German settlements of Pridnestrovie

Embark on a fascinating historical journey through the German settlements of Pridnestrovie — a 28 km route with 3 remarkable stops that can be comfortably explored in 1.5 to 2.5 hours, including time to appreciate each location fully.

This route traces a remarkable chapter in the history of Transnistria, rooted in the reign of Catherine II — the German-born Russian Empress who transformed the empire and invited German colonists to settle these fertile southern lands. The first settlements, poetically named Glückstal (Valley of Happiness) and Bergdorf (Mountain Village), were established by these pioneering families who brought their culture, faith and architecture with them. Though Soviet times erased their original names, the villages of Glinoe and Kolosovo still carry the quiet legacy of their founders in every street and stone.

The route begins at the Building of the Lutheran Church in Glinoe village (53 Gagarin Str., Grigoriopol district) — a striking architectural remnant of the German colonial era. Once a place of worship for the settlers of Glückstal, this building stands as a powerful symbol of the community that shaped this land generations ago.

After a scenic 10 km drive, the route continues to the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Karmanovo village (65 Oktyabrskaya Str., Grigoriopol district) — a beautiful Orthodox church that reflects the gradual cultural and spiritual interweaving of German settlers with the broader Orthodox tradition of the region.

The final stop, just 11 km further, brings you to the Building of the Lutheran Church in Kolosovo village (71 Lenin Str.) — once the spiritual heart of the Bergdorf settlement. Standing here, it is easy to imagine the lives of the colonists who built their Valley of Happiness from the ground up, far from their homeland yet deeply rooted in this land.