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{{Short description|Historical and architectural monument of national importance in Moldova}}
{{infobox military structure
| name = Soroca Fort
| native_name = Cetatea Soroca
| partof =
| location = [[Soroca]]
| image = Сорокская крепость Cetatea Soroca Soroca Fortress (42928890910).jpg
|image = [[File:Soroca fortress front.jpg|300px]]
| caption = The fort in 2018
| map_type =
|latitude map_size =
|longitude map_alt =
|map_size map_caption =
|map_alt type =
| coordinates = {{Coord|48|9|40.38|N|28|18|19.72|E|display=inline, title}}
|map_caption =
|type code =
| built = {{Start date|1499}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|48|9|40.38|N|28|18|19.72|E|display=inline, title}}
| builder = [[Stephen III of Moldova| = [[Stephen the Great]], [[Petru Rareş]]
|code =
| materials =
|built = {{Start date|1499}}
| height =
|builder = [[Stephen III of Moldova|Stephen the Great]], [[Petru Rareş]]
|materials used =
|height demolished =
| condition = Renovation completed
|used =
|demolished ownership =
|condition open_to_public =
|ownership controlledby =
| garrison = From 200 to 250 men
|open_to_public =
| current_commander =
|controlledby =
|garrison commanders =
| occupants =
|current_commander =
|commanders battles =
|occupants events =
|battles image2 =
|events caption2 =
}}
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}
 
The '''Soroca FortressFort''' ({{lang-ro|Cetatea Soroca}}) is a historic [[fort]] in the [[Republic of Moldova]], in the modern-day city of [[Soroca]].
 
The city has its origin in the medieval [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] trade post of Olchionia, or Alchona.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} It is known for its well-preserved stronghold, established by the [[Principality of Moldavia|Moldavian]]n [[Rulers of Moldavia|Prince]] [[Stephen III of Moldova|Stephen the Great]] ({{lang-ro|Ştefan cel Mare}}) in 1499.
== History ==
 
The original wooden fort, which defended a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] over the [[Dniester]] (Moldovan/Romanian: ''Nistru''), was an important link in the chain of fortifications which comprised four forts (e.g. [[Akkerman]] and [[Khotin]]) on the Dniester, two forts on the Danube and three forts on the north border of medieval Moldova. Between 1543 and 1546 under the rule of [[Petru Rareş]], the fortress was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five bastions situated at equal distances.
The city has its origin in the medieval [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] trade post of Olchionia, or Alchona.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} It is known for its well-preserved stronghold, established by the [[Moldavia]]n [[Rulers of Moldavia|Prince]] [[Stephen III of Moldova|Stephen the Great]] ({{lang-ro|Ştefan cel Mare}}) in 1499.
 
During the [[Great Turkish War]], [[John Sobieski]]'s forces successfully defended the fortress against the Ottomans. It was of vital military importance during the [[Pruth Campaign]] of [[Peter the Great]] in 1711. The stronghold was sacked by the Russians in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)]]. The Soroca fortress is an important atractionattraction in [[Soroca]], having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca in the present day.
The original wooden fort, which defended a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] over the [[Dniester]] (Moldovan/Romanian: ''Nistru''), was an important link in the chain of fortifications which comprised four forts (e.g. [[Akkerman]] and [[Khotin]]) on the Dniester, two forts on the Danube and three forts on the north border of medieval Moldova. Between 1543 and 1546 under the rule of [[Petru Rareş]], the fortress was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five bastions situated at equal distances.
 
==Architecture==
During the [[Great Turkish War]], [[John Sobieski]]'s forces successfully defended the fortress against the Ottomans. It was of vital military importance during the [[Pruth Campaign]] of [[Peter the Great]] in 1711. The stronghold was sacked by the Russians in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)]]. The Soroca fortress is an important atraction in [[Soroca]], having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca in the present day.
 
The current building displays elaborate characteristics of late [[Medieval stronghold|medieval fortifications]]. This observation conveys the idea that the fort was perhaps built by experts from [[Western Europe]] or [[Transylvania|Transylvanian]] people who traveled in Western Europe and brought architectural ideas back to [[Moldova]] :
*The walls are not built straight but in a curved shape to better resist projectiles, as are the four outer towers.
*One can also notice round towers which allowed the defenders to shoot from better angles and thus protect the base of the walls.
The entire building has a diameter of 30 meters, and 4 meters for each tower. Each tower has 4 levels, of which the first two lower ones were used for artillery. The walls are 3 meters thick and we can find signs of a previous ditch. The main entrance tower had 3 doors, amongst them a portcullis which was closed during battles. The space saved at the upper level allowed the garrison to pray in a small chapel.<ref>{{cite book|language= ro|last= BULAT|first= Nicolae |title= Județa Soroca, file de istorie|location= Chisinau|publisher= Editura ARC|year= 2000|isbn = 9975-61-139-7|pages= 22–23}}</ref>
 
Despite all these features the fort was obsolete after the end of the 14th century because of the more widespread use of [[gunpowder]].<ref>{{cite book|language= ro|last= BULAT|first= Nicolae |title= Județa Soroca, file de istorie|location= Chisinau|publisher= Editura ARC|year= 2000|isbn = 9975-61-139-7|pages= 20–21}}</ref>
 
==See also==
{{portal|Moldova}}
* [[Nicolae Bulat]]
 
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010105208/http://www.molddata.md/Cultura/cetat/ctsoroca.html Molddata.md: Cetatea Soroca] {{roin iconlang|ro}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070809015843/http://soroca-fortress.nflame.net/_ro/index.htm Cetatea Soroca] {{roin iconlang|ro}}
* [http://www.infohub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129 SOROCA FORTRESS] {{ro icon}}
* [http://tur.md/rus/topheritage/40/ Сорокская крепость] {{ru icon}}
* [http://soroca-fortress.nflame.net/_ro/index.htm Cetatea Soroca] {{ro icon}}
* [http://www.molddata.md/Cultura/cetat/ctsoroca.html Molddata.md: Cetatea Soroca] {{ro icon}}
 
==Gallery==
{{Commons category|Soroca Fort}}
<gallery>
File:Soroca Fort, Eastern Walls, from the outside..JPG
File:Soroca Fort, Main Tower & Entrance, from the outside.jpg
File:Soroca Fort, Inside in Renovation, The Court (n°2).JPG
File:Soroca Fort, Main Tower, from the inside (n°2).JPG
File:Soroca 1.50.JPG|1941 stamp
File:The Soroca fortress.jpg
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[[Category:Castles in Moldavia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1499]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Moldova]]
[[Category:History museums in Moldova]]
[[Category:MuseumsTourist attractions in Moldova]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Moldova]]
[[Category:Soroca]]
[[Category:History of Soroca]]