Naslavcea lies in the far north of Moldova, close to the Ukrainian border, where the Dniester curves and bends between wooded hills and steep slopes.
It is a small village, far from the busy streets of Chișinău and the places most visitors know.
The road takes you through a journaey in a different part of Moldova and the villages become smaller, houses stand further apart, and the countryside begins to take over.
When you arrive to Naslavcea, there is no great entrance or citygate, with busy tourist centre waiting for you.
There are houses, gardens, village roads and people doing their usual ordinary lives.
Beyond them, the landscape, the hills rises above Dniester, with forests and open slopes following the bends and turns of the river.
From a higher ground, you can look across the water towards Ukraine and see how the river has shaped the land on both sides.
It is one of those places where the view makes you stop for a moment and enjoy the beautiful view and find yourself loosing track of the time.
People live here, work here and have their own daily routines.
For a visitor, that is part of discovering the place and you are not walking through an attraction, but are visiting a small corner of Moldova where everyday life
continues, whether anyone comes to see it or not.
Naslavcea has something that no other village in Moldova can claim.
It is situated near the northernmost part of the country, where Moldova meets Ukraine and it may not sound like a great attraction, but there is something very special about standing in a place so far from the capital, knowing that you have reached the northern edge of Moldova.
You might be surprised how different this part of the country feels from the Moldova you have seen elsewhere and Naslavcea is not a place with hotels, restaurants and tourist shops waiting for visitors.
It is a village where people have their homes, gardens and work, and where tourism is not a part of everyone's daily life.
If you come here for a day, bring something to eat and drink, especially if you plan to spend time outside the village.
Comfortable shoes are also a good idea, as not every road or path are covering in asphalt.
You may also discover that travelling to Naslavcea is an experience in itself and on the way the way, you pass through towns and villages that rarely appear in travel-
guides, and you get to see a very different side of Moldova.
There is no need to make a long programme for your visit.
You can explore the area, stop somewhere for a picnic or simply spend some time in the village and remember, this is someone's home, not an open-air museum.
A friendly greeting, a little respect for people's privacy and curiosity about the place will take you much longer than any tourist guide.
Naslavcea may be a small dot on the map of Moldova, but it is also a place where you can experience a part of the country that many visitors never reach.
Naslavcea este cel mai nordic sat din Moldova, cu aproximativ 400 de locuitori.
Grădinile, câmpurile și animalele fac încă parte din viața de zi cu zi.
Un sat moldovenesc obișnuit, aflat într-un loc neobișnuit.
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Naslavcea is the northernmost village in Moldova, with around 400 inhabitants.
Gardens, fields and animals are still part of everyday life.An ordinary Moldovan
village in a rather unusual location.
