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 Voronet Monastery © Judith Duk Tucked into the northeastern corner of Romania, and the medieval
principality of the Moldavian region, Bucovina lies in the
easily-defended Carpathian foothills where the region's hero,
Stefan the Great, fought back the Turks in the 14th and 15th
centuries and then built churches and monasteries throughout
Moldavia to celebrate his victories. There are 48 monasteries in
total, some with fortified walls to protect against invaders. These
unique monasteries and Byzantine churches with their exceptional
exterior frescoes is one of the most fascinating sights in Romania.
Seven of the painted monasteries have been included on the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
The area is worth visiting, not only for its wealth of religious
art and the beautiful monasteries, but also for the natural beauty
and simplicity of the region with its rolling hills, forests and
tranquil valleys. The countryside is scattered with picturesque
villages and rural scenery as local folk go about their daily
business; horse-drawn carts dominate the lanes, driven by people
bundled up against the cold, outdoor wells and piles of chopped
wood adorn the yards, and produce markets bustle with activity.
These are some of the scenes the traveller will encounter in this
fascinating region of Romania, a stark contrast to the frenetic
pace and way of life shaped by the modern face of city living.
The largest town in the area, and previous capital of Moldavia,
is Suceava, today the gateway to visiting the painted monasteries
of Southern Bucovina. The town has a couple of places of interest,
including old medieval churches, the Bucovina History Museum and
its main tourist site, the Schaun Citadel, a fortress built to hold
off Mehmed II in 1476.
Attractions
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The Painted Monasteries
Some of the 15th century painted monasteries of Southern
Bucovina have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. They
represent some of the greatest artistic monuments in Europe and are
among the most picturesque treasures in Romania. Most of the
churches are fortified with strong defensive surrounding walls as
protection against Turkish invaders and they sheltered large armies
of soldiers awaiting battle. The exterior walls of the monasteries
are richly decorated with vivid frescoes depicting dramatic
Biblical scenes, intended to teach Christianity to the illiterate
by means of pictures. The artwork has amazingly survived harsh
exposure to the elements for over 450 years and the intense colours
have been well preserved. The five main painted monasteries near
Suceava are Humor, Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita and Arbore. The
predominant colour of the artwork at Voronet is a vivid blue that
serves as a background to the designs. The quality of the frescoes,
the magnificent Last Judgement and the brilliant colour has earned
it the moniker of 'Sistine Chapel of the East'. Humor is
characterised by its predominant red colour; and the largest and
finest of the monasteries, Sucevita, has its thousands of painted
images on a background of emerald green. Moldovita, situated in the
middle of a quaint farming village, consists of a strong fortified
enclosure with towers and heavy gates, with the beautiful painted
church in the centre. Also nearby are Dragomirna and Putna
monasteries, the latter home to an active community of monks and a
small museum containing medieval manuscripts and rare textiles.
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Transport: From Suceava a car and driver/guide can be hired to take visitors on a day-trip to the monasteries from the local tourist agency, Bucovina Estur
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group adventures focused on getting off the beaten track,
interacting with the locals and having real life experiences
throughout Romania.
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