The city of Rezina stretches for 13 kilometres along the banks of the Dniester and is surrounded by three deep gorges. In the region, river landscapes and waterfalls meet monasteries, archaeological sites and traces of the distant past. You can tailor your discoveries to a wide range of interests – from a hike to waterfalls to the historic sites around Saharna.
Waterfalls, Gorges and Landscapes
The Saharna Nature Reserve is located on the Dniester Plateau. There, the Saharna and Stohnaia streams form a large natural amphitheatre. The Saharna stream itself has 22 cascades. The largest is named “Groapa Țiganului”: the waterfall is 4.5 metres high, and its pool is ten metres deep. These specific measurements give the landscape a distinctive scale, without making all the cascades seem alike.
In the Țipova Landscape Reserve, you can hike to waterfalls. A tour described in 2023 led to the waterfalls and offered views of the Dniester, rocks and gorges. This route brings water and rock formations into focus together. When planning your trip, the landscape itself is a good reason to consider the region’s natural areas alongside its cultural sites.
A different scale can be seen at the “Great Ciorna Gorge” on the Ciorna River: the gorge is about four kilometres long, and its highest slope exceeds 200 metres. A railway line also passes through a tunnel cut into the rock in Țipova. These two details tell, in different ways, of the forms that rock and landscape take in the region.
Monasteries and Archaeological Traces
Rezina is home to the “Vatra Rezinei” complex, which includes the foundation stone “Piatra de temelie” and the “Acoperământul Maicii Domnului” chapel. The archaeological stele “Cetăţuia getică”, dating from the 4th to 3rd century BC, is also located in the city. The “Țîpova-Saharna” museum complex is also in Rezina.
Around Saharna, archaeological discoveries range from burials to fortifications. Investigations at Saharna “Țiglău” uncovered a double burial dated to the 10th to 9th century BC. At the Saharna “Rude” site, a citadel about 70 metres in diameter was discovered. At the Getic fortification of Saharna Mare, a previously unknown entrance flanked by a bastion came to light. These sites give the region a long historical perspective that differs markedly from its visible landscapes.
The Saharna Monastery also contributes to the area’s religious significance: it is one of Moldova’s largest pilgrimage centres, and the relics of Saint Macarius are kept there. The rock monastery in Țîpova was selected for restoration and conservation work in 2024. Together, the two monasteries represent different facets of the religious and cultural heritage.
Special Discoveries in the Region
The complete, six-metre-high skeleton of a Dinotherium Gigantisimus was discovered near Pripiceni-Răzeși. The animal lived there about five million years ago. In a very different context, a unique complex of five springs in the village of Trifești was renovated in 2006. The discovery of a prehistoric animal and the story of this springs site show the variety of the region’s attractions.
Tradition and infrastructure are also part of the picture. On 22 April 2025, the Easter song festival “Hristos a Înviat!” was held in Țîpova for the 17th time; it was described as a popular tradition. A project completed in November 2024 modernised 20 kilometres of public roads and made access to Lalova and the Țîpova Monastery easier.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Rezina, you can plan your trip around the differences between the sites: waterfalls and gorges, archaeological evidence or religious sites. This makes choosing accommodation part of your planning, while keeping the region’s discoveries at the centre of your trip.
Discover more sub-regions: Lalova, Riscani. Discover more destinations: Edineț District, Soroca District, Hîncești District, Călărași District, Straseni, Ștefan Vodă District.
Return to the main travel overview: Moldova.
