Taraclia

Why go

Taraclia shows a side of Moldova that few visitors see: a Bulgarian community on the southern edge of the Bugeac steppe, with its own church festivals, schools and a university. At the 2024 census, 76.3% of the 10,021 inhabitants described themselves as Bulgarian. At the town limits a sign reads "Taraclia, centre of the Bulgarians in Moldova".

History and character

After the Russo-Turkish War of 1806 to 1812, Russia annexed Bessarabia and settled Bulgarian and Gagauz colonists in the depopulated south. That is how Taraclia came into being in 1813; Saint George's Church was finished in 1817. Between the world wars the village belonged to Romania and was the seat of a plasă (sub-district) in Cahul county. The 1930 census counted 8,507 inhabitants, 8,187 of them Bulgarians.

In 1947 Taraclia became a district capital, and in 1995 it was officially granted town status. Since 2002 it has been twinned with Nova Zagora in Bulgaria. The Grigore Țamblac State University was founded in 2004 and in May 2025 turned into a branch of the Angel Kanchev University of Ruse, according to the Bulgarian news agency BTA the first Bulgarian university abroad.

What to see and do

The oldest monument is Saint George's Church, which marks the founding of the colony. At the Hadzhidinkova cheshma there is a Second World War memorial. Unusual for the dry south is the woodland around the town: almost 10% of its territory is forested, and south of Taraclia lies a protected geological outcrop. Vineyards and orchards surround the town, with two companies processing grapes.

Linguistically, Taraclia is a world of its own: in 2024, 53% of the inhabitants mainly spoke Bulgarian at home and 42% Russian, and only a few per cent Romanian.

Eating, drinking and sleeping

The choice is small and local: a few cafés and places to eat in the centre. On feast days you will see Bulgarian and Moldovan dishes side by side. For an overnight stay with more choice, look in Comrat or Cahul.

Practical information and tips

Taraclia lies about 153 km from Chișinău, some 2.5 hours' drive via the south. Buses and minibuses run, but by car you can easily combine it with Comrat and the rest of Gagauzia. In practice Russian is the common language with outsiders; a few words of Romanian or Bulgarian are appreciated. If you can, plan your visit around a church festival or an event of the Bulgarian community.