# Comrat

Situated in the central part of the Budzhak steppe on the Yalpug river, Comrat is the capital and the largest city of the autonomous area of Gagauzia. There are many wineries around the city.

## Understand

In 2014, Comrat's population was 20,000, of which the vast majority were Gagauz.
Food production is very developed in the city. Comrat is a home for food processing factories, alcohol production, and an oil processing plant (the first and only one in Moldova). There is also a ferro-concrete factory, furniture productions, wood processing, production of plastic windows and doors, cattle butcheries, and transport companies.
Comrat is found in the southern wine zone of Moldova. It is known for production of red wine and muscat. In Comrat and its suburbs there are about 10 wineries.

### History

Settlement of Comrat began in 1789, and it received town privileges in 1957. During the time when the town was part of Moldavian SSR, Comrat's industry was geared toward the production of butter, wine, and rugs, the latter adorned with Moldavian motifs. The Comrat State University was established in 2002.

## Get in
### By train

Comrat has a train station, though it's in the village of Bugeac about 7 km to the north.

### By car

Car can also be an alternative for getting in; Comrat is 92 km from Chișinău, 230 km from Odesa and 500 km from Bucharest.

### By bus

There are direct buses to Comrat from at least Chișinău, Bălţi, Bendery, Odesa and Moscow. As the transit hub for Gagauzia, there are bus connections to and from everywhere else in the region.

## See

* 46.2998328.657171 Cathedral of Saint John Baptist. An attractive yellow and gold cathedral built in 1820. Free entry. (updated Sep 2019)
* 46.3021928.656092 Museum of Local History (Muzeul Regional de Istorie şi Studiere), Strada Lenin 162. 10:00-17:00. Two floors of artefacts from the region, quite interesting Entry 10 lei, use of camera additional 15 lei. (updated Sep 2019)
* Museum of Gagauz Culture (located in the suburb of Beşalma). (updated Jun 2019)
* Gagauzian Art Gallery. (updated Jun 2019)
* Turkish library by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. (updated Jun 2019)
* 46.3000928.653683 Alley of Gagauzian Glory. (updated Jun 2019)
* Memorial dedicated to defenders of Comrat. Sculptor: Dubinovskiy (updated Jun 2019)
* 46.3024328.656324 Monument dedicated to troops suffered in Afghanistan. Sculptor: Afanasiy Dmitrievich Karacoban (updated Jun 2019)
* Monument of Vladimir Lenin. (updated Jun 2019)
* Monument of military tank. (updated Jun 2019)
* 46.3021128.656335 Monument to victims of Stalinist repressions. (updated Jun 2019)

## Buy

In Comrat there are the supermarkets "Fourchette" and "Linella" as well as the "Comrat City" mall. You can also buy daily goods at the central market square and the market square in Bugeac. There's a new shopping mall under construction next to the central square.

## Eat

* 46.296928.656161 Vodolei, Strada Lenin 276a. (updated Jun 2019)
* 46.3016928.656312 Andy's Pizza, Strada Lenin 172a. Pizza restaurant of a national chain also serving other foods and drinks. (updated Jun 2019)

## Drink

* 46.3022928.673751 Vinuri de Comrat, Strada Vinzavodscaia 1. Winery with tasting and shop. (updated Jun 2019)
* Aur-Vin. — is a Moldovan wine producer that is part of the Moldovan wine producer Dionis Club.

## Sleep

* 46.296428.65461 Altin Palace, Strada Vladimir Lenin 204E, ☏ +373 298 27 700. Ask a room in the new block, which are eclectically varied (updated Sep 2019)
* 46.3005428.652932 Hotel Astoria, Alexander Pushkin St 34a, ☏ +373 298 26 238. (updated Jun 2019)
* 46.296928.658063 Hotel Medelean, Strada Victoriei 127a, ☏ +373 298 22 841. (updated Jun 2019)

## Go next

* Cahul
* Chișinău
* Izmail
* Odesa