Moldova

About the flag

Moldova’s flag is identified by the national coat of arms at the center—an eagle holding a cross and a shield featuring the aurochs (wild ox), a historic symbol of Moldavia. That emblem sets it apart from lookalikes: France’s tricolor has no emblem, Croatia’s flag features a red-and-white checkerboard, and Kosovo’s flag shows a map with stars. Fun fact: Moldova’s colors match Romania’s, reflecting shared cultural and linguistic roots. When Moldova adopted its flag in 1990, it added the coat of arms to distinguish it from Romania’s. Memory tip: think “Moldova = Moldavian aurochs,” the animal on the shield, carried by the eagle. Moldova is also famed for its winemaking tradition—one of the world’s largest wine cellars, Mileștii Mici, is located there.