General:


Near the oldest Nistru gorge, in the third century B.C., there was a human settlement in Tighina. Later there appeared the first palisade and earthwork fortifications. The first documentary mention of “Tighina Fortress” was in 1408. In the reign of Petru Rares the fortress was rebuilt in stone. Its walls have survived to the present and offer an example of classic Moldavian defensive construction. In 1538 Tighina was conquered by the Turkish Empire and re-named Bender. The Russians conquered it in 1812. Today the fortress serves as a base for the 14^th Russian Army. In Bender's historical centre two old churches from the XIXth century can be visited. You can also find the History Museum here. In Varnita, a Bender suburb, the Carol XIIth Museum is worth visiting (Carol XII is the Swedish King, who took refuge here after losing the Battle of Poltava to the Russians). Varnita is also well known for its mineral water spring, which has remarkable curative properties, appreciated at home and abroad.

The other sights worth seeing are: the Harbovet Wooden Bridge, Noul Neamt Convent, the Turkish Garden in Talmaz, and the wall frescos in Causeni Church.


Transportation:


Chisinau–Bender – public transport every 30 minutes from Central Bus Station, Chisinau.


! Currently, the flow of foreign tourists to the Transdnistrian region is considerably limited due to the ongoing disputes between the self-declared authorities of this region and the legal authorities of Chisinau. It is recommended that any tours made to Tiraspol and Tighina should be co-ordinated by a Travel Agency.