Circul de Stat din Chișinău

What you see

From the outside, the circus is one of the most outspoken Soviet buildings in the city: a massive round dome of reinforced concrete, clad in marble and granite, on a rise above the boulevard. On the façade two clown acrobats greet visitors, a relief by the sculptor Valeriu Rotari, who died before he could finish this last work. The semicircular foyer around the auditorium has wall paintings in encaustic technique by P. Obuh, and summer terraces look out over the city.

The auditorium had 1,900 seats in an amphitheatre around a classic ring 13 metres across. The building had its own practice ring, quarters for animals and a vet; in 1982 a veterinary clinic opened behind the circus, which later became popular with local residents as well.

History

The circus was completed in 1981 to a design by a team including the architect Semion Șoihet. In its best years it gave 30 to 60 performances a month. After independence and the economic crisis it went downhill: in 2004 the building closed for repairs and then stood empty for a long time. In 2014 a smaller hall with some 300 seats came into use.

In May 2022 the circus was added to the State Register of protected monuments. With more than 2.2 million euros from the European Union, through a UNDP programme, the dome was completely reclad, the flat roof and drainage were renewed and the glass façade was replaced. That first phase was completed in May 2024; the Moldovan authorities are still looking for funding for the next phases.

Tips for your visit

• The building is primarily one to look at from the outside. The best distance for a photo of the dome is from the other side of the boulevard.
• Whether there are performances varies; check local announcements beforehand.
• Morning light falls most beautifully on the concrete façade.
• Combine the circus with the Pushkin House and the banks of the Bîc, a short distance away.