This museum is situated in the center of Chisinau, making it the sole institution of its kind in the Republic [..]
National Art Museum of Moldova
This museum is situated in the center of Chisinau, making it the sole institution of its kind in the Republic of Moldova. Established in 1939 by the sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală and Auguste Baillayre, a French painter and professor at the “School of Fine Arts” in Chisinau, who also served as the inaugural director of the National Art Museum of Moldova.
The museum’s collection encompasses over 39,000 works, providing a comprehensive overview of the development of fine arts from the XV-XXI centuries. It consistently features exhibitions showcasing European, Russian, and Oriental art. Presently, the museum is housed in the former girls’ gymnasium building, originally founded by Princess Natalia Dadiani in the early 20th century.
Formed on December 21, 1983, the institution underwent several name changes before adopting its current designation. Presently, the National Museum [..]
The National Museum of History of Moldova
Formed on December 21, 1983, the institution underwent several name changes before adopting its current designation. Presently, the National Museum of the History of Moldova operates under the authority of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, with its scientific activities overseen by the Academy of Sciences. The museum is situated in the former boys’ gymnasium building in Chisinau.
The museum’s heritage, initially comprised of the collections from the Military Glory Museum and the historical artifacts from the State Museum of History and Study of the Natal Country, has progressively expanded over the years. Through research, donations, and acquisitions, the institution has acquired pieces of significant scientific value.
Between 1989-1995 and 2006-2007, the museum’s patrimony experienced growth and diversification through substantial transfers of heritage from several dismantled museums. These included the Republican Museum of Friendship of Peoples, the Museum of History of the CPM, the Republican Museum of the History of Comsomol, the Republican Museum “G. I. Kotovski and S. Gh. Lazo,” the Republican Museum of the History of Religion, the Memorial Museum of Bulgarian Volunteers, and the Museum of Archaeology of the ASM.
In 1991, the museum unveiled its first permanent history exhibition, “Pages of Multi-Millennial History,” which covers the historical period from ancient times to 1940. Additionally, in August 1990, the diorama of the Iasi-Chisinau operation was inaugurated on the ground floor, followed by the opening of the “Treasure” exhibition in the basement in 1994, showcasing noble metals.
As of now, the National Museum of the History of Moldova safeguards 348,619 pieces of the country’s cultural heritage.
The museum is situated within the house where the renowned Soviet architect Alexei Shchusev (1873-1949) was born and lived for [..]
Alexei Shchusev House-Museum
The museum is situated within the house where the renowned Soviet architect Alexei Shchusev (1873-1949) was born and lived for 24 years. Erected in 1851-1853, this building is now recognized as a monument of national architectural and historical significance, duly recorded in the Register of Monuments of History and Culture of the municipality of Chisinau.
The museum’s origin dates back to 1947 when Alexei Shchusev himself organized the Museum of Soviet Architecture. It was initially curated with drawings, models, documents, and letters from the architect’s personal archive. However, the museum did not withstand the test of time and was dismantled in the early 1950s.
In 1973, on the occasion of the great architect’s 100th anniversary, the museum was rejuvenated. A permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Alexei Shchusev was inaugurated, and it continues to operate to this day.
Additionally, the museum hosts a mini-exhibition paying homage to another notable personality—Alexandro Bernardazzi, the first official architect of Chisinau (1831-1907).
Widely known as the Water Tower, it was reopened in the autumn of 2011, after a break of almost 10 [..]
Museum of the City of Chisinau (Water Tower)
Widely known as the Water Tower, it was reopened in the autumn of 2011, after a break of almost 10 years… Although it has been partially damaged over the years, the building was rebuilt according to the images dated in the 1980-1983 years period, except for the fire-pit at the top, originally built of wood, later re-shaped from stone.
The construction of the Tower began in 1860, and was finished only after 28 years – in 1888 (its doors being opened even later – in 1892), when Carol Schmidt became mayor of Chisinau. He, together with architect Alexander Bernardazzi, built two water towers, only one of which has survived to the present day.
The Water Tower can boast about being one year younger than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Its height is 27m.
