Kishinev

Kishinev, officially Chișinău in Romanian and Moldovan, is the capital and largest city of Moldova. It is situated in central Moldova along the Bâc River and functions as the country’s political, economic, and cultural hub. The city’s population is around several hundred thousand, with a metropolitan area considerably larger.

Historically, Kishinev emerged as a regional center in the medieval and early modern periods and grew substantially after the Russian Empire annexed Bessarabia in 1812. It served as the administrative capital of the Bessarabia Governorate under Russian rule. In the 20th century, the city changed hands multiple times: it became part of Romania after the 1918 union of Bessarabia with Romania, and in 1940 it was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the capital of the Moldavian SSR. During World War II it endured occupation and war-related damage, and after 1944 it remained under Soviet administration until Moldova's independence in 1991, since which Chișinău has been the capital of the Republic of Moldova.

Kishinev is notable for its historical communities, including a once-significant Jewish population that was the focus of the 1903 Kishinev pogrom, an event that attracted international attention. Today the city is a multilingual and diverse center, with Romanian (Moldovan) as the official language and Russian widely spoken.

Culturally, Chișinău hosts several universities, theatres, and museums, such as Moldova State University, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the National Museum of History of Moldova. Landmarks include Stefan cel Mare Park, Nativity Cathedral, and the central avenues and parks that shape the city’s civic life.