Pivnițele Brănești

Useful Information

Location:	Brănești village, Orhei district, MD-3515, Republic of Moldova. (47.3174394, 28.9371434)
Open:	All year Mon-Fri 11-15, Sat, Sun 11-20. Reservation mandatory. [2025]
Fee:	yes. [2025]
Classification:	Cellar Rock Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=70, Ar=75 ha, VR=60 m, T=12-14 °C, H=90-92 %.
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Pivnițele Brănești, Brănești village, Orhei district, MD-3515, Republic of Moldova, Tel: +373-691-64-445, Tel: +373-235-59-999. alexcor79@mail.ru pivbran@mail.ru
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Pivnițele Brănești (Brănești Winery) oder Vinăria Brănești (Brănești Winery) is named after the village Brănești where it is located. Wineries are almost always undergound, have huge wine cellars, and often offer tours. But this winery is nevertheless special. The limestone here was quarried, first on the surface, later underground, which finally in galleries extending 75 km on an area of 75 ha. This system of passages is more or less 60 m below the surface.

The abandoned rock quarry is used for various purposes. The most obvious is for storing the wine for aging. Another part is transformed into the first underground hotel in Moldova. And there is a part which is called Epoca de Piatră (Stone Age) tourist complex. They have a cave restaurant, concert hall, exhibition space and more. The walls are painted with copies of prehistoric cave paintings, but also with Medieval pictures, strang geometric patterns and modern paintings.

There are several wineries in Moldova, but this seems to be the most popular. That’s not only a result of the unique rock quarries, but also of the closeness to the the historical and archeological complex Old Orhei, which is the most visited tourist attraction in Moldova.