Over one million lei gathered for restoring the Manuc Bei estate

Over one million lei were collected on February 10 during a TV show intended for restoring the estate of the Mirzoian family (Maunc Bei) sited in Hincesti town. This figure was revealed by the chairman of Hincesti raion, Lidia Lupu, during a work meeting presided over by Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev. The Premier mentioned that the collecting process of financial means should continue, including by attracting Armenian communities from all over the world. The officials mentioned that the reconstruction schedule has been already established and an action to designate the design company announced. For the renovation of Manuc Bei, the Government adopted a decree in October 2006 on the restoration of the complex, and on February 7 made up a Committee of observers who will monitor the fund-rising and money use procedures. Previously, the ministries and other public officials decided to donate 500 lei each for the reconstruction of Manuc Bei estate. Despite the fact that for its reconstruction there are necessary at least 20 million lei, no financial means from the state budget were allocated so far. In Manuc’s inn in Bucuresti a peace treaty was signed between the Turkish and Russian Empires, which put Basarabia under Russian protection. Manuc Bei received a huge estate in a picturesque forested area, where he spent the last years of his life. Manuc’s children and grandchildren commissioned the famous architect A. Bernardazzi to design and build a castle-style Hunting Lodge and a Palace in the eclectic style in the centre of the town. Since 1979 the Hunting Lodge has been a museum, which has many exhibitions: "Maps and Documents", "The archaeological remains of the region", "The Nature of the region", "Moldova’s Leaders", "Ethnography", "The Iasi-Chisinau Battle during the Second World War" etc. Manuc Bei was an Armenian merchant at the beginning of XIX century, born in 1769. During the reign of the Sultan Mustafa the IV, he obtains the status of dragoman and bey. In 1808 he is named Bey of Moldova. The estate in Hancesti town is an architectural monument included in the Register of national monuments. It includes the inn built in 1861, the Armenian church built in the 80s of the 20th century, a winter greenhouse, a Hunting Castle which at the moment is the Ethnography Museum of Hincesti, a watchtower, an old inn, a stable, chariots, storehouses, 2 houses for servants etc. The park covers an area of 10 ha.