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Orheiul Vechi Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 7/21/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Cache has been reinstated - Many thanks to X-JAM !

Perhaps the main tourist attraction in Moldova, this beautiful place, Orheiul Vechi, is a cave monastery carved into a limestone cliff about 60 m above the River Raut. It is a quiet and calm place. It is composed of a cave church, monastic cells, a flight of stairs to the river(nowadays partially ruined) and a newer (1820) tunnel leading to the opposite slope with a steeple built at the entrance

The churches were closed during the communist era but have since been restored. There is an information centre and restaurant on the road near the start of the path up towards the churches.

Approaching the complex on the road from Orhei there is a wonderful view of the complex, so don't forget to stop there. Also look to the other side, where there is a village and a church with green spires.

You can enter the first church when the resident monk is there. Inside after going down the stairs you can see the restored altar. For a view of the valley go on to the outside terrace (no rail so be careful). Look further inside to see the original living quarters of the monks, not for those who are tall though! The low ceiling was deliberate so that the monks bent their heads before God.

Further up the complex is the more traditional church, beautifully restored inside with frescos of the apostles. It is currently used of services for the local community. It is near this church that the cache is hidden.

The cache is a 35mm Film Canister labelled with an Official Geocache sticker.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

170pz nobir tebhaq ( 1z orybj pnccvat fgbarf) haqre n fgbar nf ovt nf n fznyy svfg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)