Nature reserve

Rezervația Codrii

The oldest scientific reserve in the Republic of Moldova, set in the heart of the Codri, near Lozova. It protects ancient forests of oak, beech and hornbeam, with a remarkable biodiversity of plants and animals specific to the central region.

The Codrii reserve is the oldest scientific reserve of the Republic of Moldova, established in 1971 near the village of Lozova, Strășeni district, in the heart of the Central Codri. Extending over more than five thousand hectares, it was created to protect the broadleaf forests representative of the Central Moldovan plateau, considered a veritable reservoir of the Central European forest gene pool.

Landscape and vegetation

The relief is hilly, furrowed by deep valleys and streams, and the forests cover the ridges and slopes with a compact green blanket. The vegetation comprises around a thousand plant species. The forests are dominated by pedunculate oak, sessile oak, beech, hornbeam and ash, in whose shade there flower in spring the snake's head fritillary, snowdrops and lilies of the valley, offering a remarkable botanical display. These woods represent forest formations of Central European type, some species reaching here their eastern or southern limit of distribution, which increases the scientific value of the place.

Fauna

The faunal diversity is among the greatest in the country: the reserve shelters over 40 mammal species, almost 150 bird species, reptiles, amphibians and over ten thousand species of insects and other invertebrates. Among the rare species listed in the Red Book are the forest dormouse and various diurnal and nocturnal raptors. The Codri are the only reserve in Moldova where invertebrate fauna is studied systematically and continuously, being a veritable reservoir of the Central European forest gene pool.

What you see here

At the entrance to the reserve, near Lozova, there is a Museum of Nature, which presents the flora, fauna and geology of the area and which serves as a starting point for visitors. From here set off thematic trails that cross the ancient forest and the glades full of rare flora.

Getting there

The reserve lies about 50 km from Chișinău, reachable from Strășeni and the village of Lozova. Since it holds strict protection status, access to the core zones is regulated, but the museum and the made-up trails can be visited with the administration's consent, making it a suitable destination for educational hikes in any season. The visit can be combined with a stop in the nearby villages and with the discovery of other treasures of the Central Codri.

What there is to see

The oldest scientific reserve in MoldovaAncient forests of oak, beech and hornbeamRich biodiversity

Activities

Drumeție

Observarea naturii

Educație ecologică

Type: Nature reserve
Area: Raionul Strășeni
Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn

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Where to sleep, eat and taste nearby

Places to stay, eat and taste from our directory, sorted by distance. Every one rates at least 4 stars on Google with over 100 reviews.

Stay6.4 km

Conacul Mierii

4.9(100)

Conacul Mierii operates at Micleușeni, in the wooded hill country of central Moldova, west of Chișinău — a part of the Codri where the villages are small and the roads climb through beech and oak forest. It is a bed and breakfast, with a hiking area nearby and scope for outdoor activities. It welcomes families with children, and booking is done through the usual platforms. For a weekend of walking in the Codri, an hour from the capital, it is one of the few real bases in the area.

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Winery13 km

Vinaria Poiana

4.2(703)

Vinăria Poiana is in the village of Ulmu, south-west of Chișinău, and is one of the most visited small wineries near the capital — a sign that it has built a steady following beyond the circle of connoisseurs. The opening hours say a good deal about how it works: closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday to Friday from 13:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 11:00, running until 22:00. It is, in other words, a weekend destination, with visitor facilities and parking accessible to people with disabilities. A good choice for a day out from Chișinău at an unhurried pace, with a booking made well ahead in season.

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Winery18 km

Crama Tataru

5.0(23)

Crama Tătaru is at Pitușca, in the Călărași district — in the heart of the Codru area, the wooded hill country of central Moldova and one of the country's three zones with protected geographical indication. The access road has no official name, which says enough about the scale of the place. It is a small, family-run winery, with few visitors and unusually generous hours: daily, from 10:00 to 23:00. Booking ahead remains essential, since receiving guests depends on the hosts rather than on dedicated staff. Recommended for those who prefer a quiet visit, without organised groups, and who are not put off by a last kilometre of country road.

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Restaurant18 km

Orhidea-Lux

4.2(111)

A café in Călărași, the town among the Moldovan forests, on the road linking Chișinău with Ungheni. Daytime hours, from nine in the morning to seven in the evening, with no exceptions at the weekend — so a stop for lunch or coffee, not an evening venue. It serves breakfast and accepts bookings, and the room takes groups and families with children. It is the kind of place that works best as a break on the route, between the drive through the forests and the continuation west. Dogs are not admitted.

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Restaurant18 km

Casa Armenească

4.3(422)

Casa Armenească stands on strada Alexandru cel Bun, the main artery in Călărași, a town on the route between Chișinău and Ungheni. The cooking is declared Eastern European, with Asian influences — a combination rarely met in the provinces. The hours run from nine in the morning to three at night, daily, with breakfast served. It has a terrace, takes children and groups and accepts bookings. The entrance and the seating are wheelchair accessible, parking in the courtyard and on the street is free, and prices sit in the mid range.

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Restaurant18 km

Cezar

4.6(347)

Cezar occupies a space on strada Alexandru cel Bun in Călărași, with a daytime profile: it opens at eight in the morning and closes at ten at night, on every day of the week. It serves breakfast and has vegetarian options — something that in the provinces cannot be taken for granted. The terrace works in season, the dining room takes children and groups, and bookings are accepted. The parking, the entrance and the seating are adapted for wheelchair access, and dogs are admitted. The price level is mid-range.

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