Parcul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt

What you see

The park is a rectangle of shady avenues on Bulevardul Ștefan cel Mare, diagonally opposite the cathedral. At the entrance stands the bronze statue of Ștefan cel Mare by the sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală, the city's best-known monument and a favourite meeting point.

Running through the park is the Aleea Clasicilor, the Alley of Classics, laid out in 1958: bronze busts on red granite plinths, guarded by marble lions, of writers such as Mihai Eminescu, Ion Creangă and Vasile Alecsandri. There is also the Pushkin monument by Alexander Opekushin from 1885, the second Pushkin monument in any city after Moscow. Four fountains, the largest at the crossing of the paths, and plenty of benches make it a much-loved spot; locals also call it the lovers' park.

History

Russian military engineers laid out the park in 1818, shortly after Bessarabia was added to the Russian Empire. According to Visit Chișinău, the statue of Ștefan cel Mare was unveiled on 29 April 1928, the tenth anniversary of the union of Bessarabia with Romania. The statue travelled with history: in June 1940 it was taken to Romania, in 1942 it came back, in 1944 it was removed once more, and in 1945 it returned to Chișinău for good.

The Pushkin monument originally stood elsewhere in the park and was moved to the Alley of Classics after the Second World War. Pushkin lived in exile in Chișinău from 1820 to 1823, which explains his place among the Moldovan writers.

Tips for your visit

The park is always open and ideal for a break between the sights of the centre. Combine it with the cathedral and the Triumphal Arch across the boulevard, and with the Pushkin House Museum, which is within walking distance. On summer evenings it is busy with people out for a stroll, and the many benches also make it a good place to rest for a while.