The Orheiul Vechi / Old Orhei Cultural-Natural Reserve will resume efforts to obtain UNESCO World Heritage status, the reserve's director, Ion Ciobanu, told AGERPRES.

He recalled that the process had been launched several years ago but was halted after UNESCO experts identified several non-conformities.

'Yes, there was an attempt - in fact, several. The last one was in 2017. We had to withdraw the file so it wouldn't be rejected. The biggest issue were the new interventions in vernacular architecture - traditional houses built without architects or formal projects. It was a phenomenon we simply couldn't stop. Now, through certain mechanisms, a culture fund has been created, and subsidies are being offered even to private homeowners. There is money available to preserve the authentic style. It took time, but we sincerely hope that in a few years we will return to this file, submit it again and aim for UNESCO inclusion,' Ciobanu said.

He noted that Orheiul Vechi has become the most attractive destination for foreign tourists visiting the Republic of Moldova. In the first three months of the year, the 11,000-hectare reserve welcomed around 100,000 foreign visitors, almost 25% more than in the same period last year. Tourists from Romania remain the most numerous, followed by those from Poland, Ukraine and Italy.

'Compared to last year, inbound tourism has grown - which is gratifying for us, because we are increasingly attractive internationally. Domestic tourism has dropped a little, but foreign arrivals are up by almost 20%. Through our cultural offer and tourist attractions, we hope to maintain this dynamic. We are making maximum effort to develop the tourist offer,' Ciobanu said.

He underscored that three new museums have opened in the past five years to enrich the visitor experience.

'We opened the museum of the first school in Morovaia, the Craftsman's House Museum - which brings together the traditional occupations of the locals over time - and a new archaeological museum from the second medieval layer, right at the entrance to the reserve. Every year we try to update the exhibition concept to make it more attractive and accessible. We are expanding the network of tourist information centres and routes, so that movement inside the reserve is controlled and connects all attractions. In the last two years alone, we extended natural tourist routes by 27 kilometres, and this year we plan to add another 18,' he explained.

Visitors are drawn by the traditional architecture, the spectacular landscapes, and the local gastronomy. Tourists can join local hosts to cook 'sarmale' (stuffed cabbage rolls) or traditional pies, and in summer they can attend cultural events such as the DescOpera open-air classical music festival or the Wolf Festival, a blend of folklore, rock and ethno-fusion.

'We have a dense network of guesthouses - eight in Trebujeni and six in Butuceni - offering accommodation, traditional meals and masterclasses where tourists can make pies, roll 'sarmale' and take part in the cooking process, not just taste the food. The cultural offer is also important: the DescOpera Festival, an open-air classical music event that has become a tradition, and the Wolf Festival, a mix of folklore and rock that visitors remember year after year,' Ciobanu said.

He added that the area boasts an exceptionally rich archaeological, natural, cultural and intangible heritage.

'This area was first explored by scientists after the Second World War, and over time it became a tourist attraction thanks to its archaeological heritage and exceptional natural setting. It is the only location that brings together all forms of heritage: natural - forests, rivers, plains, meadows - and cultural, from medieval ruins to the Orhei Burgrave's Palace, the Tatar Bath, the caravanserai complex with a mosque and medieval church. (...) We also have well-preserved cave architecture and strong intangible traditions linked to local feast days and religious celebrations,' he said.

Located about 55 kilometres north of Chisinau, Orheiul Vechi was declared a protected reserve on March 15, 1968, during the Soviet period. Today, its heritage is managed by the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve, a public institution under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristian Lupascu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)