldova

Cricova Winery, located just 15 kilometers north of Chișinău, is one of Moldova's most prestigious wineries and a national cultural heritage site. Founded in 1952, the winery is famous for its impressive underground galleries that stretch over 70 km. These galleries house the National Oenoteca, a treasure trove of rare and exquisite wines. The tunnels were first dug in the 15th century when limestone was carved out to build Chișinău. In the 1950s, they were converted into an underground wine emporium. Half of the roadways are used for wine storage, and the roads are named after the wines they store. This underground city has warehouses, tasting rooms, and other facilities. Cricova produces sparkling wines according to the classical French method, 'Méthode Traditionnelle'. The cellars maintain a constant temperature of around 12°C (54°F), perfect for wine aging. The National Oenoteca houses over 1.3 million bottles of rare wines, including the 'Jerusalem of Easter' vintage 1902. Visitors can enjoy wine tastings in one of the five uniquely decorated underground halls.

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