Visit Chateau Purcari Winery and Marta & Maria Monastery

Rain or shine, Moldova has a way of surprising you. I love the mix of calm, spiritual stillness at Marta and Maria Monastery and the grounded reality of a real working winery at Purcari. You also get a proper tasting program, not just a quick sip. The main thing to consider is that it is a long day in the car, so bring patience for travel time.

I also like that the tour is guided end to end, and in past departures the guide Valerii has done a great job turning stops into stories you can actually use. Add a traditional lunch in Carahasani, and this feels like more than a checkbox tour. One drawback to plan around: Purcari is a popular name, so the day’s pace can feel structured, with fewer free moments than you might expect.

Key highlights to look forward to

• Marta and Maria Monastery in Hagimus, a working nunnery with around 70 nuns living on site
• A focused Purcari visit, including a factory tour plus a tasting with 4 wines and 1 sparkling
• A long-form lunch stop in Carahasani, hosted by an agrotourism team run by an Italian and a Moldovan woman
• Pickup and drop-off in Chisinau, so you spend less time figuring out logistics
• Weather-sensitive timing, since the experience needs good conditions for the full route

A 9-hour loop built around two very different kinds of meaning

This is the kind of day trip that works because it swaps vibes on purpose. You start with the quiet side of Moldova, then move to grapes, steel tanks, and the business of making wine, and finish with a country-style meal. It is a private tour, so your group sets the tone, and the guide keeps the pace moving without rushing the key moments.

You should expect a full schedule, about 9 hours total. With the drive between locations, the day has a natural rhythm: travel, see something important, eat, then travel back. If you prefer slow mornings and lots of roaming time, this may feel tight. If you want a packed but well-shaped introduction to Moldova beyond Chisinau, it makes sense.

Language is English, and the experience is designed for most travelers. Admission is listed as free for the stops during the day, which helps you get more value from the fixed price.

Getting from Chisinau to Hagimus, then into the monastery’s world

The day begins in Chisinau, with pickup available from where you stay in the city. After that, you head toward Hagimus locality, in the Căușeni district. The transfer takes about 90 minutes, so treat this first stretch as your reset time: water, snacks if you like, and settle in.

When you arrive, your focus shifts quickly. This monastery, known as Marta and Maria, is a nunnery with life organized around routine and devotion. It is not presented as a tourist-only stop. The current community is about 70 nuns living on the territory, so you are walking into a place that continues to function as a real religious home.

The monastery’s newer history is part of what makes it interesting. It traces back to May 26, 1997, founded by Bishop Dorimedont (1961 to 2006), who was later abbot of Noul-Neamț monastery. The site was proposed through church channels connected to the archpriest STC inspector Andrei, and it is currently led by Archimandrite Andrei Cotruța. If you like learning the “how did this begin” story behind a sacred site, you will appreciate how much context the guide can provide.

What to expect at Marta and Maria Monastery

This stop runs about 1 hour. Since admission is listed as free, you are really paying for time and guidance, not entry fees. The best way to experience it is to slow down mentally. You are moving from a city mindset into a quiet rhythm.

Here are the practical things to know:

• Expect a peaceful visit, not a museum sprint.
• The community size, about 70 nuns, helps explain why the atmosphere is calm and lived-in.
• Because it is a nunnery, respectful behavior matters. That is common sense anywhere, but it is especially important here.

One more reason I like this monastery for first-timers: it gives you a spiritual contrast before you hit Purcari. By the time you reach the winery, you have already felt Moldova in a different register, and it makes the next stop easier to understand.

Chateau Purcari: the oldest name in Moldova’s wine story

After the monastery, you shift into grape country. Purcari Winery is one of the anchors of Moldova’s wine reputation. It is described as the oldest winery in the Republic of Moldova, founded in 1827, and it has become the country’s most famous wine name.

Purcari’s vineyards cover about 320 hectares, and they sit in a region with Protected Geographical Indication Ștefan Vodă. The tour also notes a cool geographic detail: the latitude of the vineyards is similar to the French wine region of Bordeaux. That is not a promise of identical wines, but it helps you understand why this area is taken seriously for viticulture.

Your Purcari visit includes two parts. First is a guided tour of about 45 minutes, covering the industrial and historical parts of the facility. Second is a tasting program lasting about 40 minutes.

This structure is smart for value. The tour portion gives you the big picture: how the winery operates and what parts of the facility connect to the past. Then the tasting lets you put that context to work immediately, so the experience does not become just a set of sips.

The tasting program, what you actually get

At Purcari, the tasting is clearly defined: 4 wines, including 1 sparkling wine. You also get nuts, breadsticks, and still water. That matters more than people think. Nuts and breadsticks help you pace your palate, and still water keeps you from turning the tasting into a blur.

