Tighina Fortress
Description
Tighina Fortress (later called Bender) is a 15th-century fortress on the Dniester River in Moldova, originally built from earth and wood under Stephen the Great.
It was captured in 1538 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who rebuilt it in stone and expanded it into a major Ottoman stronghold. Despite several attacks by Moldavian rulers, it remained under Ottoman control for centuries, later passing to the Russian Empire.
After losing military importance in the 19th century, it was restored between 2008 and 2012 and is now under the control of Transnistria.