Things to see and do Gura Humorului

Situated 5 km south of Gura Humorului, it's the most visited monastery in Bucovina, and it's not uncommon to have to queue for admission in the middle of summer. Its popularity and multiple titles (the most famous being "the Sistine Chapel of the East") are justified, however. This monastery was erected by Ștefan cel Mare in 1488, in just twenty-one days, according to legend. In fact, the bells, still in use, date back to the time of the famous Moldavian voivode! The walls of the Sfântul Gheorghe church, in typical Moldavian style, feature the most beautiful fresco in Bucovina, the very fresco that earned it the nickname of the Sistine Chapel: the Last Judgment covers the entire western wall of the veranda. This recurring scene in the monasteries of Bukovina is here detailed to the extreme. You'll recognize Jesus judging the living and the dead, the gates of Paradise, Adam and Eve and the paths that sinners and the righteous will take towards Hell or Paradise. These sinners are depicted, for the first time, according to their ethnic origin (Turks, Tatars, Armenians, Jews). All the exterior murals were painted in 1547, under Petru Rareș.

The place is famous for the color known as "Voroneț blue", which fascinates with its unique transparency and whose manufacturing secret remains untold. This blue background wonderfully brings out the details of the many richly colored figures, religious personalities or local figures. Peasants are also recognizable.

It lies 6 km north of Gura Humorului, in the village of Mănăstirea Humorului. Built in the ^16th century, this monastery is renowned for its frescoes attributed to Toma de Suceava, where red and gold dominate. The church, modest in size, is in classic Moldavian style. Its carved and gilded wooden iconostasis is an exceptional piece; the four icons in the first register date from the time of Petru Rareș. Interiors (superb superimposed arches) and exteriors (Moldavia's first open veranda) of the building are decorated with traditional Orthodox paintings, in Byzantine style. The interior paintings are among the finest in Moldavia.
The main themes of the exterior paintings are the Tree of Jesse, the Prodigal Son and the Siege of Constantinople (on the south façade, which is very well preserved). The frescoes on the north and west walls, on the other hand, are badly damaged. Near the entrance, the twenty-four stanzas of the hymn to the Virgin still retain their vivid colors and fine drawing.

The site was once fortified, but since its destruction by the Austrians in 1785, all that remains are a few sections of the surrounding walls and an imposing, pointed watchtower (1641), later transformed into a bell tower.

At the time of its foundation, the monastery was occupied by monks. In 1785, when Bucovina was annexed to the Habsburg Empire, it was dismantled, like most of the monasteries in the region, and only regained its function as a monastery in 1992, becoming a convent for nuns.

A well-designed, highly interesting ethnographic museum housed in a building dating back to Austrian times. The museography is original: it presents the customs of the region, following the calendar of events that marked and still mark the rhythm of the farming year. Each event is the subject of a reconstruction, supported by a rich collection of objects, tools and costumes, as well as beautiful black-and-white photographs. You'll be immersed in the customs and beliefs of the people, a blend of religiosity, pagan rites and observation of natural cycles: st. Andrew's Eve, when evil spirits came back to haunt the living and young girls could catch a glimpse of their husbands; St. Elias, on July 20, when shepherds could begin to descend from the mountains; St. Alexis, on March 9, when insects came back to life and beehives were put out... not forgetting, of course, the rich traditions of Christmas and Easter. The room dedicated to the New Year is particularly interesting: from the reconstructed porch of a typical Bucovine house, you can observe the various masked characters who roam the villages, from house to house, to sing the New Year and chase away evil spirits: the bears, the gypsy, the drunkard, the emperor, and so on.

The museographers can guide you on your visit in English. A brochure is also available in French at reception.