Soroca Fortress

Soroca Fortress, situated in the city of Soroca, is the best indication that people used to carry swords around here in the past. The city originally began as Olchionia, or Alchona, a medieval Genoese trading post. It is famous for its well-preserved fortress, which was built in 1499 by Moldavian Prince Stephen the Great. The fortress was reconstructed in stone as a complete circle with five bastions at equal intervals between 1543 and 1546 during the authority of Petru Rares. During the Russo-Turkish War, it was attacked by the Russians.

In terms of architecture, Soroca Fortress exemplifies the most ornate features of late medieval fortifications. This observation suggests that the fort was built by Western European experts or Transylvanian inhabitants who traveled to Western Europe and returned to Moldova with architectural ideas. The walls, like the four outer towers, are not constructed straight but in a curved shape to better resist projectiles.

The entire structure is 30 meters in diameter, with the towers reaching 4 meters. Each tower has four levels, with the first two being used for artillery. The thickness of the walls is 3 meters. You can only get a sense of how thick these walls are from the inside. The main entry tower featured three entrances, one of which was a portcullis that was closed during conflicts, allowing the garrison to pray in a small chapel on the upper level.

Location: Soroca