Soroca, Medieval fortress city in northern Moldova
Soroca is a city in northern Moldova centered around a fortress on the Dniester River. The stronghold features five circular bastions and stone walls built on elevated ground overlooking the valley below.
A wooden fort was built in 1499 to defend the region. In the 16th century, it was replaced with a stone structure that remained the city's primary defense for over four centuries.
The name comes from an ancient local word meaning "rocky." Visitors can see how the stone fortress shaped the way people built their homes and planned their streets around it.
The best way to explore is on foot around the fortress walls to see all the bastion details. Local museums in town provide more information about the site's background and what people can expect to find.
The bastions were spaced with mathematical precision so each side of the fortress looks exactly identical. Such exact geometry was rare in the 16th century and shows the builders' remarkable skill.
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