The Ceramics Route of the Republic of Moldova

The Ceramics Route of the Republic of Moldova offers an authentic journey into the world of pottery, showcasing the culture, history, and local traditions of clay craftsmanship. The route highlights ancient pottery techniques, heritage collections preserved in national and district museums, as well as the traditional craft passed down from generation to generation.

The purpose of the route is to promote and preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of ceramics, contributing to the Republic of Moldova’s appeal as an authentic and distinctive tourist destination.

The route passes through 9 districts across the country’s three regions and includes 18 tourist attractions, among them: 9 museums (including 2 ceramic restoration workshops), 8 traditional ceramic artisans with workshops open to visitors—where various pottery techniques can be explored, including the country’s only black pottery workshop, an archaeological site, and a festival dedicated to ceramic folk artisans, the “Potters’ Fair” (Bâlciul Olarilor).

Through this route, visitors can trace the evolution of ceramics in the territory of Moldova, a craft deeply rooted in the country’s history and culture. Handmade clay vessels illustrate the use of ceramics in both everyday life and ritual contexts, while the contemporary creations of folk potters demonstrate the continuity and significance of this traditional craft in present-day Moldova and throughout the Romanian cultural area.

The central theme of the route is the diversity of ceramic traditions, from the earliest periods to the present day. With a total length of approximately 635 km, the Ceramics Route can be completed in about 7 days, depending on the attractions visited and the stops made along the way.

List of tourist attractions included in the Ceramics Route

• National Museum of History of Moldova – Ceramics Restoration Workshop;
• National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History;
• National Museum of Fine Arts of Moldova;
• Museum of History, Ethnography and Art, Cimișlia;
• Folk potter Adrian Onuță, Mirești village, Hîncești District;
• “Potters’ Fair” (Bâlciul Olarilor) Festival, Iurceni village, Nisporeni District;
• Folk potter Zaharia Triboi, Ciorești village, Nisporeni District;
• Archaeological site – pottery kilns, Vorniceni village, Strășeni District;
• Folk potter Vasile Gonceari, Hoginești village, Călărași District;
• Museum of History and Ethnography, Ungheni Municipality;
• Sîngerei Ethnographic Museum – Ceramics Restoration Workshop;
• Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Butuceni village, Orhei District;
• Medieval Archaeological Museum, Butuceni village, Orhei District;
• Folk potter Ivan Prividiuc, 5 Școlilor Street, Tohatin village;
• Folk potters Lilian and Ruslan Scutelnic, Chișinău;
• Folk potter Eugenia Burlacenco, 57 Sfântul Andrei Street, Chișinău;
• Folk potters Ruslan and Carolina Grimovici, 106 Columna Street, Chișinău;
• Folk potter Eleonora Rusu, 1/6 Schitului Street, Buiucani, Chișinău;