Castel Mimi

Castel Mimi was built in 1901 at Bulboaca by Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia under Russian rule and a trained winemaker, who commissioned a French architect to design a château and cellar in a style that had no precedent in the region. It fell derelict in the Soviet period and was restored from 2011 at considerable expense, and now runs as a winery with a restaurant, gardens and rooms.

The main sights

• The 1901 château - the French-designed building, unlike anything else in the region.
• The cellars - the original vaulted working spaces beneath.
• The gardens - the grounds laid out around the restored building.
• The Mimi story - the last Bessarabian governor who built it as a working winery.

When to go

April to October is the pleasant season with the gardens open. Harvest in September brings the most activity. Tours run year round.

Things to know

The restoration was extensive and the result is polished rather than atmospheric. Prices are high by Moldovan standards. It gets busy at weekends and books out.

Nearby

Chișinău is northwest, and Purcari is southeast.

Key facts