Monasteries from Wallachia

The Monasteries from Wallachia have been built in a different style from the ones in Moldavia. The local people habits, traditions and the way the villages look, as well as the scenery itself is different.

Horezu Monastery (1690-1697) is the most important religious architectural monument from the Brancoveanu period (period that generated the only really genuine Romanian architectural style, Brancoveanu style - an exquisite artistic synthesis, a time of cultural flourishing in Wallachia). It is remarked for its purity and architectural equilibrium, the richness of the carved decorations, the compositional outlook of religious inspiration, the votive portraits, and painted decorative elements. The church was decorated with exterior stone sculptures, and on the inside there is a valuable bunch of frescoes. The legend says that, being afraid of the Turks, the workers did everything at nightime.
The Horezu monastery has developed into an important centre of cultural life. The Horezu school of painting marked the whole Romanian painting of the 18th century (mural and icon painting). The representatives of this school worked both in Wallachia and Transylvania. The monastery library had, in its turn, an important cultural role in the entire Orthodox world.
The monstery was included in UNESCO World Heritage List.
Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688 - 1714) founded the monastery in 1690 and richly endowed it. That enlightened prince, together with his family, raised, sometimes by rebuilding on already existing foundations, numerous monasteries and churches that he would adorn with mural paintings, icons placed on sumptuous iconostases, with furniture, silverware and religious embroidery. His example was followed by the boyars and the high clergy who used to found places of worship. The artistic style of his age was of a great unity and bears the name of "Brancovan art", an epithet ascribed to the entire age during which he lived.
The monastery catholicon, having as patrons Saints Constantine and Helen, was begun in 1690, and finished in 1692, as the votive inscriptions reveal. The interior painting, finished in 1694, was achieved by a team of painters under the guidance of the Greek artist Constantinos, settled in Wallachia, who was the founder of the school of mural and icon painting, organised at Horezu.
The precinct wall was built at the same time with the big church. Two-storey monastic cells, kitchens and others were added on the inside, to the south, west and north of the princely residence. At the beginning the monastery entrance had been placed in the centre of the west wing of the precinct, where there is the paraklession, but later it was closed down and turned into refectory before 1705, as the access was permitted through the vaulted passageway below the bell tower of the south part.
In 1753 the monastery's superior, Dionisie Balacescu, built the "Foisor" ("Arbour") that bears his name.
The paraklession, having as a patron the Assumption of the Virgin, was built before 1696.
The convent had a lot to suffer from the Turko-Austrian war of 1716-1718, as well as from the Turko-Russo-Austrian one of 1787-1792 when the outer constructions of the main precinct were raised.
On the occasion of the 1872 restorations, three-storey cell bodies were built, in the south-west part of the main precinct.

Manastirea dintr-un lemn (The Church Built from Only One Tree). The Monastery has been established at the 16th century. The first chapel was wooden built using the wood taken from a single tree. The history says that within the core of that tree a golden and wonder making icon of Mother of God was found. On the same place, using only the wood taken from that tree, a small chapel was built, which is in a very good condition in the present days.
The latter was built as a tribute to the Holy Virgin icon that is kept today in the stone church subsequently built within the precincts of the monastery. The abbey was first mentioned by Deacon Paul of Aleppo who accompanied Patriarch Macharios of Antiochia during his journey to the Romanian Countries, between 1653-1658. Deacon Paul wrote that a monk had allegedly found an icon of the Virgin in the hollow of an oak tree. That very moment he was seemingly hearing a voice that encouraged him: "I would like you to build a wooden monastery from this oak tree, here, for me." Following that urge, the monk raised a little wooden church made of an oak tree. However, the visitor who enters the monastery is somehow "trapped" because before reaching the little wooden church, he first sees in front of his eyes the stone church raised by Matei Basarab and restored by Serban Cantacuzino (1715). Near the entrance, a few stone stairs guide the visitor along the cells towards the lawn stretching behind them.

