The statue was secretly moved to Romania in 1940 and then to a village in Vaslui county during World War II to avoid destruction.
The bronze for the statue was cast in a workshop in Bucharest, Romania.
It is one of the few monuments in Chișinău that has maintained its original location through various political regime changes.
The monument was officially re-inaugurated on August 31, 1989, coinciding with the adoption of the Latin script in Moldova.
The statue is often the focal point for official state ceremonies and wreaths-laying during national holidays.
The Stephen the Great Monument is a central landmark in Chișinău depicting the 15th-century Moldavian ruler Stefan cel Mare. Cast in bronze, the statue serves as the national symbol of Moldovan independence and identity. It stands at the entrance to the Public Garden of the same name, positioned on a pedestal of red granite. The sculpture was created by sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală and architect Eugen Bernardazzi. Completed in 1927, it survived the Soviet era when it was temporarily removed and relocated. It was restored to its original site in 1989 as a symbolic gesture of national revival during the transition to independence. The monument is situated on the primary arterial road of the city, Stefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard.
From the park entrance looking toward the monument with the Government House visible in the background.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Ștefan cel Mare Central Park.
Visit during the early evening when the surrounding park lighting makes the monument a central gathering point for locals.
Look for the smaller plaques nearby that provide context on the statue's historical journey.
Do not attempt to climb or touch the pedestal, as it is treated with high national reverence.
