It’s founder, Constantin Brancoveanu, along with his sons, had a cruel fate, at the hands of the Turks, but still, Horezu Monastery stands untouched, white and pure, defying elegantly the last 320 years.

Since 1993 this monastery is a World Heritage site, but… surprise, it’s not even half famous. That’s because Romanians, when they say Horezu, usually refer to the ceramic specific to the village of Horezu, while the Monastery comes always as a second thought. Foreigners, if not poised to visit it, find it by chance when they hunt for Horezu decorative plates. But foreigners and Romanians alike, when they visit it once they would like to come back with friends or relatives because the monastery has a hypnotic power on them.

If you look at it and cannot take your eyes from it’s because of its style. It is called Brancovenesc after its promoter, and it’s the only one which can be considered 100% Romanian. Specific to this style are the semi open and arched entrance and the two towers instead of one.

When you visit Horezu Monastery think about the 19th century in Wallachia and the cruel exploitation of Romanians at the hands of Greek rulers who rented the throne from Istanbul. You can understand that inside the church’s walls survived through that dark period not just the hope of the people but also their culture. As a UNESCO site however, Horezu Monastery can do much more than in the past because right now its mission is not just to protect, but also to share the Romanian culture with the rest of the world.

Where to stay?

See the complete list of hotels in Valcea County HERE.

Other world heritage sites in Romania