Discover Gagauzia and Manuc Bei Mansion
Description
"Manuc Bey" mansion in Hâncești is a destination that must be found on the map of your trip. Built at the beginning of the 19th century, in 1816, Manuc Bei Mansion is an architectural monument located in the Hâncești district of the Republic of Moldova, which has a rich history. After exploring Manuc Bei Mansion we will continue our tour in a unique place - Gagauzia, populated by a unique Gagauz ethnic minority. What the Turkish speaking population from Bulgaria is doing in Moldova - is a very good question, which can be only understood by visiting this region. Nowadays, Gagauzia is an agricultural region, populated by hard-working and hospitable people, who keep their autonomy and still keep in very good condition their history and traditions. Overall, the tour is about 8 hours 15 minutes and transportation is already included in the total duration. It includes visits to historic and cultural sites of Gagauzia, together with a visit to Manuc Bei Mansion in Hancesti district.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First, we will visit Manuc Bei Mansion that is located in Hincesti Town at a distance of 36 km from the Chisinau Capital, the tours are guided in Romanian, Russian, English and last 30 minutes. The tourists will discover this Manuc Bei Architectural Historic Complex, visit the Museum of History and Ethnography, the Main Palace, an underground tunnel, the Hunting Castle, they also have a liquor store, where you can buy a bottle of sparkling wine or a wine prepared by Hincesti Winery.
After Manuc-Bey we continue our drive to the South - heading to Komrat, the capital of Gagauzia. Visit to the city and the Cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Also we will visit The City Hall with the Lenin monument in front of the building, Memorial Slavy. Well, don't expect to see big luxury buildings, but interesting Gagauz history and cultural spots are guaranteed.
The National Museum of History and Ethnography of Gagauz in the village of Balsalma is a real foray into the colorful wedding ceremonies, customs and traditions of the Gagauz people. The tour will continue with Avdarma village (cultural and spiritual center of Gagauzia).
After Besalma we will go to Congaz village, where we will visit the church "The Holy Trinity"
Travellers will get a traditional lunch in "Gagauz Sofrasi" complex, where they will discover ethnic-modern design of the complex, which includes elements of traditional decor. The wedding museum, a terrace and a restaurant, the cellar with homemade marinades on the territory, convey the spirit and the true atmosphere of the traditional Gagauz culture. From Congaz we will continue our road to Chisinau.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick you up where tourists will stay: hotel, motel, hostel, apartment. We will just need to know the exact address in Chisinau and we can pick up directly from there.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(28)
An excellent experience that allowed us to see Moldova beyond Chisinau. Nicolai was a really good guide who was happy to be flexible and to show us what we wanted to see. Highly recommend
Very interesting tour! My favorite part was going to the local museum and learning about Gaugazian culture. It would be nice to go to a local's house and learn more about modern life.
With Transnistria, Gagauzia is a must-see. A very interesting day with a guide who knows his country perfectly.
My husband and I had a wonderful experience visiting Gagauzia. Our tour guide, Ecaterina, was absolutely lovely — very knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the culture and history of the region. During the tour, we visited the beautiful Manuc Bey Mansion, enjoyed a delicious lunch at a traditional-style restaurant, and finished the day exploring the sights of Comrat. The entire experience was well organized and gave us a great introduction to a unique and fascinating part of Moldova. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience the culture, history, and hospitality of Gagauzia.
The guide is very funny. Great job. Thank you Nicolai. Experience, fullfilled day.Never forget this journey.My best regards.
If you’re visiting Moldova, this tour is a must. The region may not be very well known, but it’s a real hidden gem and definitely worth seeing. We learned a lot about the local history and culture, and even got to join a traditional Gagauz dance, which was a great experience. Special thanks to Ecaterina, who was very friendly, passionate, and knowledgeable. She made everyone feel comfortable and created a really nice atmosphere for the group. I highly recommend this tour—it’s a great experience and not to be missed!
Had a really amazing day exploring a region I knew very little about. Ecaterina, the guide was an absolute joy to hang out with all day. Even though I had just met them, it felt like I was hanging out with friends all day long. They did a great job of making everyone comfortable and having a really lovely time especially since we spent 11 hours together or so. The tour itself was very informative, and she had deep knowledge of the area. Well, worth the cost.
Marcel is an excellent guide, everything was perfect. Very interesting experience if you want to know Gagauzia and Gagauz culture.
Gagauzia is a very interesting place to visit, but you should remember that this trip is going to focus mostly on ethnography.
Thanks so much for your kind words about Gagauzia! 😊 We’re thrilled you enjoyed the beautiful sights and had a lovely day. Yes, you are right, the tour is focused mainly on culture, traditions, ethnography.
The places we visited were great! The guide Cristina was incredibly friendly and helpful. A very cultural experience!
Dear Reagan, It was a pleasure hosting you in Moldova and arranging a tour with Cristina. Thank you for recommending our tour!
