The city park of Stephen the Great is the favourite place of rest, walks, rendezvous of Kishinev inhabitants of all the ages. This is the green massive in the centre of our capital, that is fairly been proud of by the city dwellers. This park has been existing in Kishinev more than a century and a half. Like a man, a park has its own destiny, its biography, marked with plenty of events. During last century, dozens of versions of this park appearance were published. Its creation was ascribed to Governor-general Bakhmetev (more exactly, to his wife - a big garden-lover), and to Emperor Alexander I, and Vice-governor Vigel, and many others high-ranking men. But all the versions turn out to be baseless if we consult the memoirs of A.S. Pushkin contemporaries. All of them reported that the disgraced poet liked this garden (in other words, it existed during Pushkin's living in Kishinev 1821-1823), that he used to meet his friends here and liked admiring festivals in the park.

Then who is the initiator of our marvelous park laying out? Apparently, its first project was created by unknown Russian military engineers, who laid the basis of the modern planning of the upper part of old Kishinev as long ago as in the XIX century. However, specialists' participation was necessary to plan and improve the spot, grow the ornamental plants. The name of the enthusiast, who influenced the park improvement immensely, was Bogdan Eitner. Under his direction and with his participation, the present alleys were made, hundreds of acacias, limes, platans, the first flower beds were laid out. Exactly at that time, in 1818 for "preventing cows, goats and other local dwellers' animals from coming into the city park" the park was paled. We could hardly imagine how the park was looking in those times, enclosed with the wicker fence. But exactly this fence was erected around the park and the territory of the local eparchy. Many woes of the park were connected with the unreliable fence and it was settled to enclose the park with the continuous stone wall, but A. Bernardazzi suggested founding a cast-iron fence, that would only be a little bit more expensive, but serve longer and look more graceful. This suggestion was approved. The fence, manufactured in the mechanical plant in Odessa, consisted of 460 chains and weighed 5 400 kilograms. It was delivered to Kishinev in 1863, but the work on the fence mounting was being conducted till the late 60s. After hurricanes of 1865 and 1885 some its chains were substituted, but, generally, the fence has preserved well and is the firm and beautiful park frame. Further, merry-go-rounds and swings were constructed in the park, different stalls and pavilions for selling kvass, wine, fruit and sweets appeared. Here also was alloted a place for producing cool Seltzer water. The wooden tower of the first photo atelier was erected in the park on the small hill.   The first theatre was built in the place of the present cinema "Patria". Archives keep the names of many gardeners to have been contributed their mite to the park decoration. The most important role apparently pertained to the well-known local florist - Kun. In 1885, for the money, gathered by the Kishinev inhabitants on subscription (1 000 golden roubles) the monument to A.S. Pushkin (sculptor A. Opekushin) was mounted. Kishinev became the second city in the Russian Empire after Moscow to place the monument to the great poet.   In 1928 the monument of Stephen the Great on the project of sculptor A. Plamadeala was erected near the main entrance of the park. In the years of World War II, the communal grave to the Soviet soldiers appeared in the park. After the war, in the place of the monument to A.S. Pushkin   (it had been standing on one of the side alleys) appeared the wooden two-hall   "Rodina" cinema. In different parts of the park were a gymnasium and hothouses. In March 1958 the Alley of Classics of Moldovan literature was opened in the park. In late decades of the Soviet power, the Alley of Friendship was laid in the park, where the prominent guests of Kishinev planted trees; among were them Yury Gagarin, the first cosmonaut of the planet, M. Gorbachev, the president of the USSR and M. Kontaria, who raised a standard of Victory over Reichstag in 1945. Four fountains adorn the park. The main one is located in the centre - all the alleys and paths come together to it, and in burning summer dayshundreds of its streams splash mist spray, sating air with moisture. The fountain under the old trees, realized as a shell and decorated with schools of fish, flying over water, is full of artistic expressiveness. The water from the fountain, forethought in the form of the mountain with an eagle, sitting on its top is streaming quietly and proudly. The fourth fountain was built on 165 anniversary of the park, it looks like a flower, came out in the shadow of the powerful trees. One of the park sights is the dormant marble lions, guarding the entrance to the Alley of classics. We do not know how they appeared here, who is the author of these sculptures. This is one of the undiscovered mysteries of the park, but every dweller of Kishinev knows them. The main entrance to the park is beautiful: the present-day small architectural forms harmonize with century-old trees and flower compositions. Several very old trees remained in the park up to this day. They are mulberries and acacias that are about 130-160 years. They attract the special attention of the visitors and are protected by the state. For the time being, the dendrology assortment of the park includes 50 kinds and 6 forms of trees, bushes and lianas. Cedar, bushes of wistaria and Virginian juniper are very rare sorts in Moldova that can be met in the park. A long time ago, the ancient park stepped over its initial confines, and merged into the city landscape. The old park is constantly renewed, it is conducted the laborious creative work on the improvement and enrichment of it. The city park of Stephen the Great is the result of work of many generations of enthusiasts.The park also looks beautiful in wintertime.