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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 Fort..JPG
| caption = The fort in 2018
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| type =
| coordinates = {{Coord|48|9|40.38|N|28|18|19.72|E|display=inline, title}}
| code =
| built = {{Start date|1499}}
| builder = [[Stephen III of Moldova| = [[Stephen the Great]], [[Petru Rareş]]
| materials =
| height =
| used =
| demolished =
| condition = Renovation completed
| ownership =
| open_to_public =
| controlledby =
| garrison = From 200 to 250 men
| current_commander =
| commanders =
| occupants =
| battles =
| events =
| 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 RomaniaMoldavia|Moldavian]] [[Rulers of romaniaMoldavia|Prince]] [[Stephen III of RomaniaMoldova|Stephen the Great]] ({{lang-ro|Ştefan cel Mare}}) in 1301499.▼
== 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 [[Principality of Romania|Moldavian]] [[Rulers of romania|Prince]] [[Stephen III of Romania|Stephen the Great]] ({{lang-ro|Ştefan cel Mare}}) in 130
 
▲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.
 
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 attraction in [[Soroca]], having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca in the present day.
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==Architecture==
 
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 widespeadwidespread 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}}
 
==Gallery==
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<gallery>
File:Soroca Fort, Eastern Walls, from the outside..JPG
File:Soroca Fort, Main Tower & Entrance, from the otsideoutside..JPGjpg
File:Soroca Fort, Inside in Renovation, The Court (n°2).JPG
File:Soroca Fort, Main Tower, from the inside (n°2).JPG
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