The tower has 4 permanent exhibition halls. The oldest exhibit is a clay vessel from the 4th century AD.
Natural History Museum of Moldova State University
Established in 1952 through the efforts of students and faculty at the biology faculty, this museum boasts a collection exclusively [..]
Natural History Museum of Moldova State University
Established in 1952 through the efforts of students and faculty at the biology faculty, this museum boasts a collection exclusively gathered from expeditions organized by the faculty. Graduates of the program, who later gained recognition as biologists, contributed significantly to the exhibits.
Specialists in the field brought and meticulously prepared animals, fish, and birds from various corners of the world for the museum. The collection also features an impressive array of reptiles, birds, and mammals indigenous to the Republic of Moldova.
A truly exceptional specimen in the collection, unparalleled worldwide, is a 2-day-old baby sperm whale. Additionally, the museum showcases the skeletal vertebrae of a 28-meter-long blue whale and the jawbone of an adult sperm whale.
Presently, the museum’s collection comprises over 10,000 exhibits, many of which are unique and found in only one specimen globally. Over the course of more than 40 years, the museum has been under the dedicated leadership of an outstanding specialist, guide, and director – Mr. Poznakomkin Stanislav.
National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
Its history begins in 1889, when the Zemstva of Bessarabia organized the first Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition, which was also [..]
National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
Its history begins in 1889, when the Zemstva of Bessarabia organized the first Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition, which was also the basis for the foundation of the museum institution. Being the oldest museum in the Republic of Moldova, its name has often been changed over the years. Today it holds an enormous heritage of about 135 thousand exhibits.
The permanent exhibition operates under the title “Nature. Human. Culture” with an area of over 2000 m2.
The museum also has a Temporary Exhibition Hall, in which numerous seminars, master classes and exhibitions take place, both from its own heritage and from the heritage of other local museums and from abroad. The exhibitions of handicrafts have become traditional and are organized every year.
Its history began in 1889 when the Zemstva of Bessarabia organized the first Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition, laying the foundation for the establishment of the museum institution. As the oldest museum in the Republic of Moldova, its name underwent several changes over the years. Today, it houses an extensive heritage of about 135 thousand exhibits.
The permanent exhibition, titled “Nature. Human. Culture,” occupies an area of over 2000 m2.
The museum also features a Temporary Exhibition Hall, hosting numerous seminars, master classes, and exhibitions, showcasing both its own heritage and that of other local museums and international collections. Handicraft exhibitions have become traditional and are organized annually.
Folklore events, national and international competitions, and festivals regularly take place in the museum, highlighting folk creations from across the country.
Within the museum’s premises, there is a Botanical Garden with a Vivarium, gathering the most prevalent species of plants, trees, and shrubs from the Republic of Moldova, along with exotic birds, reptiles, and fish.
The Museum building, designed by architect V.N. Țiganco, was completed in 1905, and the inauguration took place in June 1906.
Located at the entrance of Chisinau, near the City Gates, the Village Museum can be considered an oasis of revelation [..]
The Village Museum
Located at the entrance of Chisinau, near the City Gates, the Village Museum can be considered an oasis of revelation and tranquility. It is the perfect place for meditation, where visitors are enchanted by the enchanting landscape that exudes a fairy-tale atmosphere.
Established in 1991 as a branch of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, the Village Museum was officially inaugurated as such in May 1995, showcasing the ambiance of a Basarabian village from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum is home to a collection of folk architecture monuments.
The inaugural addition to the museum in 1995 was the windmill from the village of Opaci, in the Causeni district. Unfortunately, this windmill was destroyed in a fire in 2001 and has yet to be restored. Currently, the museum complex is home to the oldest ecclesiastical monument in the Republic of Moldova – a wooden church brought from the village of Hirișeni for restoration and preservation. Erected in 1642, this church stands as one of the tallest wooden churches in the country, reaching a height of 27 meters.
It is the newest museum in Chisinau, inaugurated in 2018 within the National Library. The museum’s collection is primarily sourced [..]
The Museum of Books
It is the newest museum in Chisinau, inaugurated in 2018 within the National Library. The museum’s collection is primarily sourced from the library’s “Old and Rare Books” section, which currently houses over 30 thousand documents.
