Ungheni Museum of History and Ethnography
The first written mention of Ungheni dates back to August 20, 1462, in a document signed by Prince Stephen the Great. For almost six centuries, entire generations have contributed to the development of the community on the banks of the Prut River, preserving its traditions and identity.
The history of Ungheni is the result of the work and dedication of some people who, even if they did not remain in the history books, ensured the continuity and evolution of the locality.
In this context, the museum has an important role: it researches and preserves the community's memory, bringing the past closer to the present and future.
The idea of establishing the museum emerged in the late 1960s, when a group of students began collecting old objects, without having a place to keep them. After several approaches to the authorities, the first museum institution in western Soviet Moldova was opened on June 13, 1967.
At first, the museum operated in the "Alexander Nevschi" church, an architectural monument built at the beginning of the 20th century according to the project of the architect Aleksandr Bernardazzi. In 1988, however, the church was returned to the faithful, and the museum moved to its current space within the Municipal Palace of Culture, managing an area of 500 square meters, of which 400 square meters is exhibition space.
Activity and achievements
During the Soviet years, having a predominant activity of ideologizing the public, after 1990, the museum radically reorganized its activity, carrying out numerous and important archaeological research, historical archival documentation, organizing exhibition activities, symposiums, and actions to promote local and regional historical heritage. The institution constantly organizes exhibitions, participates in national fairs and salons, publishes works dedicated to the history of the city and the Ungheni region. All these activities aim to preserve and capitalize on the heritage of the Middle Prut Valley, especially of the Ungheni municipality.
The museum owns over 10,000 heritage pieces and has the second rank in the hierarchy of museum classification in the Republic of Moldova.
Since 2000, the Ungheni Museum has initiated and actively supported the organization of the Ungheni Sculpture Camp. By 2025, eight editions of it had taken place, and the city was enriched with 90 works of modern sculptural art, rightly earning the reputation of the "City of Sculptures".
The efforts made over time have been publicly recognized. In 2024, the Heritage 21 Foundation awarded him the "National Cultural Heritage Award, 2024 edition", and in 2026, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova awarded him the "2025 Sculpture of the Year Award".
The museum continues its activity with the same mission and commitment: to research, preserve and promote the history and culture of Ungheni, for today's and tomorrow's generations.
Contact
Address: 9 Nicolae Balcescu Street, Ungheni
Telephone: 0236 22764
Email: muzeulungheni@gmail.com
Facebook: Ungheni Museum of History and Ethnography
Ungheni – city of sculptures
Visiting schedule
Monday – Friday: 9.00-17.00
Saturday-Sunday: 10:00–14:00