Monumentul Deportaților (Monument to the Deportees)

What you'll see

It is a sculptural monument, raised in memory of those deported from Bessarabia during the years of Soviet rule. The visit takes a few minutes, but it matters for what it represents: the deportations of 1941 and 1949 were among the events that marked society east of the Prut most deeply, and the places that commemorate them publicly are few.

It is worth the stop especially if you have already visited the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei and have the documentary context. Without it, the monument remains a sculpture; with it, it becomes the point where a section of an exhibition takes physical form in the city. The historical background is set out in the history section.

Getting there

The monument stands in a public space in Chișinău, in the south-eastern part of the centre. It is not on the usual visitor route, so the simplest approach is to check the exact position on the map before setting off. It is a few minutes from the centre by car or public transport, while walking from Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard takes about twenty minutes.

When to go

Access is free and permanent, around the clock, with no hours or ticket. The visit is naturally made during the day. On the dates commemorating the deportations, the site becomes the setting for public ceremonies, and it then carries a wholly different meaning than on an ordinary day. Announcements of this kind are published in the local press.

What to combine it with

The most coherent route is thematic: the Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei for context, then the Monumentul Deportaților, then the Eternitate Memorial Complex and, if you still have time, the Memorial to the Victims of Fascism in the north of the city. It is a dense half-day that explains the 20th century in Bessarabia better than any printed guide.

For anyone who wants these points linked and explained by someone who knows the context, the options are in the tours and excursions section. The rest of the capital's sights can be found in the Chișinău guide.