Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Agapia Monastery is an active nunnery, housing 300 to 400 nuns in two locations. The main monastery, Agapia din Vale, stands at the western end of Agapia…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Less visited than other parts of Romania, Moldavia rewards those intrepid enough to seek it out: from glorious medieval monasteries to rugged mountains ideal for hiking, this singular region combines natural beauty with plenty of action. Moldavia’s bucolic villages and oddly endearing towns feature some of Romania’s friendliest locals. Beyond the hinterland, Moldavian modernity is fully displayed in Iaşi, one of Romania's largest cities and a vibrant student town famous for its nightlife. Bucovina, to the northwest, is home to Romania's pride and joy: a half dozen Unesco-protected painted monasteries from the 15th and 16th centuries that attest to the region's artistic skills and enduring faith. Everywhere you'll find signs of Moldavian prince (and Romanian national hero) Ștefan cel Mare and his epic battles with the Ottoman Empire, above all at the mighty fortresses at Suceava and Târgu Neamţ.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Medieval Neamţ Citadel had already long been considered Moldavia’s finest fortress before recent renovations improved it again. It was built in 1359 by…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
This is by far the city's best museum, with three floors of well-done displays on the Cucutenians, a neolithic culture with advanced pottery skills that…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Placid Sihla Monastery, inhabited by 30 monks, occupies a solitary wooded plateau about 8km southwest of Agapia Monastery along a marked, partly paved…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
The 14th-century Neamţ Monastery is Romania's oldest and largest male monastery. Founded by Petru I Muşat, it doubled as a protective citadel. Ştefan cel…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Văratec Monastery is the country's biggest nunnery, inhabited by some 400 to 500 nuns. Founded in 1785, the complex houses an icon museum and small…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
Just north of the Princely Court, this simple wooden synagogue dating from 1766 was built over the foundations of a 1490 predecessor. The tiny interior is…
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Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
This exposition features the dank ruins of Ştefan cel Mare's 1497 Princely Court complex, which once encompassed all of the nearby buildings on the square…
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