Day Tour S2: MOLDOVA – WINE ROAD
on May 14th, 2024
Day 1:
8.30 Departure from Bucharest - Iasi
11.30 – 14.30 Visit the Panciu Domain (incl. lunch)
17.30 – 18.30 Visit the Sturdza Castle
19.30 Accommodation in Iasi (hotel 3-4)
Day 2:
9:00 – 10:00 The Metropolitan Cathedral
10:00 -11:00 Visit Iasi, the Palace of Culture
11:30 – 13:00 Visit Iasi University of Life Sciences
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
15:00 – 17:00 Visit the Botanical Garden
Day 3:
Visit the Târgu Frumos - Cucuteni neolithic culture
Cotnari winery making
Visit the dam and Siriu lake
Arrival in Bucharest
Since 2009, Panciu Domain have been the heart and soul of the wines from the more than 120 hectares of vineyards located in Vrancea area. The company's motto is based on a mission that over the years has been at the basis of the activities and decisions taken, namely obtaining a natural, quality and 100% Romanian product by continuously exploiting the potential of the Panciu vineyard. Under the brand "Ana has apples" the unit has established its own plantations, 75 ha apple, 15 ha cherry, 10 ha blueberry, 12 ha table grapes, 5 ha cherry, 16 ha strawberry, 2 modern cold stores of 3000 to with controlled atmosphere to ensure the best fruit all year round, juices of the highest quality.
The Panciu Domain harmoniously combines wine and fruit production, in a special natural setting, making the transition between the subcarpathian area and the countryside, providing relaxing accommodation.
The Sturdza Castle, a historical monument of Gothic art, was built between the years 1880 – 1904 by George A. Sturza and his wife Maria (née Ghica) on the site of an old mansion from 1755 (of which they still kept a few rooms and the attestation inscription). Most of the exterior decorations of the castle take up details from the Sturzesti coat of arms, to which the castellan's emblem is added George A. Sturza, inspired by the icon of Saint George. Inside, the ceilings and walls were painted in tempera, with geometric motifs and floral, under the direction of the architect Reinecke from Iesa. Many furniture, doors, and windows were carved in rosewood. For the ladder marble was brought from Dalmatia, and terracotta was used for the stoves sculpted and painted. The castle had a vast library and several collections: 1. the collection of complete medieval weapons and costumes, for horses and riders, from 16th century; 2. jewelry collection; 3. Museum Familiarum, which contained rare archaeological, numismatic, and epigraphic pieces; 4. collection of busts in Carrara marble and old oil paintings, representing ancestors of the Sturza family.
The Palace of Culture of Iasi is an emblematic building, built in the period 1906 - 1925, in the perimeter of the former medieval Moldavian royal court, on the site of the former royal palace, being the architect's most significant creation Romanian I.D. Berindei trained at the Parisian school Palace of Culture - the Palace of Museums, recognized as the effigy of the city of Iași, was built in a neo-gothic style and represented one of the last expressions of romanticism in official architecture. Although it is not built on top of the ancient foundations, as was assumed at the beginning of the 20th century, the Palace serises, in part, over the ruins of the mentioned medieval royal courts documentary in 1434. From this construction, the Palace inherited the legend of the 365 rooms, corresponding to the days of the year. When decorating some rooms, it was used in the premiere of a material patented by Henri Coandă, called bois-cement, which imitates oak wood. The building has also been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for that era, such as electric lighting, heating (system pneumatic), ventilation, thermostats, vacuum cleaners, which all started from basement, where the machine plant was located.
The building inaugurated on October 11, 1925, served as the Administrative Palace and Justice until 1955, when it was intended to host some of the most notable cultural institutions of the city of Iași, united today under the name by the National Museum Complex "Moldova" Iași.
CUCUTENI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE MUSEUM. Reservation Cucuteni Archaeological Site is located 10 km from the town of Târgu Frumos. The point main of this area is a Geto-Dacian princely tumulus tomb from the 4th century BC. Hr, protected within the Cucuteni Archaeological Site Museum. The archaeologists involved in the research tried to preserve in situ the best preserved and the largest mound. Thus, in 1984, the museum was inaugurated, after two years of construction. The central tomb was integrated into a circular construction, using natural stone, without central pillars. The visiting route is a circular one, which is done both at the ground level and at the upper level, through suspended platforms. On the two levels, there is a permanent exhibition presenting the local history — from the Paleolithic to the 19th century.
