The lake, the boats and the flowerbedsThe bilingual road sign that points you there, photographed at nightThe main avenue — benches, lamps, shadeRowing boats and swan pedalos on the lakeThe suspension bridge, looking along the deckThe stone tower at the near end of the bridgeA thatched shelter on the lake shoreThe lily lake, seen from the path above the roadWater lilies and reeds along the far arm of the lakeGeese on the lawn above the waterA duck sitting out the afternoon in the cloverThe lake from the high ground on the north sideOne of the paths up to a park chaletA lakeside terrace, laid up for the eveningA cold beer on one of the park terracesThe carouselThe fairground end of the parkA chocolate-and-vanilla soft cone from one of the kiosks on the park pathsThe lake at dusk — the terrace lit up on the far shore, gondolas and swan pedalos at the jettyThe iron bandstand on its circle of paving, the Casa Albă framed through itThe lawns below the Casa Albă, in the last of the lightBlack pines against the sunset at the top of the parkA carved face set into a tree stump beside one of the pathsAn open-air show on the grass — costumed performers, a PA, and most of the neighbourhood sitting on the lawnThe double-decker carousel under its lights once it is properly darkA prize stall at the fairground end, lit green from top to bottom
The one genuinely great thing in Craiova — 90 hectares of designed parkland with lakes, bridges and long walks. Kiosks along the paths sell soft ice cream, which is how most of an afternoon here ends. Go towards evening if you can: the terrace lights come on across the water, the carousel and the fairground stalls light up, and on summer weekends there is often a free show on one of the lawns with half the neighbourhood sitting out to watch it.
It changes completely at dusk
The same park is two different places. In daylight it is lakes, bridges and long walks; after sunset the terraces light up across the water, the carousel and the prize stalls switch on at the fairground end, and the paths fill with families. Nothing is ticketed and nothing needs booking — you just turn up. The last of the light behind the pines at the top of the park is the best of it.
Free shows on the lawns
On summer weekends a stage goes up on the grass — costumed performers, a PA, and everyone sitting on the ground or standing with pushchairs. No tickets and no announcements in English; you find it by hearing it. Dates are not published anywhere reliable, so treat it as luck rather than a plan.
