Crocmaz
Located on the bank of the Dniester river is the “village of brave people”, as the name translates from the Turanian language. The legend of the village says that the Turkish hordes located on the territory of the future village were divided into two: those situated in the western part of the village, near the Yurt creek (yurt – portable living house), and those in the southern part of today’s village, nearby the Curudurea creek. Local people tell of an old fortress in this part of the village. The peasants that came here from different parts of the Bugeac used to live in the valley, further from the Turks, near the Dniester River, and were forced to work to support the Turkish armies. However, the day has come, and the Moldovans could no longer bear the oppression of the Turks and rose to a fierce battle. Great bloodshed happened on that day. Terrified by the bravery and courage of these people, the Turks would run away scared and shout “Corcmaz” which translates as brave locality (“corc” means brave and “maz” – locality). Since then the village bears the name Crocmaz, however, in the past, it was also called Corcmaz.
The famous Turkish traveler Evlia Celebi wrote about the village that it was “a well-equipped riverfront village with a mosque …”. Historical data confirms that this village is older than 1595 (1574-1579, or even 1525), while the scientist Ion Dron argued that “the name of the village is of Turanian origin and comes from the name of a master (possibly of Turkish ethnicity) – the owner of the village after 1538”. Located on the shore of an important aquatic source, the village has been inhabited by various human settlements throughout history. The Roman period, the time of the great migrations, left traces of humans later discovered by archaeologists on this land. About 10 graves and a stone-paved road, to this day, have been preserved in the heart of the village. One will be profoundly impressed by the many places which bear old Tatar names that can be found here – Togai, a tribal name of the “thicket” Tatars; Alcalia, Iurtu – the place where the Tatars had their yurts, etc. In the Lower Dniester valley, the Dniester meanders formed a lot of small, but very picturesque lakes (Balta, Halbagiu, Togai, Nişaliu, etc.), which preserved the rich flora and fauna of the Dniester River. Particularly picturesque is the Lake Poloboc, located on an island between Turunciuc and Dniester.
St Nicholas Church (built in 1992 on the site where in 1794 a church was built of straw and clay, and in 1887-1978 a stone church was erected, which was eventually destroyed during the Soviet period);
Picturesque landscapes: in the Nistru river with riverside lakes, the state-protected natural areas (Togai Marsh and the Hal-bagiu marsh massif), nature monuments (1812 Emperor Forest, Piridirea forest), Et Cetera winery.
RECREATIONAL PLACES at the Dniester and the riverside lakes, in the Regal Forest, Togai), at Suhat, at the Debarcader (bridge until 1952), at the Coada Hotarului, the Flame Fountain, Cişmeaua de Iurt, the springs from the Răxugea valley, the horse farm.
The ethnographic museum (in the school premises) established in 1984 by the Claşevici family, the Green Museum, the Museum of Ecaterina Malcoci.
MIXED NATURAL RESERVATION “TOGAI MARSH”
One of the largest areas of natural marsh in Moldova is located in the northeast of Crocmaz and has an area of 51.2 ha. The area also includes a meander in the Dniester River meadow, with an impressive diversity of over 700 species of aquatic and steppe plants, and also a portion of a meadow forest. Many species of extinct hydrophilic plants, such as wild vines, grow in the wild here. The marsh is predominantly covered with reed, which forms a natural layer of vegetation, resembling a dense forest, as the name “Togai” translates from the Turkish language. The reservation aims to preserve aquatic biodiversity, including the exceptional fauna which consists of over 20 species of mammals, 39 species of birds, 3 rare species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians, numerous pond insects of which 19 species of dragonflies alone. Thus, the natural reservation “Togai Marsh” is considered to be one of the cores of the National Ecological Network of the Republic of Moldova. Indeed, on such a small land, one can find a lot of animals which are included in the Red Book of Moldova, such as the otter, 4 species of bats, the small eagle, 4 species of owls, the black stork, 3 species of reptiles, field frogs, etc. It is recommended to visit the reservation during the spring-autumn period, during the active vegetation phase, except for the nesting period of the birds, when the access of the visitors is prohibited. It can be reached by following the R30, L519 or L530 roads, and the access can be obtained from OS Olanesti without an entrance fee year-round.
POPULAR CRAFTSMEN
- Taranenco Elisei (wood carving, furniture making, metal forging)
- Luchianov Iulia (clay work, beaten glass, painting)
- Pascal Visarion (willow tree branches crafting)
- Ecaterina Burlac (traditional clothes making)
- Maria Lopată (clay work)
