One of the most famous sights of Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, is the "Arcul de Triumf" (Triumphal Arch). It is located at the southwestern end of the Parcul Catedralei (Cathedral Park) along the Piața Marii Adunǎri Naționale (Great National Assembly Square). In the inner part of the triumphal arch there is a commemorative plaque in Romanian language (in Cyrillic script) and in Russian language:
Architectural Monument
Triumphal Arch
1846
Architect I. Zaushkevich
protected by the state
Monumet restored
in 1973
It's interesting that the plaque says, that the building is from 1846 (just
like the
Russian Wikipedia), while the
English Wikipedia says 1840, the
Romanian Wikipedia 1840-1841, the
French Wikipedia 1841 etc.
"History
The Triumphal Arch was built in 1840 by the architect I. Zauschevic and
thanks to the governor's of Bessarabia initiative to commemorate the victory
of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War
(1828–29). From its construction to 2011 the monument sheltered at its
second level a huge bell of nearly 6.400 kg (400 Puduri). The building is
square in plan and has two levels. The height of the monument is 13 m. The
capitals of the four pillars of the building were carved in Corinthian
style. The upper level is decorated in a classical style. A mechanical clock
is mounted on the front, illuminated at night, but does not sound to
announce the exact time. The ornaments and capitals are executed in ceramic.
The first clocks on the arcade appeared in 1842. They were brought from
Odesa, and seven years later, a strong wind tore off the dial, and the
mechanism worked until 1881 and had to be replaced. The new mechanism was
purchased in Austria. The real clock worked without repair until the
beginning of the war, when it was hit by the bombings in 1941.
In 1945,
plaques were installed on the walls of the Arch with the names of the
fighters of the Soviet army and the citizens of Moldova, who fought on the
territory of Bessarabia in the Second World War and received the distinction
of 'Hero of the Soviet Union'. The plaques were removed in 1991 after
independence.
The triumphal arch in Chișinău is located on the axis of
symmetry of the architectural ensemble that also includes the Nativity
Cathedral, its bell tower, the Great National Assembly Square and the
Government House in Chișinău. It was smelted with the copper of the cannons
captured by the Russian forces from the Ottoman Empire. The bell
'clopote–velican' was initially made for the cathedral's belfry but happened
to be too big for it. Finally it was installed in this arch, which was
designed in purpose.
The monument and the mechanism of its clock were fully
restored in 1973."
Source and further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_Arch,_Chișinău