The circular fortress rising above the Dniester is Soroca's defining monument and one of the finest medieval structures in Moldova. Built in its current form in the early 16th century — likely between 1543 and 1546 under Moldavian Prince Petru Rareș — it replaced an earlier earthwork fortification and reflects both Genoese military architecture and the pressing need to resist Ottoman expansion. The plan is a perfect circle: five round towers connected by thick stone curtain walls, with the river providing a natural moat on one side.
The fortress is remarkably well-preserved. The stone is intact, the towers are accessible, and from the battlements you can look across the Dniester directly into Ukraine — a tangible reminder of how borders here have shifted back and forth over centuries. Inside, the small courtyard holds a few interpretive panels. Entry costs a nominal fee.