GOVORA MONASTERY

On the road to Târgu Jiu, 17 km west of Râmnicu Vâlcea, this monastery of nuns, with white walls and circular balconies of dark wood, brightened by flowers in summer, is charming. It was built in 1492, during the reign of Radu the Great. Matei Basarab later transformed it and set up a typographic workshop of great importance. Pravila de la Govora, the oldest law book in Wallachia, was printed there. The present church was built by Prince Constantine Brâncoveanu. A small museum exhibits religious objects and old manuscripts.