In August 2025, I traveled with two friends to Moldova and explored the country thoroughly. The most exciting part was Transnistria, the breakaway state of Moldova. Much has been written about this tiny part of Europe, so I won't repeat all the facts here. I hope you enjoy the photo I took.
The town itself does not advertise what it is. As you come into the town on the east side of the Dniester it appears like any other town in the area. However, when you stop to think, you realise that this is the capital of the breakaway state of Moldova, called Transnistria. This makes Tiraspol the third largest city of a country it no longer respects, and the first city of a state that doesn’t technically exist.
Tiraspol is a cultural, economic, tourist and light industrial centre within the region. Furniture and electrical items are still manufactured here. This makes it very much a functioning town. People travel to work, queue for buses, purchase bread and have arguments about football. However, it still does have some political undertones. Due to having a high population of Russians, it has become a major centre of the Russian Separatist movement within the Eastern side of the Dniester. Rather than being a political slogan, there is a feeling that the river acts as a boundary. The same street can be seen to be part of two different narratives. When travelling here, you have to keep both narratives in your mind.
Noul Neamț Monastery, near Tiraspol, Transnistria (Breakaway state of Moldova) Close to Tiraspol is the Noul Neamț Monastery (Chițcani Monastery) located in Chițcani, Bender. This is a male Moldovan Orthodox monastery. It is located in the historical region of Basarabia, however it is currently controlled by the breakaway Transnistrian authorities. This is a very peaceful place surrounded by walls, bells and a strange feeling that religion has survived through each administration.
This is what Tiraspol is like. There is a lot more to think about than you would expect. The river acts as a boundary, the capital is an argument and there is a monastery. You will leave with less certainties but more questions, which is what a good trip should do.
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