Parcul Valea Morilor

What you see

The park surrounds the lake of Valea Morilor, the Valley of the Mills, which covers about 34 hectares. A footpath runs round the water and is popular with walkers, joggers and families. From the top of the hill a monumental cascade staircase descends to the lake, with 218 steps, which according to Visit Chișinău is more than the famous Potemkin Stairs in Odesa. The staircase and the rotunda have recently been restored.

The park also has the Teatrul Verde, an open-air theatre with 5,000 seats where concerts are held in summer, a playground, a beach with boat hire, rowing schools, sports pitches and fishing spots. The old parachute jumping tower still stands. On the edge of the park lies Moldexpo, the country's largest exhibition centre.

History

The park was laid out from 1950 onwards, in the years when Leonid Brezhnev was party leader of the Moldavian Soviet Republic, and on his initiative. The design was by the architect Robert Kurz. Like many Soviet parks, it was intended as a central park of culture and recreation, with a lake, monumental stairs and plenty of room for sport. The former Soviet name disappeared after independence; the name Valea Morilor refers to the mills that once stood in this valley.

The park thus reflects two eras: the monumental layout of the 1950s and the everyday city life of today, with cyclists, joggers and families heading for the water on warm days. Look at the stairs and the rotunda and you can still recognise the ambition of post-war town planning.

Tips for your visit

Valea Morilor is about a 20-minute walk from the cathedral, through the streets towards Buiucani. Come on a summer evening if you want to see the city at its most relaxed, or early in the morning for the light on the water. Climb the cascade staircase from the bottom up for the finest view of the lake. The park is free and always open; activities such as boat hire and performances are seasonal.