What you should expect from the 40 minutes is time enough to compare, not just taste and move on. The wines are under the Purcari brand, and the tasting is your chance to understand how a single producer’s style can show up across still wines and sparkling.

If you are new to Moldova wines, this is the safest way to spend your money. You are not guessing what to buy. You are tasting a curated lineup the winery is ready to explain.

Carahasani lunch: country-style food with an agrotourism feel

Then you head to Carahasani for lunch. This part of the day runs about 1 hour 20 minutes. It is a traditional lunch in a local guesthouse, described in a country life style, which usually means you are eating in a setting that feels connected to daily rural life rather than a formal restaurant built only for visitors.

The agrotourism business here is run by an Italian and a native Moldovan woman. That detail is helpful because it suggests the lunch stop is not random. You are likely eating with people who want to share their approach to local hospitality, not just turn tables.

Because lunch is included in the price, this stop strengthens the overall value of the tour. You are paying a single rate for transport, guide time, the monastery visit, the winery tour and tasting, and a full meal. For many visitors, the most expensive part of a day trip is often the food you end up paying for separately. Here, it is handled.

The ride, the guide, and why pickup matters

Transportation is provided privately, and pickup plus drop-off are included in Chisinau. The meeting point details note you can be picked up at your hotel, motel, hostel, or apartment, as long as you share your exact address in advance.

This matters because it protects your day from common stress. You do not have to navigate local transit or try to coordinate a taxi for a schedule that runs long. It also means the tour starts efficiently, which helps when you have to fit monastery viewing, a winery tour, and lunch into one workday.

In one past experience, the guide Valerii was highlighted for making the day feel smooth even when weather turned messy. That kind of guidance is more important than it sounds. When you are driving between stops for hours, you need a guide who knows how to keep the experience coherent.

Price and value: why $195 can actually feel fair

At $195 per person, this is not a budget trolley ride. It is a structured, guided day trip with private transportation, a professional guide, lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and both the Purcari winery tour and tasting.

To judge value, look at what is included:

• Private transport for the whole loop
• The monastery stop
• The Purcari winery visit, including tasting
• Lunch in Carahasani
• A professional guide

The winery part alone tends to be where day trips can get overpriced if it is just a quick look. Here, you get a longer tour of about 45 minutes plus a 40-minute tasting with defined items. You are also not paying separate admission for the listed stops, since admission is shown as free.

So the key question for you is simple: do you want a guided, end-to-end day that handles logistics and food for you? If yes, the price starts to feel reasonable. If you prefer to drive yourself, linger longer in one place, and build your own plan, you might be able to spend less. But you would trade away the comfort and pacing that make a day like this work.

Weather matters more than you think

This experience requires good weather. If the day gets canceled due to poor conditions, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That is not a small detail. With winery and monastery stops, the schedule relies on travel and time outdoors around vineyards and the route between locations.

I would plan like this: pack a light rain layer if the forecast looks shaky. Even when rain appears, the vineyards can still be dramatic, and broken clouds can make the day feel special. Just don’t count on perfect views every time, so stay flexible.

Who should book this tour (and who should skip it)

This tour is a good match if you want:

• A guided intro to Moldova that mixes faith, food, and wine
• A proper Purcari tasting with enough structure to learn something
• Pickup convenience in Chisinau
• A day trip that includes lunch, not just attractions

It may be less ideal if you:

• Hate long car rides and tight timing
• Want lots of independent wandering time at each stop
• Are picky about schedules when weather gets uncertain

Should you book Marta and Maria plus Purcari?

Yes, if you want one day to feel like an actual overview of Moldova, not a patchwork of random stops. The monastery visit gives you a calm, meaningful beginning, and the Purcari program gives you a tasting with clear structure, including sparkling, plus food pairings like nuts and breadsticks. Add lunch in Carahasani and the included pickup, and the day feels like it has real value for the price.

I would book it if you like guided days and want comfort. I would think twice if you want maximum freedom, because this is designed as a structured route with a lot packed in. If you can handle that and you check the weather, this is a smart way to spend your time in Moldova.

FAQ

How long is the experience?

The tour is approximately 9 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $195.00 per person.

Do you offer pickup from hotels in Chisinau?

Yes. Pickup is offered from where you stay in Chisinau (hotel, motel, hostel, or apartment). You just need to provide the exact address.

Is the tour private, or will I share it with other people?

It is private. Only your group participates.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What’s included in the Chateau Purcari Winery tasting?

The tasting program includes 4 wines, 1 sparkling wine, nuts, breadsticks, and still water. The winery visit also includes a wine tour of about 45 minutes covering industrial and historical parts.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served as a traditional meal in a local guesthouse in Carahasani.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

How does cancellation work?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.