Chisinau city turns 585 years

Chisinau, 17 July /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s capital, the Chisinau city, marks the 585th anniversary of its first documentary mention today.  

According to the National Calendar, Chisinau was mentioned as rural settlement on 17 July 1436 (Chisinau of Acbas). The second documentary mention, in chronologic order, dates back from 1466, in a property document issued by Stephen the Great, through which he confirmed to his uncle Vlaicu Pârcălab about Cetatea Alba (White Fortress) – precincts of a settlement, with the entire estate and a mill. On 25 April 1576, Chisinau’s estate became property of Dragos, then of Hodor, Cretu and Rosca (1608-1616), Chirita Dumitrachi (1640). It was also the estate of the Holy Friday and Galata monasteries from Iasi (1640-1641), etc.  

During the reign of Ruler Vasile Lupu, the settlement was known as the main economic centre on the new commercial road Suceava-Iasi-Tighina-Cetatea Alba (1650). The settlement was mentioned as small town in the Lapusna region and its residents as townspeople (2 March 1666). In 1677, the Polish Chronicle by Miron Costin describes Chisinau as one of the towns in the Lower Country of Moldova. The chronicler specified that the towns of Lapusna and Chisinau were situated in the Lapusna region.    

The first mention as town dates back from 1677. The settlement is mentioned also by Dimitrie Cantemir in Descriptio Moldaviae (1714-1716). Chisinau was devastated by Turks and Tartars more times. Following the Russian-Turkish war from 1812, when the region between the Prut and Dniester rivers was annexed by the Russian Empire, the centre of the Bessarabia region was established in Chisinau. Gradually, Chisinau extended territorially to the current Stefan cel Mare Boulevard.   

In 1830-1836, the Birth of God Cathedral was erected, with the monumental Belfry nearby and the foundations of a public garden were laid. In 1856, Alexandru Bernardazzi was confirmed principal architect of the city, due to which Chisinau turned into an urban centre of European type. The settlement became centre of the national movement from Bessarabia (1917). The Sfatul Ţării  (Country Council) was set up here, which proclaimed the Union of Bessarabia with Romania on 27 March 1918. The city regained its Romanian look after the Union’s proclamation. More schools, printing houses, libraries, theatres were opened, as well as more enterprises were created.

Also, following 1918, Chisinau became a notable cultural centre.

Placed in the central part of the country, the city is crossed by the Bic river. From the administrative viewpoint, the city is divided into five districts: Botanica, Buiucani, Centru, Ciocana, Rascani; cix town: Codru, Cricova, Durlesti, Sangera, Vadul lui Voda, Vatra and 28 rural settlements. In the times of the Soviet Union, Chisinau’s population grew a lot, especially at the expense of the immigration from Russia and Ukraine.   

On 1 January 2018, Chisinau’s population was over 678,000 residents, along with the suburbs.

Chisinau is connected through railways and roads with all cities, town and district centres and more villages of Moldova, as well as with urban centres from Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia and other states. Following the proclamation of the Independence, the Moldovan capital was the centre of the economic and political life. The districts of Chisinau were renamed and then the names of streets were changed into a more local specific character.   

Chisinau hosts the embassies of more states, representations of international institutions and organizations. Meetings, world scientific conferences, exhibitions and fairs are inaugurated. The local state power body is the city hall of Chisinau (Municipal Council).   

photo: etalontravel.ro