Iasi Metropolitan Cathedral. The act of birth of the edifice is the decree to ruler Ioan Sandu Sturdza (August 8, 1826), but the foundation stone and the actual construction are due to the zeal and efforts of Metropolitan Veniamin Costachi. The works began in 1833. The Viennese architects Johann and Gustav Freiwald adopted the neoclassical style for the new church, also found in other monumental churches in European countries. Work was done intensively until 1841, but in 1842 Metropolitan Veniamin was forced to retire from his seat and the works were interrupted. The current Metropolitan Cathedral is a monumental construction from the 19th century, built on the site where the foundations of two older churches were: the White church (15th century) and the Stratenia church (17th century).
On April 15, 1880, the second foundation stone was laid. The plans are redone by the architect Alexandru Orăscu, rector of the University of Bucharest. The consecration of the Cathedral, on April 23, 1887, was a celebration for the entire nation. The family of the first king of Romania, Carol I, linked their name to this holy place through valuable donations, being painted in the votive painting at the entrance. Scent of holiness, a source of hope and soul comfort, the relics of St. Parascheva, brought here from the "Three Hierarchs" Monastery in 1889, are a gift of great value to clergy and believers.
Iasi University of Life Scineces. The beginnings of the Moldavian agricultural education goes back in time to the first half of the 19th century, namely between 1842 -1848 when the first great Romanian agronomist, Ion Ionescu de la Brad delivered the first lectures on agriculture at then “Academy Mihaileana” Iasi. Following the insistent approaches of a group of enthusiastic professors, the academic board of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, voted unanimously, on May 2nd, 1905, what, later on, the Ministry of Culture and Public Instruction would approve, i.e. the setting up the Departments of Agricultural Chemistry and Technological Chemistry, within the Faculty of Science. 1912 is considered to be the year of birth of tertiary agricultural education in Iasi. The Law of Tertiary Education, published in the Official Monitor on March 27th, stipulated the establishment of the Agricultural Sciences Department within the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Iasi. The Official Monitor no. 82/April 9th, 1933 contained the Law for turning the Section of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Iasi into the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi, with its headquarters in Chisinau. In 2021 the name of the university changed again and became “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences (IULS), remaining as such up to the present day.
Iasi Botanical Garden. Along with other cultural priorities emanating from the old capital of Moldova, a special place is occupied by the establishment in Iasi, in 1856, of the first Botanical Garden in Romania, by the doctor and naturalist Anastasie Fatu. To meet the requirements of biological education, in 1921, Prof. Al. Popovici established a new botanical garden on the land behind the new building of the University with an area of approx. 1 hectare, on which a small complex of greenhouses for tropical plants is being built. This garden served botanical education for over 40 years, until 1963-1964 when it was moved to its current location in Copou Hill. From this last botanical garden, the trees and shrubs in the park are located between the old University building, the student canteen, and the student dormitories on Copou and a small "tower" greenhouse are still preserved today. where palm and banana trees were cultivated. In 1960, on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the University, the situation of the Botanical Garden was presented and it was concluded that it no longer corresponds to the requirements of education, and in 1963, Copou Hill was chosen as the site for a new botanical garden. Others were gradually added to the land surfaces initially taken over, reaching 80 hectares today.
Cotnari wine-making. The company is the heart of the Cotnari vineyard since 1948. The love of locals for the growth and fruit of the vine has taught us to cherish every sun-carrying bean and to share with others the joy of life.
The wine road is long but full of rewards. We take care of the over 1,700 ha of vineyards through high-performance agricultural work. Our specialists work in the laboratory of the compound or in the vineyard to obtain new varieties of vines and new wine varieties.
Cotnari wines have exceptional qualities obtained by limiting average grape production to one hectare to just 70-80% compared to other vineyards in Romania or in wine-growing countries. Our company will always choose quality at the expense of quantity. In our wine-house, organized on scientific criteria, we keep the most successful collections since 1956.