Eugen Doga Street, currently the only pedestrian street in the center of Chisinau, was previously named after Alexandru Diordiță from 1997 to 2015. The street stretches for 250 meters between Columna and Constantin Tănase streets.
This historical street, connecting Cathedral Square to Constantin Tănase Street, first appeared on the map of Chisinau in the early 19th century as part of Pavlovskaia Street, linking the Square to Albișoara Street. This layout roughly corresponds to the present-day Eugen Doga and Petru Rareș Streets. After Bessarabia became part of Romania, the street underwent a series of name changes, initially becoming Saints Peter and Paul. Until 1940, it was renamed several times, first as Lascăr Catargiu and later as Petru Rareș.
In the late 1940s, the street became part of Tentralnyi Luci Boulevard (from Russian “Central Ray”), currently divided into Renaissance and Grigore Vieru Boulevards. However, despite being part of the boulevard, traffic was redirected around it to parallel streets, Metropolitan Gavril Banulescu-Bodoni and Aleksandr Pushkin (their current names). After gaining independence, the street became Cosmonautilor Street, now known as Constantin Tanase Street. In 1997, it was renamed in memory of politician Alexandru Diordița, according to Government Decision No. 686 of 13 December 1996. However, in November 2015, the Chisinau Municipal Council decided to rename it in honor of the composer Eugen Doga.
The authorities expressed the intention to convert the street into a pedestrian area in February 2013. Since April 22, 2013, car circulation has been prohibited, except for residents and service vehicles, although this rule was initially violated. In May 2013, a local manufacturer assumed costs for the redevelopment of the street. The improvements included the installation of granite paving, a storm drainage system, new lampposts, and other cosmetic changes. The transformation into a pedestrian street took two years, with multiple delays in the opening.
The inauguration of the pedestrian street finally occurred in 2014, but the press has repeatedly highlighted the poor quality of the granite pavement. In 2023, the central part of the pavement was replaced with giant piano clapboards to enhance convenience for pedestrians.
The "Moldovan carpet" on Grigore Vieru alley was also inaugurated at around the same time in the presence of the mayor Ion Ceban, the inhabitants and guests of the capital. Despite being two different parts, the Moldovan Carpet/Grigore Vieru alley and the Piano/Eugen Doga Street both connect to create a pedestrian zone which is one killometer long.
Now, there is an Adventure Lab and a bonus cache (first bonus cache of Moldova) to convince you to check out this beautiful street. Enjoy!
Final coordinates: N 47° 1.ABC' E 28° 50.DDE'
