Valea Morilor Park: Chișinău's Green Escape

Valea Morilor Park, located in the Buiucani sector of Chișinău, is a sprawling oasis of nature and recreation. Established in 1950 at the initiative of Leonid Brezhnev, it was initially named the "Central Park of Culture and Rest of the Leninist Komsomol". The park's current name, meaning "Valley of the Mills," comes from the artificial lake at its heart, a nod to the watermills that once dotted the area.Designed by architect Robert Kurz, the park covers 114 hectares, with Valea Morilor Lake spanning 34 hectares. A 2.5-kilometer ring road encircles the lake, offering scenic paths for strolling and cycling. The park is home to diverse tree species, including Canadian poplar, wild chestnut, acacia, and maple. The lake is populated with carp, crucian carp, and ducks.Valea Morilor Park offers a variety of attractions and activities. The "Summer Theater" (Green Theatre), built in 1957, is the largest open-air theater in Europe, with a seating capacity of 6,700. Other attractions include a daytime cinema, a children's town called "Andrieș," a sandy beach, and a boat station. Visitors can enjoy water activities like rowing and paddle boating. In winter, the lake sometimes transforms into an ice rink.Noteworthy features include the Cascades Staircase, consisting of 218 steps, longer than the Potemkin Staircase in Odessa. The staircase and rotunda were recently restored. In 2009, mammoth skeleton fragments were discovered at the bottom of the lake, a significant find for Moldova.While offering a tranquil escape, Valea Morilor Park also has convenient access to public transportation. Buses and trolleybuses provide easy connections to various parts of Chișinău.