--- title: "Frenchman saw Moldova on the map and set off on a journey" url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/84486/frenchman-saw-moldova-on-the-map-and-set-off-on-a-journey published: 2026-09-06T06:10:00Z language: en author: "Marina Negară" section: "Social" source: radiomoldova.md --- # Frenchman saw Moldova on the map and set off on a journey > He set off from France and arrived in Chișinău after a journey of almost two weeks, made entirely by train. Corentin Vignal is passionate about travel and chose the Republic of Moldova for a project dedicated to sustainable tourism. He set out to discover the country in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Once here, he was surprised by the authenticity, diversity, and traditions he discovered in the Republic of Moldova. [Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/yPlj7GXasGo) He set off from France and arrived in Chișinău after a journey of almost two weeks, made entirely by train. Corentin Vignal is passionate about travel and chose the Republic of Moldova for a project dedicated to sustainable tourism. He set out to discover the country in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Once here, he was surprised by the authenticity, diversity, and traditions he discovered in the Republic of Moldova. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/12b732be-4b8b-48a0-b6e5-9164abae411e.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/c63cebf0-5e1c-44bf-ab1a-4d30cb259754.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* *„-Thank you! -You're welcome! -It's delicious”*. This is the fifth time Corentin Vignal has returned to the Republic of Moldova, and one of the places that has impressed him the most remains the Central Market in Chișinău. *„-How much? -Here it is. -Ok. 7 lei.”* *„They are very tasty. The taste is similar to that of grapes from France. However, the particularity is that these are authentic. You can feel the authenticity of the product and the fact that they come directly from the producers”*, says Corentin Vignal. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/82a603d0-9f2c-45dc-8779-40ea1bc6b90d.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/1fd667bf-daed-423c-99f3-84412acc0c11.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* The young man says that it is precisely at the Central Market that he can discover the Republic of Moldova through local products but also through culinary traditions. *„For example, in the Alps, in Briançon, there is such a market. But we don’t have a market like this one, with such diversity and so many different products. Often, in France, markets are more specialized: either you find only traditional food products, or products made by local artisans", the tourist said. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/0280bd5f-e950-402c-a1dd-bb9c09e37125.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* Corentin is a master’s student in tourism management in France and the winner of the NEC Challenge competition, promoting responsible tourism. He received a €1,000 prize and created a low-carbon itinerary, traveling exclusively by train. He set off from Marseille on August 19 for Chișinău, with stops in several countries, such as Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Romania. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/007eeeb6-62bb-493b-938d-2ddcad9bae0d.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* *„At one point, I opened Google Maps and saw Moldova. Then I told myself, "Look, it seems like an interesting country”. I started looking for what I could visit and set off without knowing that I would end up liking this country so much", says Corentin. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/14986f86-52e9-4823-9a53-8c750bd6797d.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/df131c76-17eb-4515-a8d5-c1a9a2a51dc7.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* The young man says that he was impressed by Chișinău, especially by the combination of elements from the Soviet past and modern ones. *The monasteries and churches. For example, the „Nativity of the Lord” Cathedral, Curchi Monastery. I really like this monastery. And the monastery at Orheiul Vechi. I like the monasteries but also the spontaneity of the journey. When you travel along the roads of Moldova, you discover places that you may not have initially planned to visit," the French tourist said. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/32e962cf-87eb-4cc0-951f-4f945bfdae68.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/0660a71b-85bb-45ff-8913-1cb9f4c12690.jpg) *Sursa: TRM* Corentin says that he would like to return to the Republic of Moldova to discover other places that he did not manage to visit on this trip, including the Cricova winery and the north of the country. ![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/c277c061-8bf4-40ca-8508-1d16a2195379.jpg) *Sursa: TRM*