" HIDDEN PATHS OF NATURE:
A WALK THROUGH THE GREEN AREAS OF IASI"

  • COPOU HILL
    This City park is located at Bdul Carol I of Copou Hill from which it takes its name. The history of the park isvery ancient and dates back to the second half of the XVIIth century when Copou Hill was one of the preferred places for walks and relaxation.
    In the XVIIIth century, the Phanariot sovereign Matei Ghica decided to enrich it with monuments such as a red watch tower overlooking the city . At that time there was no public garden in Iasi. The decision to build one was taken by Prince Mihail Sturdza in 1834. The garden was enlarged in 1849 and 1852 and in 1860 street lamps were installed here for the first time.
    In the middle of Copou Park you can admire an ancient lime-tree that has become a symbol of Iasi . In 1943, after a storm that almost brought it down, the tree was held together with metal bands. Ten years later its hollow centre was filled in with cement. In 1991 the bands were cut off and the heavy filling removed. It was then that people noticed that the tree had some live roots growing down inside the hollow from a height of 3 m.
    In front of the tree there is a bronze bust of Mihai Eminescu by I. Mateescu, brother of the poet George Toparceanu.
    The modern Mihai Eminescu Museum stands nearby. In the north-western part of the town you will find the 80-hectare Gr?din? Botanic? (Botanical Garden), which is the largest of its kind in Romania.
  • THE " ANASTASIE FATU" BOTANICAL GARDEN

    The Botanical Garden occupies a long and partially steep slope. It consists of an inner part and an outer part . In a town where the green areas tend to become more and more scarce, the Garden is an oasis of quietness, relaxation and an interesting place to explore.
    HOW TO GET THERE:. The busy train station is only around 700 metres away from the main square in the west. A smaller bus terminal and a large tram stop are conveniently located in front of the train station. From Pia?a Unirii, Ia?i's most elegant street called Blvd. ?tefan cel Mare ?i Sfânt (St Stephen the Great blvd) runs eastwards. Several modern shops and restaurants as well as some churches line up along this road. At the end of the boulevard stands the giant Palace of Culture.
    When you walk from Pia?a Unirii to the north-west, pass Pia?a Eminescu and walk straight ahead along Blvd. Copou, you will soon pass some university buildings. From there, it's only a short walk to the large Botanical Garden of Ia?i. Tram No 1 direction Kopou takes you from the centre to the Botanical Garden. Get out as soon as you've seen the stadium on your left.
    HISTORY
    These are the first Botanical gardens to be opened in Romania. They were founded in1856 by doctor and scientist Anastasie Fatu, who decided to set it in his own property at Rapa Galbena in the centre of the town.It soon became a place of culture and scientific studies in the field of botanic and it grew in importance more and more as the collection was enriched with new plants and medicinal herbsIn 1873 when the space became too small, the plants were moved to the garden of what is now the Natural Science Museum whose first director was Dr. Dimitrie Brandza.
    The present botanical garden, on a slope of Coupou Hill, was laid out in 1963 by the University of Iasi .
    Since 2000 The Botanical garden has been a member of the Association" Gradinilor Botanice Romania", whose president is dr. ph Mititiuc, present director of the Institute
    It covers 100 ha and is the largest in the country. Standing in the grounds is Vasile Lupu's church of the Living from 1638. There are also some natural springs which were piped to Saint Spiridon's Church in the 18th century.

    MAP OF THE PARK (photo gallery)

    The Botanical Garden ,one of the oldest in the country ,is a great garden structured on 12 units.

    Unit 1: Sistematic
    Unit 2:Flora and plants from Romania
    Unit 3: The ornamental unit
    Unit 4: The kingdom of plants ( morphology)
    Unit 5: World flora.
    Unit 6: Biology section
    Unit 7: Herbarium
    Unit 8:The Greenhouse complex (Hot houses )
    Unit 9: The Rosarium
    Unit 10: The Goddess plants
    Unit 11: The Rest and recreation unit
    Unit 12: Didactic section
  • CIRIC PARK

    The Ciric Park is a heaven of lawns, trees, flowers and lakes located in the north-eastern part of Iasi.
    The Ciric Park is a complex which consists into the park and four lakes, being one of the most attractive tourist objectives.
    The lakes are home to numerous attractions, including a launch for sailing boats and fishing which is a very popular sport here .The biggest lake can be explored by rowing boat too. This is the place were most of Iasi citizens spend their weekends and relaxing time. The area includes restaurants, terraces, a spots zone and a children playground.
  • EXHIBITION PARK

    The Exhibition Park , founded in the same period as Coupou Park, is located in Al. Gr. Ghica Voda , in the neighbourhood of the Botanical Garden.
    It is the smallest of Iasi City parks, covering a surface of 5.4 ha full with gardens and chestnut trees that are set alongside the several alleys where you can walk and enjoy nature.
    Bird watching is also popular and squirrels can be seen on the ancient trees of the park.
    The park offers services such as two restaurants, and a large playground where children can play amid nature, expecially at weekends. Near the centre of the park we can find a beautiful fountain and a summerhouse.