Discover Ștefănești – Culture, Nature and Holiday Apartments

Culture and History

Ștefănești brings together a museum, a church and an archaeological site with distinct historical connections. The city is home to the only museum in Romania dedicated to the painter Ștefan Luchian. The Ștefan Luchian Museum displays cultural artefacts from the painter’s family collection. They form the exhibition space “Camera – atelier a lui Ștefan Luchian”, whose name preserves the character of a personal studio presentation.

Ștefănești is also home to the Cuv. Parascheva Church. It is considered the oldest religious monument in Moldavia adapted for defensive purposes. The sacred building complements the painting collection and archaeological evidence with a structure bearing both religious and defensive characteristics.

Archaeology

Outside the built-up area, on the southeastern edge of the city, lies the Ștefănești – La Stârcea archaeological site. It is situated on a terrace on the right bank of the Bașeu, opposite the Podul Bașeului point in the direction of the Prut. The site is therefore located between the edge of the settlement and the course of the Bașeu River.

At Ștefănești – La Stârcea, an open settlement and a flat necropolis meet. Its chronological references range from the Eneolithic through the La Tène period to the Migration Period. The site thus combines different forms of human use and several eras in a single archaeological location.

The Prut and Birdwatching

The Stânca-Costești Reservoir lies on the Prut River at the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The reservoir area can be reached via paved roads: the DN 24C connects Iași and Ștefănești, while the DN 29D runs from Botoșani to Ștefănești. Both roads provide access to the area from different directions.

The lake lies within the Natura 2000 site ROSPA0058 Lacul Stânca-Costești. Ornithologists visit it for birdwatching and the diversity of bird species found there. The protected lake thus combines its location on a border river with a habitat where observing different bird species is the main focus.

Protected Areas

The ROSPA0058 Lacul Stânca-Costești protected area extends partly across the territory of Ștefănești and across the territories of Manoleasa and Ripiceni. Its spatial extent therefore goes beyond the city limits and includes areas of both of these named territories.

The Stânca Ștefănești geological and floristic nature reserve is the only place in Romania where Schivereckia podolica grows. In addition, the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0234 Stânca Ștefănești completely overlaps with the RONPA0243 Stânca Ștefănești nature reserve. The protected-area landscape therefore contains a distinctive plant occurrence alongside clearly designated, fully overlapping protected-area frameworks.

Visitor Rules

Tourist, recreational, educational and scientific activities are permitted in the ROSPA0058 Lacul Stânca-Costești area provided that the applicable visitor rules are observed.

Other places: Mesteacăn, Botoşani, Zăiceşti, Costinești

For the broader travel overview: Botosani.