The sight of the Hîncești town sign while driving on the main road is truly an eye-catcher that arouses curiosity and invites you to linger. It is not only a reference to a geographical boundary, but also a gateway to a world full of stories told by time itself. Hîncești's past, marked by changing rulers and cultures, is reflected in the name, which has changed over the centuries, a silent testimony to Moldova's turbulent history.
After the Russo-Turkish War, Hîncești became the property of the Armenian merchant and diplomat Emanuel Mârzayan, known as Manuc Bey, a change that marks the city's steady evolution under various influences. The settlement, which was once called Hantscheschti and was home to a community of German origin, was given the name Kotowskoe in honor of the Soviet commander-in-chief Grigory Kotovsky, a name that changed until Kotowsk was granted city rights.
The current name Hîncești, in use since shortly before Moldova's independence in 1990, carries the hope and aspirations of a people that proudly preserves its identity. As the administrative center of the eponymous district since 2003, Hîncești stands as a symbol of Moldova's resilience and cultural diversity.