Synagogue and church in Moldova conserved with EU and UNDP support

Conservation works of the synagogue and church in Rașcov village, located on the left bank of the Nistru river in Moldova, have been completed. The work was made possible thanks to the support of the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP Moldova.

The village of Rașcov is known for its picturesque landscapes and ethnic diversity. Poles, Armenians, Ukrainians, Moldovans and Russians have lived here for many years, and Jews make up more than half of the population.

Conservation works lasted for several months and met national and international conservation standards.

“On such historic buildings, standard consolidation work is not allowed; intervention must be minimal. This is why we use special diamond drilling in a certain humidity, as it is very important that these walls are strengthened,” explained Iurii Kriklivets, deputy director of the company that carried out the conservation works.

The local authorities plan to attract tourists to Rașcov.

“Tourism will help us develop the local infrastructure, which is very important. We hope small hotels or guesthouses will open, and this will encourage young people to stay in the village,” said Oleg Bersadschii, mayor of Rașcov.

The Rașcov synagogue and church are among ten cultural and historical sites on both banks of the Nistru River selected for restoration and preservation under the cultural heritage component of the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme. The programme promotes confidence building between the inhabitants of both banks of the Nistru river by involving them in joint development projects.

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Press release