Dniester is one of the most ancient rivers of the Northern Black Sea region. Along its left bank lies a narrow strip of land, which was previously part of various state entities: the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Moldova. The capital of Transnistria is Tiraspol. Where is this city located? What pages of its past and present are of interest to guests and Tiraspol residents themselves? Let's take a virtual tour of the southern city and its environs.
Where is Tiraspol?
The Transnistrian capital is located 106 km northwest of Odessa, on the line connecting the port on the Black Sea coast with Chisinau. The distance to the capital of Moldova, if you use a car, can be overcome in 1 hour (about 80 km on an asph alt road).
The city of Tiraspol is shaped like a triangle, the southwestern part of which extends along the left bank of the river. Dniester. The name, consisting of two Greek words - "Tiras" (the ancient name of the river) and "pol", which means "city" in translation, appearedduring the time of the Russian Empress Catherine II. According to contemporaries, the queen was a fan of the language of Ancient Hellas.
Geographic coordinates of Tiraspol
When they want to clarify the position of the capital of Transnistria on the map of Europe and Moldova, they usually use the coordinates of the city post office - 46 ° 50 's. sh. and 29° 38' E. e. Here people often make appointments with friends, receive and send telegrams, parcels, find out the postal code of Tiraspol and other information. The city is officially within the borders of Moldova, yielding to the capital of this republic in terms of population and territory.
Why is Transnistria called "unrecognized republic"?
De facto, the city of Tiraspol is the administrative, political, economic and cultural center of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Residents of the region of the former Moldavian SSR voted in a referendum for the creation of their own state entity. This event happened about a quarter of a century ago, but the results of the plebiscite have not yet been recognized by the international community. The postal code of Tiraspol - MD-3300 - is a digital code with the same letter prefix as other settlements in Moldova. The time difference with Moscow is 1 hour.
History of Tiraspol
The foundation of the city on the Dniester is inextricably linked with the events in Russia in the 18th-20th centuries. The southern edge of the empire was a kind of "crossroads" for many peoples and religions. Preserved this feature and modern Tiraspol. Transnistria before XVIIIcenturies inhabited by Russian Old Believers, Cossacks, Moldovan and Ukrainian peasants. The victories won in the wars with the Ottomans, the conclusion of the Iasi peace treaty between Russia and Turkey in December 1791 led to the rapid settlement of the Ochakov Territory by settlers from the Russian provinces, Bulgarian, Armenian, German colonists.
On the territory of this region, which became the southwestern border of the Russian Empire, Queen Catherine II ordered Count A. V. Suvorov to organize the Dniester defense line and lay the Middle Fortress. The construction of the fortifications was carried out in 1792 according to the plan of the Russian engineer of French origin F. De Volan. The first garrison of the fortress under construction was a detachment of 172 Cossacks led by the future hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Matvey Platov. It was De Volan who suggested to Count Suvorov that the Tiraspol fortress be located opposite the Turkish Bendery fortress, which is located on the right bank of the Dniester. Since January 1795, the name of the city - Tiraspol - has been mentioned in official documents.
Where is the Middle Fortress?
Traces of historical buildings from the time of Alexander Suvorov can be found in the western part of the city. On the site of the central parade ground of the fortress, Borodino Square is located, a monument to the Russian field marshal M. I. Kutuzov is erected. The surviving powder magazine and parts of the earthen rampart of the Tiraspol (Sredinnaya) fortress have been restored and are open to tourists. You can see a model of a fortification, listen to a story about the construction, history on the territory of thefortress or in the Tiraspol Museum of Local Lore.
Why does the name of one of the squares in Tiraspol immortalize the memory of the Battle of Borodino? Residents call the microdistrict "Borodinka". It's all about the personality of Kutuzov, his participation in the fate of Pridnestrovie and the whole of Moldova. In May 1812, the Russian military leader signed the Treaty of Bucharest with Turkey. Kutuzov received a parade of troops from the garrison of the Tiraspol fortress on the parade ground and blessed the soldiers to fight against Napoleon. Three regiments that took part in the Battle of Borodino were later quartered in Bendery and Tiraspol. On the territory of Transnistria since 1792 there are certain parts of the Russian army. Now they are represented by a limited contingent of peacekeeping forces.
Which monument became the symbol of the city of Tiraspol?
