A museum dedicated to the famous late poet Grigore Vieru will be opened in Chisinau. The Chisinau Municipal Council today decided to repurpose a public area located in central Chisinau to be used by the future museum under a 10-year free tenancy agreement.

The space, almost 400 square meters in area, requires extensive repairs, including replaced plumbing. The repair costs will be covered by the poet’s family, who have been petitioning the municipal authorities for a museum space for more than ten years.

Calin Vieru, the poet’s son, said personal items that were part of the poet’s life will be on display at the museum. The museum will try to replicate Vieru’s apartment, with his home office and the guest lounge. Also there will be the typewriter, the cabinet and books from the poet’s library.

Te museum will be inaugurated in about a year.

Grigore Vieru was a beloved poet, best known for his books for children and romantic poetry. A boulevard in Chisinau and several schools in various parts of Moldova are named in his memory.

Grigore Vieru died in January 2009 after a car accident, just one month before his 74th birthday.