The museum showcases various intriguing forms of books that have existed throughout history. The compact hall is filled with information, exhibits, and curiosities, offering insights into book binding, the evolution of writing systems, the earliest manuscripts, the history of printing, and the pioneers of printing art, including the fascinating world of “tiny books.”
Among the notable items at the Museum of Books are a fragment of The Quran, a medallion book measuring 11-15 mm, a souvenir edition of the Two Penny Bag measuring 60×40 mm, and many others. The oldest exhibit on display is the manuscript “Ostrog’s Gospel,” dating back to 1056, while the oldest printed book in the collection dates to 1551, featuring a commentary on “Aristotle’s Categories.”
This museum is also an important national monument, listed in the Register of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Chisinau. The [..]
The Chisinau „Aleksandr Pushkin” House-Museum
This museum is also an important national monument, listed in the Register of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Chisinau.
The building is historically significant because it was the residence of the young Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin, who, at the age of 21, lived here for several months after being exiled by the Russian Tsarist government to the capital of Bessarabia. Pushkin arrived in Chisinau in September 1820.
Originally owned by General Inzov, the house became an official museum on February 10, 1948. The museum’s exhibits include materials related to Pushkin’s time in Chisinau, such as paintings, prints, decorative art objects from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, sculptures, and editions of his works written during his time in Bessarabia.
It is worth mentioning that only two houses where Pushkin lived are believed to have been preserved worldwide, and one of them is located in Chisinau.
National Museum of Romanian Literature “Mihail Kogălniceanu”
The National Museum of Literature “Mihail Kogălniceanu” was established in the autumn of 1965 under the auspices of the Writers’ [..]
National Museum of Romanian Literature “Mihail Kogălniceanu”
The National Museum of Literature “Mihail Kogălniceanu” was established in the autumn of 1965 under the auspices of the Writers’ Union of Moldova. The museum’s collection comprises over 100 thousand exhibits, including books, art objects, and documents.
Originally named the Republican Museum of Literature of the MSSR, it received several exhibition rooms, a basement for storing collections, staff offices, and a library after the opening of the present House of Writers in Chisinau. At that time, the museum employed 35 people, including researchers in three scientific sections.
In 1983, it was named after Dimitrie Cantemir. In 1990, it was disbanded as a museum and became the “Mihail Kogălniceanu” National Centre for Literary Studies and Museography. In 1997, it was renamed the Museum of Romanian Literature “Mihail Kogălniceanu.” By government decision, it was transformed into a national museum as of January 1, 2013, transferring from the Writers’ Union to the Ministry of Culture and gaining the right to manage its branches. In 2015, the Grigore Vieru House-Museum was inaugurated in the village of Pererîta, and in 2019, the Alexandru Donici House-Museum in the village of Donici was also transferred to the museum.
The museum did not originate from existing collections or funds. Most pieces in the collection were amassed between 1965 and 1991 through the research and collection efforts of the institution’s museographers. In 2019, the museum counted 147,386 items, including books, manuscripts, a rich fine art collection, photographs, audio cassettes, video recordings, etc. The manuscript collection is the largest, with 28,000 items, followed by the book collection with about 22,000 volumes from the 16th to the 21st century. The oldest book is an edition of “Beati Dionysii Areopagitae martyris inglyti” by St. Dionysius the Areopagite (1572). Based on the museum’s exhibits, house-museums for “Alexander Donich,” “Constantine Stamati,” and “Alexei Mateevich” have been established. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the museum’s collections was destroyed, including part of the patrimony gathered under the founding director Gheorghe Cincilei, due to disapproval from communist authorities.
The Museum of Human Anatomy at “Nicolae Testemitanu” University is far more than a simple exhibit; it is a unique [..]
Human Anatomy Museum
The Museum of Human Anatomy at “Nicolae Testemitanu” University is far more than a simple exhibit; it is a unique collection renowned at the international level for the quantity and quality of the specimens it houses.
