Discover Moldova with #MOLDPRES: Craftsmen's House Museum in Butuceni - bridge to tradition, authentic art

The Craftsmen's House Museum in the village of Butuceni, Orhei district, is nothing less than a journey into the heart of traditional Moldovan crafts.

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Butuceni, near Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei), the Craftsmen's House Museum is more than just a museum – it is a bridge between generations, a living lesson about rural talent and creativity.

The museum building is an authentic dwelling, built in 1931 during the interwar period, preserving the charm of a 20th-century Moldovan rural household. Though it underwent interventions in the post-war period, the house preserved its original structure, vernacular architecture and the warm atmosphere of a time when everything was made with hands and heart.

What can you discover here?

The museum hosts a valuable collection of handcrafted objects made by artisans from the villages surrounding Orheiul Vechi.

Among the exhibits you will find:

• Traditional fabrics woven on the loom

• Hand-carved wooden tools

• Folk pottery, painted and fired in clay ovens

• Woven baskets, leather objects, and blacksmith works

Each piece tells a story about the skill, patience and artistic vision of the craftsmen of yesteryear - ordinary people with big hearts and golden hands.

The museum's atmosphere is complemented by the flower garden, the light blue-painted porch, the traditional stove and the smell of old wood - all details that transform the visit into an authentic and emotional experience.

If you wish to better understand how Moldovan craftsmen lived and created in the past, the Craftsmen's House in Butuceni is the perfect place - a living lesson about tradition, identity and the beauty of well-crafted work.

Butuceni is a chapter in histories dedicated to rural tourism and all those who create and manage those oases of relaxation and traditional cuisine found in the most beautiful locations in Moldova.

The Orheiul Vechi museum complex is situated in the valley of the river Raut, a right tributary of the Dniester, on the territory of the Trebujeni commune in Orhei district of Moldova. The cultural and natural reserve Orheiul Vechi has a special status and represents the most important cultural site of Moldova, currently in the process of being nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The complex covers several dozens of hectares of the medieval city of Orhei (13th-16th century), later named Orheiul Vechi (after the settlement was abandoned and a new city, with the same name - today's Orhei, was founded elsewhere). The complex includes two large promontories (Peștere (Caves) and Butuceni), accompanied by three smaller adjacent promontories (Potarca, Selitra and Scoc), where remains of fortifications, dwellings, baths, places of worship (including cave monasteries) from both the Tatar-Mongol period (13th-14th century) and the Moldovan period (15th-16th century) are located.

The Orheiul Vechi Reserve is a cultural and natural site of national importance. Placed in the central part of Moldova, in the Raut Canyon, it occupies a total area of 11,064.56 hectares, of which 4,978.99 hectares represent the core of the Reserve.

The reserve corresponds to Category IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Due to its uniqueness, the Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Landscape is included in the UNESCO Tentative List. The reserve is part of the Orhei National Park. The reserve is represented by habitats hosting over 100 bird species (1/3 of the total species observable throughout the entire territory of Moldova).

The route is located between the settlements of Butuceni and Piatra. It is recommended for a hike through the Raut River Canyon. Certain segments of the route can also be covered by bicycle. You can start the route from either locality.

Correspondent: Lilia Grubii