Hiking ecological route “To the age-old oaks”
Leave the modern world behind and step into the timeless tranquility of Pridnestrovie’s ancient forests on the Hiking Ecological Route “To the Age-Old Oaks” — a 10 km walking journey through some of the most precious and rarely visited natural heritage in the republic. With 4 carefully chosen stops and a recommended 3–4 hours to fully absorb the experience, this route is a perfect escape for nature lovers, hikers and anyone who feels the call of ancient trees and undisturbed floodplain woodland.
Along the way, you will encounter preserved fragments of natural oak forests in the Dniester floodplain — ecosystems of extraordinary ecological value that have survived centuries of human activity and continue to shelter a remarkable diversity of plants and wildlife.
To organize a guided excursion with local expert Nikolai Romanovich, contact him directly: 📞 +373 777 52541 | +373 777 53015 | +373 60 24 8387 🌐 Guide profile
The route opens at the Tract “Gradishte” (Kitskany village, Slobodzeya district) — a place of deep natural and historical significance. This ancient tract, whose very name echoes with the memory of old Slavic settlements, marks the beginning of the walk into the Dniester floodplain forest. The transition from open countryside to the dappled shade of the woodland edge is immediate and enveloping — a threshold that feels genuinely magical.
As the path continues, the route arrives at the Centuries-Old Oaks near Kitskany village (Slobodzeya district) — the undisputed heart and highlight of the entire route. These magnificent ancient trees, some of them hundreds of years old, are living monuments to the natural heritage of the Dniester floodplain. Standing beneath their vast canopies, surrounded by the silence of a forest that predates every building and monument encountered on any other route in this series, one feels something that no museum or memorial can quite replicate: a direct, unmediated connection to the deep past of this land.
After a gentle walk of 2.3 km, the Kitskanskaya Forest Cottage (Kitskany village, Slobodzeya district) provides a welcome and atmospheric pause point — a forestry outpost nestled within the woodland that speaks of the ongoing work of conservation and stewardship that keeps these ancient forests alive and protected for future generations.
The route concludes at the Recreation Area on the Territory of the Kitskany Forest Cottage — a peaceful and well-appointed outdoor space where the walk ends as it should: in the shade of the forest, surrounded by the sounds of nature, with the satisfaction of having explored one of Pridnestrovie’s most quietly extraordinary natural treasures.