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Monastic villages

Unique in Europe are the monastery villages that have developed around Agapia and Vătarec Monasteries, where the largest communities of nuns in Romania are located. Together, around 800 nuns live in these two places of worship. This has favoured the building of houses around the monasteries, forming villages where nuns mainly live. The houses are built according to local specifications. And the way they are cared for attracts the attention of visitors.

Lucian Iancu

The monastic village Agapia

A silence place

The Agapia Monastery was built in 1642. It is one of the largest monasteries of nuns in Romania, where over 300 nuns live. Outside the monastery, there are 141 houses built in the traditional style of mountain areas. The porch, the wooden columns, the stone are recurring elements of these houses. They are 150-200 years old, which confirms the special […]

Mihai Moiceanu

The monastic village Văratec

“ Nature has printed here a sweet and spring kiss on the breast of the mountains ” (Calistrat Hogaș)

The largest monastery of nuns in Romania is the Văratec Monastery, where more than 400 little nuns live their lives through prayer and work. Until 1839 it was under the administration of the Agapia monastery, now it is independent. In the Văratec monastery village there are around 180 modest houses, with white or blue colored walls, well-cared-for, and beautifully decorated […]