The Moldovan capital of Chisinau (formerly Kishinev) stands on the banks of the small River Byk. The city was founded around 1470 and the history and life of Moldova through the centuries is best presented in the History and Regional Lore Museum, a beautiful Turkish-style complex. The Fine Arts Museum houses good examples of Russian, West European and Moldovan paintings, sculpture and applied arts. The Pushkin House is the place where the great Russian poet spent his days in exile between 1820-23. The museum is famous as the place where Pushkin began working on his epic poem Eugene Onegin. There are also two old cemeteries in Chisinau, the Armenian Cemetery and the Jewish Cemetery. The latter is famous as the burial place for the victims of the Chisinau Pogrom in 1903; in the 1960s, the lower part of the cemetery was deliberately razed by the authorities. Owing to massive Jewish emigration from Moldova during the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, the state of the cemetery has significantly deteriorated. The only working synagogue in Chisinau is situated not far from the city center, on Habad-Liubavici str. The former Chisinau Choral Synagogue today houses the Chekhov Drama Theater. The Monument of Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great) is situated at the entrance to the well-tended Pushkin Park. He was Moldova’s Gospodar (ruler) between 1457-1504 during a time of brief independence, thus securing him a special place in Moldova’s history. The monument by the sculptor Plamadeala was unveiled in 1927. In 1990-91, the monument was the focal point of meetings and violent clashes between Moldova’s Nationalists and pro-Soviet supporters. Just outside the park is an impressive building housing the largest cinema, Patria (Fatherland), which was built in 1947 by German POWs.
Picturesque bathing beaches line the manmade Chisinau Lake (formerly Komsomol Lake). Boats can also be hired. There are two parts to the complex: the Exhibition of Achievements and the open-air Green Theater with a seating capacity of 7000.