Monasteries & Churches

Ciolanu Monastery, the oldest monastic settlement in Buzău County, dates back to the 16th century and features two churches, a museum with icons by Gheorghe Tattarescu, and relics of saints. Closely linked to local legends and history, the monastery is located near the Măgura Sculpture Camp, offering a blend of spiritual and artistic experiences.

The monastery-citadel of Berca, built in 1694 in the Brâncovenesc style, served both religious and defensive purposes, featuring fortified walls, underground tunnels, and a bell tower. Recently restored, it preserves paintings by Pârvu Mutu and remains a key historical landmark near the Mud Volcanoes and Rătești Monastery.

Rătești Monastery, a 16th-century monastic settlement in Berca, Buzău County, is renowned for its neoclassical church, frescoes by Nicolae Teodorescu and Gheorghe Tattarescu, and a church art museum. Severely damaged by landslides in 2014, it remains a cultural and spiritual landmark near the Mud Volcanoes and Berca Monastery.

Cârnu Monastery, the oldest monastic settlement on the Buzău Valley, was founded in 1546 by Voivode Mircea Ciobanu and Doamna Chiajna. Surrounded by a serene natural landscape, the monastery is known for its rich history, legends, and connection to Saint Paisie Velicicovschi. Reopened in 1991, it remains a peaceful retreat near the cave settlements of Colți and Aluniș.

Tucked away in the forests of Măgura, Buzău County, Cetățuia Hermitage was built in 1854 on a site believed to have once housed a Dacian fortress. Known for its peaceful atmosphere, historical significance, and stunning natural views, the hermitage features a stone church supported by King Carol I, whose portrait remains inside. A secluded yet powerful spiritual refuge, Cetățuia is a lesser-known but deeply meaningful pilgrimage site.

Founded between 1664-1669 by Captain Barbu Bădeanu, Barbu Monastery in Leiculești, Buzău County, stands as a testament to resilience and faith. Originally a monks’ hermitage, it became a convent of nuns in 1871, only to be closed during communism and revived after 1989. The complex includes the historic 1669 church, the Healing Spring Chapel (1996), and restored monastic buildings. Nestled in a serene landscape, it is a place of prayer, history, and peace, attracting both pilgrims and history enthusiasts.

Bradu Monastery, also known as “Doamna Neaga’s Fortress,” is a 16th-century fortified monastic complex located in Hales, Buzău County. Combining religious and defensive functions, the monastery features thick enclosure walls, defense towers, and the Princely House built by Constantin Brâncoveanu. Recently 3D scanned for virtual access, this historical monument remains a significant landmark in Wallachia’s medieval heritage.

The Stone Church in Năeni, built entirely from locally quarried limestone, is a unique landmark in the Dealu Mare area, offering stunning views of the Carpathians and the Romanian Plain. Featuring Byzantine-style interior paintings and a hand-carved stone iconostasis, the church is a symbol of faith and craftsmanship, situated near the Năeni Sculpture Camp and Thracian tombs.

The Aluniș cave church, dating back to 1274, is one of Romania’s oldest Christian places of worship, still in use today. Carved entirely into rock, it features monastic cells, historical inscriptions, and a wooden porch from the 19th century, making it a key spiritual and cultural site in the Buzău Mountains.

Poiana Mărului Monastery, founded in 1730 in Bisoca, Buzău County, is a historic monastic center known for its wooden architecture and Russian neo-Byzantine paintings. Despite fires and reconstructions, it remains a significant site for prayer and pilgrimage, preserving Philocalic writings and Isihastic traditions.

The Church of the Assumption in Sărata Monteoru, built in 1876 by Grigore C. Monteoru, is an architectural landmark blending neo-Byzantine and neo-Gothic styles. Part of the Monteoru Complex, it features a gold-polished wooden catapeteasma and a miraculous icon, undergoing several restorations due to earthquakes.