Village Museum

Name: Village Museum
Address: Strada Aeroportului, Chișinău, Moldova, Chișinău, MD
Price range: budget
Rating: 4.7

1642 wooden church and open-air ethnographic collection near Chișinău airport

4.7 · 1355 reviews· Chișinău

Budget< 300 leiCasualIn ChișinăuBoth

What makes it worth it

1642 wooden church with a hand-carved iconostasis — the only medieval building preserved intact in Moldova

The story

Open-air ethnographic museum centered around a wooden church from 1642 – the oldest surviving medieval structure in Moldova. You'll walk through traditional courtyards featuring restored wells, water wheels, historic bells, and village carts. The church, disassembled and rebuilt here after decades of neglect, remains an active place of worship used for baptisms and weddings; the interior, with its ornately carved wooden iconostasis, can be visited outside service hours. Perfect for a quick cultural stop before or after your flight – just 5 minutes from the airport. Note: this is more of an outdoor heritage park than a traditional museum; only a few buildings are accessible inside, and the church itself is often closed for ceremonies.

What to expect

Best at

MorningAfternoon

Duration1-2 h

Ideal group1-30 people

LanguagesRO · RU · EN

SeasonApr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct

Good for

Cultural discoveryFirst-time visitorWith familyRelaxed eveningAs a coupleSmall groupTourist weekend

Gallery

What people love

1642 wooden church — the oldest medieval structure in the country
Traditional yards with restored water mills and bells
Manicured green park, quiet, ideal for a short walk
Hand-carved wooden iconostasis inside
Very convenient location near the airport — perfect for a short visit

Photo moments

Wooden church with a tall spire and gilded cross against the foliage
Large water mill wheel in the garden with autumn red-gold colors
Interior with carved wooden iconostasis and decorated vaults (when open)

Ambiance

Family-friendlyPet-friendlyGroup-friendlyInstagrammableWalk-ins OKParking

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What visitors wrote

“Wonderful and important cultural museum very near Chisnau airport. Easy to get to onbthe bus (if only they had luggage storage). I just brought my bags along. Or get a taxi. Peaceful encapsulation of what life was like before the Soviets came. Well preserved wooden medeival tower church, meticulously maintained gardens.”
— Jon Gudorf 5
“Very nice historical place....But it's NOT a MUSEUM. They baptise kids there and also do weddings that's why you can't go inside and have a look. People don't understand that it's a historical place. Not just a church. It's better to put the fee at the entrance and stop doing other business to keep the historical value.”
— Oxie Geo 2
“Beautiful, but not a museum, not many houses. The church is actively used.”
— Stefan Christmann 2