The village of “hobbits” in Moldova: traditional houses that fascinate tourists from all over the world
The village of Rogojeni, located about two hours from Chisinau, attracts more and more visitors thanks to its unusual dwellings, similar to the hobbit houses from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The town relies on this rare architectural heritage to stop demographic decline and revitalize itself through tourism.
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Traditional houses called locally “basca” PHOTO: Facebook/ Discover Rogojeni
Rogojeni is one of the last villages in the Republic of Moldova where there are still traditional houses called locally “basca”. These low dwellings, built of stone and earth, are set on grassy hills, partially below ground level, and have small doors, forcing visitors to stoop to enter. According to Logos Press, brothels are valued for their natural efficiency: cool in summer and warm in winter.
Their picturesque appearance is reminiscent of “the photos from the Lord of the Rings movie”.
The village is facing depopulation
The local population has declined dramatically in recent decades. “We fear that the village may disappear altogether, given that there are so few people left“, says the mayor Ruslan Groza. The town once had about 200 inhabitants, and today only about 30 people still live here. Many buildings, including the old school and the church, are abandoned.
“When I got married here, there were many people, there were children, the village was beautiful. Now there is no one left. Just us, a group of old women”Maria Ardeleanu, an 80-year-old local woman, tells AFP.
Tourism brings hope
However, the interest of tourists in the traditional “Basque” houses brought hope to the community. In 2020, the first such home was renovated especially for visitors and turned into a small museum. Tourists can see a room with an arched entrance, blue walls decorated with traditional handmade carpets and taste local dishes such as pork stew, polenta with sheep cheese, pickles and red wine. Outside, villagers put on shows and sell handmade souvenirs.
The mayor's wife, Mariana Groza, a 45-year-old literature and French language teacher, is optimistic about the village's future. She established an embroidery workshop and made traditional costumes, which she also promotes on TikTok. “I have loved this craft since childhood. Not a day goes by that I don't embroider a cross stitch or crochet something. If I don't, the day is wasted for me“, she confesses.
The village's social media promotion and international media interest are already starting to pay off. A group of AFP journalists recently visited Rogojeni to spread the word “the hobbit huts” all around the world. “The number of people interested in visiting the village has increased. They are interested not only in the Basque houses, but also in the landscape, the houses, the fences and the old roads“, said the mayor Ruslan Groza, quoted by Le Figaro.
The local authorities hope that cultural and rural tourism will help save this almost forgotten community, turning Rogojeni into an attraction for Tolkien fans and lovers of authentic and unusual places.
