Strășeni District

Strășeni district is situated in the centre of the Republic of Moldova, in the Centre Development Region, bordering directly on Chișinău municipality. Its seat is the town of Strășeni. Owing to its proximity to the capital, the district plays an important role in supplying it and in the development of the suburban zone, being crossed by roads and by the railway linking Chișinău with the west of the country.

Geography and relief

With an area of approximately 760 km², the district lies in the heart of the Codri, the most wooded and most picturesque area of Moldova. The relief is hilly, fragmented by deep valleys, with oak, beech and hornbeam forests covering a good part of the territory. The river Bîc, a tributary of the Dniester, flows through the district, with numerous settlements strung along its valley, as well as other streams that round out the hydrographic network.

Population and economy

The district has around 60,000 inhabitants, the population being predominantly of Moldovan/Romanian ethnicity (over 96%), with small Russian and Ukrainian communities. The economy is based on agriculture, viticulture, fruit growing and activities linked to the proximity of the capital, including the food industry and services. Besides Strășeni, the district also includes the town of Bucovăț.

Heritage and tourism

The district's main landmark is Căpriana Monastery, one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Moldova, documented from the 15th century, linked to the reign of Stephen the Great and extensively restored in recent decades; its monastic ensemble, surrounded by centuries-old forests, is a place of pilgrimage and heritage. The Codri forests, with their nature reserves, offer remarkable trails and landscapes, being a traditional place of recreation for the capital's residents. The place name Strășeni is connected with the terms "străjeni" (guards) or "strașnic", suggesting the settlement's role as a watch post in the past. The district's villages preserve winemaking and craft traditions, and the proximity of Chișinău together with the natural setting of the Codri make the area a weekend destination and a space for the development of rural and ecological tourism, complementing the spiritual value of Căpriana Monastery. Through its position as a district neighbouring the capital, through the richness of the Codri forests and through its monastic heritage, Strășeni holds an important place in the economic and cultural life of central Moldova. The district, in its first administrative form, was established in November 1940.