Presently, the Anatomy Department’s museum boasts one of the most valuable and impressive collections of unique anatomical pieces, ranking among the few of its kind in Europe. It has garnered high esteem from international experts. The museum is widely popular, playing a vital role in disseminating knowledge about the human body, morphological and functional peculiarities at different stages of pre- and postnatal ontogenesis, the impact of various harmful factors, and the influence of lifestyle on the activity of organs and organ systems. It is a frequent destination for pupils and teachers from towns and villages across our country, as well as for students from local colleges and universities, and numerous foreign delegations.
The collection of the Museum of Human Anatomy comprises approximately 2000 items of significant scientific and didactic value. It includes bones, skeletons, wet preparations (joints, muscles, internal organs, and organ systems), embryos in various stages of development, plastinated anatomical sections, malformations, monstrosities, etc. These specimens are preserved in a formalin solution, and they also encompass pieces obtained through corrosion and mummification, as well as anatomical dummies. Together, they constitute a valuable treasure at our Alma Mater.
The museum’s collection comprises over 20,000 items, including photographs, documents, and military artifacts. These exhibits were gathered by the museum’s [..]
Military History Museum
The museum’s collection comprises over 20,000 items, including photographs, documents, and military artifacts. These exhibits were gathered by the museum’s staff from the residents of Chisinau, with some originating from the National Army.
Beyond the hall dedicated to the armed conflict in Transnistria, the museum boasts additional permanent exhibition spaces covering a broad historical spectrum. The exhibits span from the ancient period and Daco-Roman wars to the medieval and modern eras. Visitors can explore displays on Russo-Turkish wars, the First and Second World Wars, and the intervening period.
At the entrance to the Military Museum, visitors can access valuable information about the establishment of the “Sfatul Ţării” (The County Council). In 2015, the museum inaugurated a new section that delves into the events spanning from June 28, 1940, to March 5, 1953, focusing on the three waves of mass deportations.
The history of urban environmental transport in Chisinau traces back to 1888 when the City Duma, under the leadership of [..]
Museum of Electric Transport Chisinau
The history of urban environmental transport in Chisinau traces back to 1888 when the City Duma, under the leadership of the mayor Carl Schmidt, entered into an agreement with a Belgian company to establish a new transportation network—the “horse streetcar” or horse-drawn streetcar. This significant transport revolution unfolded in 1889 when Bessarabia received its first two streetcars. The initial line opened on Aleksandrovskaya Street (now Stefan Velikogo Boulevard), covering a total length of 6400 m, or 6 miles. While wealthier citizens still favored carriages and phaetons, the “horse carriage” provided a more affordable and comfortable option for students and individuals with modest incomes. The first seven open cars were acquired in Warsaw, and seven closed ones in Odessa.
In 1896, an “Anonymous Kishinev Society” was established in Brussels, purchasing the streetcar fleet and becoming its monopoly owner. Subsequently, the Duma initiated the construction of a new line connecting the train station to the city center. By 1910, the total length of the routes had expanded to almost 13 km due to the gradual shift from horse carriages to more economical electric traction. The comfort of cars also improved over time. By 1939, the Kishinev streetcar fleet boasted 50 cars, carrying 175,000 passengers that year.
Following World War II, the fate of the Chisinau tramway underwent significant changes. Over 60% of the cars were severely damaged or captured by the retreating German army. Post-war, the state took over the city streetcar service, but due to the unavailability of the narrow gauge 1,000-millimeter track used in Kishinev, repairs were slow. Only 17 cars were restored by 1952. In 1956, the streetcar fleet received additional cars from Germany. Despite these efforts, the narrow gauge railway was never replaced with the broad gauge one.
In 1949, the first trolleybus MTB started operating in Chisinau. Initially, both streetcars and trolleybuses coexisted until 1959 when the streetcars were entirely replaced by 50 trolleybuses. The trolleybuses served various routes in the city.
The first museum dedicated to electric transport in Chisinau was established in 1974 inside a retired trolleybus. This unique museum operated for a decade before its exhibits were moved to the building of the former Belgian Trolleybus Company from the early 19th century in 1984. Today, the museum is open to visitors, and admission is free.
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