Katherine's Guesthouse

Ivancha is a big village located in Orhei district 45 km north of Chisinau / Kishinev, 15 km east-south of Orhei town and on the way to wel known tourist destination Orheiul Vechi in Trebujeni / Butuceni villages.

Ivancha is a big village located in Orhei district 45 km north of Chisinau / Kishinev, 15 km east-south of Orhei town and on the way to well known tourist destination Orheiul Vechi in Trebujeni / Butuceni villages.

The name of Ivancha has a Slavic origin and was given to the village by Ukrainian Cossacks who founded this settlement at the beginning of the 19th century in Besarabia, the new gubernia of Russia. The legend says that the first settler was coming from the eastern steps of "Zaporojie" and seeing a very nice area surrounded by many lakes and forest has stopped his coachman Ivan and the horses by saying "Ivan - Cha" (which means Ivan stop the horses) to settle here. The place was just perfect for it being in the heart of Codry forest reservation, surrounded by plenty of lakes, many springs with drinking water and rich black soil fields.

Nowadays the village is inhabited in majority by Ukrainians, speaking a Ukrainian dialect that was very much influenced by Russian and Moldovan languages.

Katherine or Katya, how we call her, is a nice Ukrainian woman in her 50s who was born and live in Ivancha. She has a big cozy house in the old part of the village that is always opened for friends and guests. Katya, doesn't speak English, but her daughter or granddaughter that is visiting her very often could assist and translate.

There is a big house, a summer kitchen, a finish sauna, a car garage and a big wine cellar in the yard of the household. House has 2 double rooms and one 3 bed dorm. There is also an old Ukrainian stove in the anteroom that used as a big bed in the past and can sleep freely 3-4 people.

Katya and her husband Boris are retired and have a small piece of land where they grow crops, fruits and vegetable for themselves and their kids, who live in Chisinau town.