Soviet Heritage of Transnistria and Castle Mimi Winery

Our road to Bender will last around 1 hour 15 minutes. We will visit the Bender Fortress, located on the right bank of the Dniester in the city of Bender. The Fortress is an architectural monument of the XVI century. The design of the fortress is the work of the Turkish architect Sinan, which was built on the model of Western bastion-type structures. Construction of the fortress began in 1538 after the city became part of the Ottoman Empire. It was surrounded by a large earth wall and a deep ditch, which was never filled with water. The fortress is divided into upper, lower and center. Its total area is about 20 hectares. The facade is located in the southwestern part of the fortress.

We will visit the Memorial complex, the site of an abandoned military cemetery, where, according to existing data, there were buried 5127 souls. The military-historical memorial complex was officially opened in Bender, Transnistria on October 7, 2008. The memorial complex was erected at the initiative of the PMR Ministry of Internal Affairs on the territory of an abandoned military cemetery.

Overview of Tiraspol, capital of The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Pridnestrovie/Transnistria). We will discover the main highway here that is named 25th October Street. It crosses the center from east to west. We will visit the Cathedral of Christ's Nativity, the House of the Soviets, the sports complex "Sheriff", Green Market center, the monument of Generalism "Alexander Suvorov", the Memorial of Glory, Tank Monument. Visiting Tiraspol, you can say with confidence that you have been back in USSR!

Near the square is an impressive Supreme Council (the building of the city committee with the flag of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic hovering over it and with the Monument to Lenin of pink granite in front of it). Today it also houses the Government of Pridnestrovie.

Lunch in the atmospheric bistro cafe "Stolovka USSR" or in a typical soviet style restaurant "Back to USSR" from 80's. Lunch is optional, at the request of the guests.

Mimi Castle was one of the largest wineries in the USSR, employing 1,500 people in its heyday and producing between 6-7 million bottles of wine a month, with most of the production going to the USSR. Mimi Castle with an area of 10 ha, with a production of 2 million bottles of wine, is among the top 15 architectural masterpieces in the world of wine. The fact that in 2018 it had 40,000 visitors from 80 countries, I think it recommends that you cross its threshold. The tour will start from the entrance to the inner courtyard of the castle which is beautifully decorated with lawns, decorative shrubs, mazes, wine barrels used as decoration, a musical fountain that changes its colors and gushes from the floor. After the visit to Castle Mimi Winery you will be transferred to your accommodation.