Abbeys monasteries and convents Muntenia

Founded in 1715 by the erudite Metropolitan Antim, this is one of Bucharest's most beautiful monasteries. You'll notice the characteristic Brâncovenesc style, the discreet but rich floral carvings, as well as beautiful Nativity paintings (dating from 1812, like many of its buildings). The monastery is concealed by the blocks of flats built in the 1980s. To erect them, the block housing the monks was moved 20 m. The surrounding streets, which escaped destruction, offer a glimpse of the district's past charm.

Surrounded by an imposing fortification wall, it was built between 1690 and 1695 by Prince Mihai Cantacuzino, on his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Sinai, hence its name. A new church with a red façade is part of the ensemble. It was restored in 1903 by the French architect Lecomte du Nouÿ, who modernized it by adding ceramics, enamels and paintings. The older, smaller church is in the Brâncovenesc style. The Sinaia monastery is also home to the first Bible translated into Romanian (written in Cyrillic), dating from 1668.

A masterpiece of architecture, this Byzantine-style church with its twisted towers was erected in 1517 by Prince Neagoe Basarab on the site of a former 14th-century monastery. The work of master mason Manole, it has been redesigned and restored several times. Its present appearance is due to the French architect André Lecomte du Nouÿ who, from 1875, restored it to its former beauty. At that time, the building was practically in a state of ruin, following earthquakes and fires at the beginning of the 19th century. The interior is superb, with its gilded oil paintings. The original frescoes have been largely replaced and fragments can be seen in the Bucharest History Museum. The church also houses the tombs of its founder as well as those in white marble of the royal couples Carol I (1866-1914) and his wife Elisabeth, and Ferdinand (1914-1927) and Queen Mary. They were joined in 2003 by King Carol II, who died in exile. The exterior is incredibly rich, the stone is chiseled to the extreme with oriental motifs, representing plants or birds. Opposite the church, the episcopal palace, all in red brick, dates from 1890.

Legend has it that Manole had his wife walled up in the church, in the hope of breaking the curse that had struck the building site. He himself was sequestered there and, trying to escape, he crashed to the ground, causing a fountain to gush forth, visible at the entrance to the park that bears his name.

On a tiny island to the north of the lake lies this monastery, founded around the beginning of the ^15th century by the Wallachian prince Mircea the Elder (Mircea cel Bătrân). The monastery church, a handsome brick edifice, is in the Byzantine style. Its interiors are covered with frescoes. Vlad Țepeș, the voivode who inspired the character of Dracula, had defensive walls, a bridge and a prison built here. Legend even has it that he was buried there, but to date no evidence has confirmed this. The island can be reached by footbridge or by boat.

Stop in his charming 1386-year-old Monastère monastery. At the foot of a cliff, this building has the particularity of being partially carved in a rock.

The icon in its midst is, it seems, miraculous. A few minutes walk is necessary to access it, but the site is worth a visit.

Near Snagov, on the shores of Lake Căldărușani, this monastery was built by Prince Matei Basarab in the ^17th century. It notably housed music and painting schools, where Nicolae Grigorescu, the famous Romanian painter, studied between 1854 and 1855. Inside, the collection of religious objects includes icons from the ^18th century and others painted by Grigorescu. Access is difficult without a car. From Bucharest, take the Ploiești road, turn right at Balotești and then left towards Lipia; from Snagov, follow road 101C past Lipia.

Situated 4 km north of the city center, on the voivode hill, the monastery is known as a princely necropolis, where the remains of a major figure in Romanian history are laid to rest: Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave), the first sole ruler of the three Romanian principalities, for a few months in 1600. A large marble sarcophagus, sculpted by Frédéric Storck in 1913, houses his tomb. Built between 1431 and 1501, the monastery is a landmark of local medieval architecture. Its carved stone church is remarkable.

Founded in the 14th century, this monastery is considered to be one of the oldest in Wallachia. It was built by Radu I, prince from 1377 to 1383. It was then rebuilt by his son Mircea the Elder and renovated by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1711. The site is quiet and pleasant. The old church is in the centre of the flowery courtyard. Its facade, partly made of brick, is beautifully decorated with small coloured ceramic discs. Wood is omnipresent, especially on the roofs. The monastery is also home to the oldest bell in Wallachia, cast in 1385.