Where is the most recognizable landmark of the capital of Transnistria - the equestrian monument to Suvorov? The monument is installed at the base of the square of the same name. This is a small but well located space in the city center. Usually excursions for guests and tourists visiting Tiraspol start here. Where is another symbol - architectural? This is the Republican Russian Drama Theater, located next to the main building of the main university of Transnistria - the State University. T. G. Shevchenko. To the south and east are large districts of Tiraspol - Kolkotovaya Balka, Kirov Settlement, Blizniy Khutor.
What other attractions can be seen in the center of Tiraspol?
If you walk from the monument to Suvorov along the alley, you can see the main Orthodox cathedral of Transnistria. Other interesting sights are located on the opposite side of the central square:
- bronze busts of Franz de Volan and Catherine II;
- beautiful Orthodox chapel;
- T-34 tank installed in honor of the liberation of the city from Nazi occupation (1941-1944);
- memorial complex erected in honor of the Pridnestrovians who died during the local conflict with Moldova in 1992;
- Tiraspol United Museum;
- memorial museum of a native of Tiraspol N. D. Zelinsky (Russian and Soviet chemist);
- bridge across the river. Dniester.
The embankment and De Volan Square on the left bank of the river are the most picturesque places in Tiraspol. There are recreation areas, cafes, attractions for children, piers for pleasure boats, a ferry crossing, a kayak station.
25 October Street
The population of Tiraspol in the past and now professes mainly Orthodoxy. Before the revolution of the 1920s, the most important street of the city was called "Pokrovskaya" in honor of the great holiday of the Orthodox Church - the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Tiraspol residents celebrate the Temple Feast and City Day on October 14 (Pokrov Day). Now the central highway of Tiraspol is called the same as in the years of Soviet power - "October 25 Street" (the day the armed uprising of the Bolsheviks in Petrograd began according to the old style).
If you go withrailway station, then turning left, you can see the building of the Republican Theater and the University. On October 25 Street, not far from the theater, in a beautiful building with a clock, there are the city hall and the Tiraspol Council of People's Deputies.
The government and the Supreme Council of Transnistria work in a building, also located on the main street, just above the square. Suvorov. Tiraspol cherishes the historical memory of those who built and landscaped the city. There are national cultural societies: Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, German, Union of Moldovans.
Between Tiraspol and Bendery
Almost all over the street. On October 25, you can take a trolleybus No. 19 or a minibus No. 20 and get to the second largest city of Transnistria - Bendery in 10 minutes. This is already the right bank of the Dniester, but the territory of Transnistria, not Moldova (Republic of Moldova). Tiraspol on the western outskirts is decorated with a large sports complex with several football stadiums, there is also a swimming pool, tennis courts. Further, the path runs through the ancient Bulgarian village of Parkany.
Another ancient fortress on the gray bank of the Dniester
On the outskirts of the city of Bendery there is a medieval monument - an ancient fortress. Its construction began on the orders of the Turkish Sultan Bayazet II in 1484, and in 1538 Suleiman the Magnificent ordered a significant expansion of the fortifications. The citadel or the inner castle is open for tourists to visit, one of the most interesting museums of Pridnestrovie operates in the powder magazine.
Tour guides are happy to tell everyone who is interested in the past of the region, about events and personalities whose names are associated with the history of Tiraspol and the whole of Pridnestrovie. For example, the outstanding Russian commander during the Patriotic War of 1812 P. Kh. Wittgenstein lived in the Kamenka estate (170 km from the capital of Transnistria). In honor of the count, the Tiraspol factory "Kvint" produced cognac "Wittgenstein".
Tiraspol infrastructure
The population of the city is 150 thousand people. The movement of public transport is well established, trolleybuses, minibuses run. The fare is paid in Transnistrian rubles. This is the own currency in Tiraspol and throughout the unrecognized republic. Almost all signs, signs with street names are in Russian. Signboards at state institutions have been translated into three official languages - Moldovan, Ukrainian and Russian.
In Tiraspol, in addition to the enterprise that produces wine and cognac products under the brand name "Quint", there are the cotton association "Tirotex", machine-building and other plants. There are many young people in the Pridnestrovian capital, students studying at the university, branches of Russian higher educational institutions, and colleges. The largest concert venue and cultural institution is the Palace of the Republic. Not far from the central square is the Tiraspol cinema and concert complex, popular with young people.
The green outfit of the city is the Botanical Garden on the territory of the research institute, city parks, alleys and squares. On theA bust of the first cosmonaut was installed on Gagarin Boulevard next to the buildings of the Pridnestrovian State University. Pobeda Park is a favorite vacation spot for Tiraspol residents, a venue for fairs and other public entertainment.
