The forest
Dense oak and beech.
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The Codru Scientific Reserve is a protected area in central Moldova that preserves a sample of Central European forest. Created in 1971 over 5,177 hectares, it lies about 40 km in a straight line from central Chișinău and about 5 km from Hâncu Monastery. The reserve protects about 1,000 plant species, 43 mammal species, 145 bird species and thousands of insect species. Its main trees are pedunculate oak, sessile oak and beech, and some Central European species, such as beech, ferns and certain orchids, reach their eastern limit here. Sixty rare plants are recorded, 23 of them in Moldova's Red Book. Dense broadleaf forest covers the reserve, broken by meadows and small ponds ringed by woods. By one pond stands a small wooden shrine on a stone base, and colourful beehives sit in the meadows. The reserve has a nature museum showing its plants and animals. Keep to the marked paths and follow the rangers' instructions, as this is a scientific reserve and some parts are closed. Start with the nature museum, and bring water and insect repellent in summer.
Dense oak and beech.
Still water in the woods.
The reserve's plants and animals.
Lozova, Strășeni District, Moldova
Keep to marked paths; some parts are closed.
Hâncu Monastery, about 5 km away.