A stone landmark in northern Moldova is getting a second life, and it is the kind of work that puts masonry preservation skills front and center.
The 17th-century bell tower in Vadul-Rașcov, in the Șoldănești District, has been restored and will be inaugurated at the end of this week. The restoration cost more than 140,000 euros, funded by the European Union through the “Confidence-Building Measures” program implemented by UNDP Moldova.
Built from local limestone and dating back about 400 years, the tower is a surviving piece of medieval Moldovan architecture. Project leaders described it as more than an old structure, calling it a living trace of a village that once sat at the crossroads of historic trade routes along the Nistru River. A market operated there, serving as a transit point for merchants, diplomats, and caravans moving goods between Podolia and Moldova.
The restoration scope centered on the building fabric and long-term protection. Work included preserving the historic masonry, installing a protective structure, and rebuilding the roof with traditional wooden shingles. The tower also marked the entrance to the old cemetery and reflects the coexistence of different religious communities in the area.
For mason contractors and restoration crews, this project is a reminder that heritage work is real construction work, with real consequences. Preserving existing stone masonry takes planning, and protection details matter because keeping water off historic walls supports the entire system.
The bell tower is one of four cultural heritage preservation projects supported through the same EU program. The package also includes restoration of the Țâpova Cave Monastery, the Great Synagogue in Rașcov on the left bank of the Nistru, and the facade of the former Savings Bank and Treasury building in Tighina (Bender).
Read the full, original article from Radio Moldova here.