Manuc Bey Castle

Name: Manuc Bey Castle
Address: Complexul Manuc Bey, str. Mitropolit Varlaam 51, MD-3400, Hînceşti, Moldova, Hîncești, MD
Telephone: +373 608 77 522
Price range: budget
Rating: 4.6

Manuc Bey Castle in Hîncești — 19th-century French-style architectural complex with underground wine tunnels, 2259 reviews.

4.6 · 2259 reviews· Hîncești

Budget< 300 leiCasualBoth

What makes it worth it

Manuc Palace tour + history museum + wine tunnels with 3-4 wine tasting.

The story

Manuc Bey Castle in Hîncești (~35km from Chișinău) is a 19th-century historic architectural complex, founded by Manuc Bey, a Moldovan-Armenian-Ottoman merchant and diplomat, who also founded Hîncești Winery in the 1800s. After his death in 1817, the family modernized the wine operation included on the property. The French-style castle (designed by Alexandru Bernardazzi in the second half of the 19th century) belonged for decades to the Mirzoyan family, descendants of Manuc Bey. Alexander Pushkin reportedly visited here in 1823 during his exile. Today: the restored complex includes Manuc Palace, Steward House, Hunting Castle, Watchtower, history and ethnography museum and underground wine tunnels — tourist favourite for the architecture + wine tasting combo.

What to expect

Best at

MorningAfternoon

Duration2-4 h

Ideal group1-30 people

LanguagesRO · RU · EN

SeasonApr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct

Good for

Cultural discoveryTourist weekendFirst-time visitorAs a coupleSmall groupWith familyWeekend chill

Gallery

What people love

19th-century castle (Bernardazzi)
underground wine tunnels
history & ethnography museum
Manuc Bey founder story
Pushkin visit 1823
natural combo with Mileștii Mici

Photo moments

French-style castle façade
watchtower at sunset
underground tunnel with barrels
history museum with old objects

Ambiance

Family-friendlyParking

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What visitors wrote

“Interesting little place in Hîncești, 45 minutes from Chișinău. Good little museum next to the "palace" that is a bold reinterpretation of the original mansion. It lacks some curating, but has great potential.”
— Ivar Herlev Sørensen 3
“Building is ok. Furniture is new and has no connection with epoque. Toilets not working. Outside toilet medieval. No card payment. Only cash. Disappointed.”
— bogdan goean 1
“Definitely worth the drive from Chișinău! We visited the Manuc Bey Mansion as part of a day trip and were surprised by how much there is to see. It’s a beautifully restored 1800s estate with a mix of Armenian, Ottoman, Moldovan, and Romanian influence — you really feel like you’re walking through different layers of history. The main house looks like a French chateau, and a b…”
— Sandeep S 4