Florești

Why go

Florești is an ordinary Moldovan district town, and that is precisely why it offers an honest introduction to the north: a railway station, Soviet blocks of flats, a market and a river lined with limestone rocks. If you travel between Bălți, Soroca and the Dniester, you will pass through it anyway. The district is also home to Japca Monastery, high on the bank of the Dniester.

History and character

The place was first mentioned in 1588. The name means "those of Florea", after a former owner, and the historical name was Rădiul Florilor. Florești grew from a village into a noble market town and later became the seat of a plasă (sub-district) in Soroca county. The coat of arms shows crossed swords and crosses taken from the arms of the Costin family, that of the chronicler Miron Costin, with lilies as a nod to the name.

The railway to Rîbnița made Florești a junction. Much of the housing dates from the Soviet period, with blocks of two to five storeys in the centre and the west. At the 2024 census the town had 10,925 inhabitants.

What to see and do

The most attractive part of the town lies along the Răut. In the old eastern part there is a reservoir, and a bridge from 1913 spans the river. Limestone rocks and toltre, the reef hills typical of northern Moldova, rise along the banks. Around the town lie steppe vegetation and fertile black earth (chernozem), which makes the district farming country. The station building and the central park are also among the town's most attractive spots.

Japca Monastery lies in the east of the district, on the bank of the Dniester, and by car combines well with Soroca or Rezina.

Eating, drinking and sleeping

Florești has a few restaurants and cafés for locals. For overnight stays with more choice, look in Soroca or Bălți, both less than an hour's drive away.

Practical information and tips

Florești lies about 126 km from Chișinău, some 2 hours 15 by car. Buses run daily, and connections with Bălți and Soroca are frequent. Think of Florești as a hub: combine it with Japca and Soroca in one day. The Romanian Wikipedia has more on local history.