Monument to A.S. Pushkin

The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin visited Bendery on two occasions — in 1821 and again in 1824 — during the years of his southern exile from the Russian Empire. During these visits, Pushkin found himself particularly captivated by the historical connection between Bendery and Swedish King Charles XII, who had once stayed in the city, as well as by the reputed burial site of Hetman Mazepa, allegedly laid to rest somewhere in the city’s vicinity. These historical layers clearly fired the poet’s romantic imagination and left a lasting impression.

Pushkin’s connection to Bendery has woven itself permanently into the city’s identity: the main city park and the People’s Lecture Hall once bore his name, while today one of Bendery’s most central streets carries the poet’s name, along the length of which his monument stands. Gymnasium No. 2 nearby and the city’s central library also honor Pushkin through their naming, creating a notable cluster of cultural institutions connected to his memory in this part of the city.

The monument itself was inaugurated on June 5, 1980, deliberately timed to mark the 160th anniversary of the poet’s first visit to Bendery — a fitting tribute to the connection between one of Russia’s greatest literary figures and this ancient city on the Dniester.

Location: Pushkina Str., Bendery