Rașcov Рашково | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Panorama of Rașcov from the Dnester River | |
  Rașcov | |
| Coordinates:47°57′4″N28°50′20″E / 47.95111°N 28.83889°E /47.95111; 28.83889 | |
| Country (de jure) |  Moldova |
| Country (de facto) |  Transnistria[a] |
| Elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Population (2004) | 2,003 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Rașcov (Moldovan Cyrillic:Рашков; alternative namesRâșcov,Rașcu;Ukrainian:Рашків,romanized: Rashkiv;Russian:Рашково,romanized: Rashkovo;Polish:Raszków) is one of the oldest communes ofTransnistria. It is located in the northern part, betweenRîbnița andCamenca. It is composed of two villages, Iantarnoe (Янтарне, Янтарное) and Rașcov.[1]
Rașcov village was founded in 1402 as a trading post on theDniester river. Some maintain that the name derives from theRomanian term forLactarius deliciosus, a species of mushroom-forming fungus. However, there are anumber of settlements acrossPoland and Ukraine with the same name, casting doubt on this claim.Rashkov (Bulgarian:Рашков) is also aBulgarian malesurname.
One of the oldest villages of Transnistria, it is known for having been home in the past to a significantPolish population. From the 15th century, all of northern Transnistria was part of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania,[2][3][4][5][6] and later to theKingdom of Poland in thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1793) which encouraged the migration ofpeasants into the territory from neighboring populated areas (from north and from west).
During theMiddle Ages, the village hosted one of seven major fairs for theDniester-Southern Bug area (the others beingMohuliv,Dubăsari,Yampil, Silibria, Yaruga, andVasilcău). Before becoming part of theRussian Empire in 1793 during thesecond partition of Poland, the largest groups living between the Dniester and the Bug rivers wereMoldavian,Ruthenian (Ukrainian) andTatar peasants.[7]
Raşcov was the home of RabbiJacob Joseph of Polonne, a leading Jewish Hasidictzaddik and one of the first disciples of the founder ofHasidic Judaism, theBaal Shem Tov. His book,Toldos Yaacov Yosef, (published on 1780), was the first hasidic work ever published. His work is one of the foremost sources for saying of the Baal Shem Tov and members of his court, and Jacob Joseph quotes things he himself heard the Baal Shem Tov say in a section entitled "Words I Heard from My Master."[8]
Rașcov and the surrounding area is home to numerous historic monuments and architecture, among them thePolishRoman CatholicSaint Cajetan Church, considered a historical heritage.[9] It has recently undergone extensive renovation.The church was built when this part of Transnistria was a part of theCrown of the Polish Kingdom, with generous contributions by theMoldavian princePetru Rareş.
Outside Rașcov is located the Rascov National Park, an extensive natural landscape preserve,and an ecologically protected area.[10][11][12]
More recently, the Transnistrian separatist authorities have edited anAtlas of Transnistria, which refers to the area around Rașcov as the "Transnistrian Alps":Time, wind, and water have eroded the abrupt slopes near the village of Rașcov, having formed the limestone outliers, towering above the slopes.[13]