Tismana Monastery has been established in an hidden forestry place the 14th century by Cv. Nicodim and then extended through the history by Radu the 1st, Dan the 1st and Mircea the Old. The Tismana Church was ruined at the end of the 15th century. On the same place Radu the 1st built one of the most important monuments of the Wallachian architecture from the begining of the 16th century. During Neagoe Basarab's times the church is looked with interest and is covered with lead. In 1564, the painter Dobromir from Târgoviste enrich the beauty of the monument. From his frescoes were kept till today some scenes and a panel with the portret of four ladies. Along the time the monastery was attacked and robed. The surrounding walls were restored during the ruling of Neagoe Basarab, rewarding Tismana that defended his against enemy attacks. The conflicts between Turks and Austrians from the 18th century were new dangers and ravages. The gates of Tismana will be taken to Vidin Fortress, from where will be brought back only in 1877.
In the monastery many hours were spent for learning, so Tismana become one of the first cultural centers in Wallachia. From the rich treasure of the monastery only a few things were left after the ravages. Among them is the oldest silver object known in Wallachia - the censer from Tismana, dated at the end of the 14th century, the begining of the 15th century (today being at the Aret Museum) and the oldest manuscript - the four gospels of Nicodim, dated 1405-1406.

Cozia Monastery has been established in 1388 by the Prince Mircea the Old and then has been repeatedly restored by Prince Neagoe Basarab and Serban Cantacuzino. There are cult objects dating from the reign of Mircea the Old and Constantin Brancoveanu.
Cozia Monastery is an important historical monument treasuring the tombs of Prince Mircea the Old and Teofana - the mother of Prince Michael the Brave and attracts the attention through the elegance and harmony of its shape, as well as through the richness of its decorations and the valuable painting
The Monastery presents a museum with impressive historical documents, cult objects and the Gospel published by Bishop Varlaam dating from 1644. Known writers and cultural personalities have found the inspirational moments at Cozia monastery and also important documents have been translated in multiple languages.
Close to this monastery there can be visited Turnu and Stânisoara Monasteries, nicely located in Cozia Mountains.

Curtea de Arges Monastery has been established in the 15th century during the reign of Neagoe Basarab. The church was erected on the very place of the first Metropolitanate of Wallachia, under Prince's supervision and following master Manole's advice, being built in stone of Albesti, marble and mosaic brought from Constantinople. Although unfinished, in 1517 the Prince founder decided the Monastery of Curtea de Arges to be consacrated on the Assumption of the Virgin - its dedication day - with great pomp in the presence of outstanding Orthodox religious personalities, led by the Ecumenic Patriarch Theolipt of Constantinople.
After its consecration, Neagoe Basarab kept on paying a great attention to this church, having the new monastery in Arges embellished with a surrounding wall, cells, a refectory, a belfry, making it, as Gavriil Protul said "resemble God's paradise". In 1521, when the founder passed away, his body was buried in the pronaos, which thus became a princely necropolis. Radu from Afumati (1522-1529) did everything that had still to be done for the church, as by his marriage to Ruxandra, Neagoe Basarab's daughter, he had taken over not only the rights, but also the duties of founder of the monastery. Thus, by his orders, on 18th September 1526, painter Dobromir finished the painting of the church.
The documents of the following centuries certify more important restorations of the church and the whole monastery during the reigns of Princes Matei Basarab (1632-1654) and Serban Cantacuzino (1678-1688). Finally, from 1875-1885, the restoration by architect Andre Lecomte du Nouy (1844-1914) saved the monument from destruction. This restoration entailed a new painting of the monument by F. Nicolle, Ch. Renouard and Nicolae Constantinescu, thus the precious fresco by Dobromir of Targoviste being lost. Nevertheless, a few fragments can still be seen at the Art Museum of the Romania and in the Collection comprising objects of religious art of the monastery.
This is also the place where the relics of the Saint Nifon are preserved in a coffin made of silver and plated with gold. The Saint’s head and hands represent a present got by Neagoe Basarab from the monks who live in The Athos Mountains. There is also a coffin with the relics of the Saint Serghie, Vach and Saint Martyr Tatiana. The holy relics of St. Filofteia have also been sheltered for eternity in the Monastery.
This monastery represents the Romanian Kings’ necropolis (tombs of Prince Carol I, Prince Ferdinand, Princess Elisabeth and Princess Mary). The portraits of the Prince Carol I and the Princess Elisabeth can be found on the nave (or pronaos) walls. There are also the portraits of the Romanian rulers and "The Gospel of the Resurrection on the Good Saturday", written with golden letters by the Princess Elisabeth.

Other monasteries.
Govora Monastery (1488) still preserves an outstandingly beautiful interior painting, as well as a feudal art museum. Also Bistrita Monastery (1491-1492) and Arnota Monastery (1633-1636), Patrunsa and Pahomie Convents are just some other reasons to visit these places.