The restored bell tower in Vadul-Rașcov is over 400 years old
The bell tower in Vadul-Rașcov, Șoldănești District, which dates back to the 17th century, was restored and is set to be inaugurated at the end of this week.
Restoration costs exceeded €140,000—funds allocated by the European Union under the "Confidence-Building Measures" program implemented by UNDP Moldova.
Built from local limestone and dating back some 400 years, the bell tower stands as a valuable testament to medieval Moldovan architecture.
Recent restoration work included preserving the historic masonry, installing a protective structure, and reconstructing the roof using traditional wooden shingles.
According to the project team, the bell tower is not merely an old tower but a living "trace" of an important medieval village that once stood at the crossroads of historic trade routes along the Nistru.
A bustling market operated here, serving as a transit point for merchants, diplomats, and caravans, and for transporting goods between Podolia and Moldova.
The tower also served as an entrance to the old cemetery and reflects the coexistence of various religious communities.
This intervention is part of a package of four cultural heritage preservation projects supported by the European Union.
The "Confidence-Building Measures" program, implemented by the UNDP, also includes the restoration of the Țâpova Cave Monastery (Rezina district), the Great Synagogue in Rașcov—a village located on the left bank of the Nistru—and the façade of the former Savings Bank and Treasury building in Tighina (Bender).
