Dendrarium Park in Chișinău is a verdant botanical park and arboretum known as the city’s “green pearl.” Founded in 1973 on the site of an old botanical garden, the park spans roughly 83 hectares in the northwestern part of Moldova’s capital. It was designed as a scientific dendrological garden – essentially a living collection of trees and shrubs – and over the decades it has also become a cherished public park for recreation and nature appreciation.

The landscape of Dendrarium Park is gently rolling, with winding footpaths leading visitors through expanses of lawn and wooded groves. More than 1,000 species of plants from around the world thrive here. Majestic oaks, maples, and chestnuts line the main avenues, while exotic specimens like gingko, magnolia, and sequoia are dotted throughout, each labeled for botanic interest. In spring, the park’s cherry blossoms, forsythias, and lilacs burst into color, and in autumn the collection of maples and birches provide a beautiful display of foliage.

A highlight of the park is its central ornamental lake, formed by a small stream and encircled by weeping willows and aquatic plants. A picturesque white footbridge arches over one end of the water, and swans and ducks often glide on the surface. Nearby, a quaint gazebo and a few classical-style benches create a scenic resting spot overlooking the lake. There are also several smaller ponds and a wetland area that supports lilies and reeds, attracting frogs and dragonflies – these habitats emphasize the park’s ecological role as an “oxygen reservoir” and natural filter for the city.

Intermixed with the botanical areas are curated gardens: a Rose Garden blooms with multiple rose varieties, a Japanese corner features stone lanterns and koi in a tiny pond, and seasonal flowerbeds brighten the park’s entrance. The Dendrarium is also structured for leisure, with open meadows where people picnic or play, a children’s playground, and scattered sculptures and art installations (like abstract wooden carvings reflecting Moldova’s folk motifs).

A network of paved and unpaved paths makes the Dendrarium ideal for walking or jogging. It’s especially popular for weekend outings, photography, and even outdoor weddings due to its beautifully maintained scenery. The park charges a modest entry fee and maintains a calm, secure environment (park rangers are often present). Dendrarium Park is open year-round, with its beauty changing each season – from lush greenery and floral displays in summer to serene snow-covered landscapes in winter – solidifying its status as one of Chișinău’s most treasured “hidden” parks and a living museum of plant diversity.