Romania is bucket list destination in so many ways. Your head will be spinning with all of its hidden treasures straight from Medieval Times. Visiting Romania means diving into a world of lush forests, towering mountainscapes, storybook castles, and medieval towns. The best part? It all comes with a great sticker price! Still, Romania’s painted monasteries really sealed the deal for us. This country is a must visit.
Romania’s Painted Monasteries in Bucovina
Deep in the mountains of Bucovina, a procession of saints walk up to a Virgin. She sits on a throne with a young Jesus in her lap. Light floods the room from the tall arches and shows off the river of fire and “The Last Judgement” that covers the entire west wall.
This is just one of the striking murals you’ll see in Romania’s painted monasteries. While you will find monasteries with frescoes all over the country, the eight most famous painted monasteries are in Bucovina. They’re such a work of art, they became an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
Each of the eight monasteries features unique frescoes and colors from head to toe. The most famous of Romania’s painted monasteries is Voronet. It tells its stories in deep blue shades. The Humor Monastery, however, comes to life in terra-cotta red. While Sucevita shines bright with pigments from crushed minerals, semi precious stones, and rare clays. So dreamy!
Why are the Bucovina Monasteries Painted?
If you’re like us you’ll love swooning over this UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are unlike anything else in Europe. Why is that?
Stephen the Great, who is famous for protecting the region from Ottoman invaders, commissioned Romania’s painted monasteries in the 15th century. The monasteries protected locals during invasions.
Okay, that’s cool, but what’s up with the paintings?
One theory suggests that most people in the area were illiterate at the time. By covering the monasteries with Christian art, monks were able to bring the messages to the public.
Another theory says that the monasteries were too small to fit everyone during a service. So they painted the messages on the exterior walls as well.
Regardless of why they were made in the first place, they are a must see! Now, Romania’s painted monasteries serve as pilgrimage sites for the country’s orthodox population. And, of course, you’ll also see many travelers gazing at the monasteries’ walls.
If you can only visit four of Romania’s painted monasteries in Bucovina, we recommend the ones below.
The four most notable monasteries in Bucovina
Sucevita Monastery
We’re starting here because it was my personal favorite. Sucevita is the last painted monastery built in the area. Naturally, it is great condition! The grounds also feature blooming gardens and and a small museum.
It also has the largest nun population with over 50 nuns. Make sure to check out the “Ladder of Virtues,” its most recognized mural.
Voronet Monastery
This one is probably the most famous painted monastery near Suceava. Voronet Monastery features a unique sky blue color that is now known as Voronet blue. Its intricate gothic and byzantine murals earned it the title as “Sistine Chapel of the East.” Make sure to pay attention to its most famous mural, “The Last Judgement.” It depicts the end of the world with the Ottomans condemned at the bottom. Around 20 nuns actively live here.
Moldovita Monastery
Moldovita is another popular monastery because of its striking gold and deep-blue paintings. Check out its famous mural the Siege of Constantinople. It showcases the Ottoman’s capturing the Byzantine capital.
Humor Monastery
I would say this is the most humble monastery we visited. It is also the smallest of the eight. Humor is known for its terra-cotta red paintings. Many of the paintings are already fading.
Make sure to climb the three-story lookout tower for a view of the rolling Romanian countryside.
Tips for a great visit to the monasteries
How to get there
Romania’s painted monasteries are all near the town of Suceava in the Bucovina region. The monasteries are spread out throughout the region. A car will give you the biggest amount of flexibility to visit each one.
This region is definitely an off-the-beaten track location in Romania. So you’ll want to build in some time just to get to the region. From Bucharest and Cluj Napoca, the capital of Transylvania, the drive takes about 6 hours.
When to visit
The best time to visit the monasteries will be between late Spring and early Autumn. The surrounding greenery looks stunning at this time. You may want to consider visiting the monasteries over the course of two days.
It started raining heavily when we visited and we were only able to visit three of the eight monasteries.
