Republican Botanical Garden (Tiraspol)

The Republican Botanical Garden is a botanical garden and arboretum in Tiraspol, at 50 Mira Street, on the left bank of the Dniester in Transnistria. Locals usually just call it the dendropark. It is both a research institution and a place for walks and rest: some 1,500 species and varieties of plants from around the world grow on about 20.5 hectares.

History

The garden dates back to 1959 and celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 2019. From the start it grew as a research base where staff collect, preserve and propagate plants, including rare and endangered species. Today it is a state institution combining science with education, and it is open to visitors.

What to see

The heart of the garden is the arboretum, with trees and shrubs of many kinds, among them species listed in the Red Book. Cedars, spruces, cypresses, bamboo, climbing plants, spiraea, hibiscus and sakura all grow here, so a walk along the alleys feels like crossing several climate zones.

The rose garden is a particular pride, with more than 200 varieties of roses; a collection of miniature roses was added recently.

The garden changes a lot with the seasons. In early spring the first flowers appear: snowdrops, crocuses and colchicums. Sakura blossoms in spring and the roses in summer. In autumn, when most plants have finished flowering, you can still catch crape myrtle, catalpa and late roses in bloom.

Guided educational tours of the collections are available. Sales of seedlings and young plants are regularly held in the garden and at its entrance, so people come not only for a walk but also to buy plants for their own gardens.

Getting there

The botanical garden is at 50 Mira Street, Tiraspol. From the city centre it can be reached by city public transport or by taxi; an online map is the easiest way to plan the route to Mira Street.

Good to know

Opening hours and ticket prices change with the season, so check them on the garden's website or by phone before you go, and book a tour in advance. The most beautiful time to visit is spring, when the first flowers and sakura bloom, and early summer, when the rose garden opens up. It makes a pleasant walk on a weekday or a weekend alike.