Welcome to Putna Monastery
Location:
About 72 km away north-west of Suceava City and 33 km north-west of Rădăuţi, in one of the most isolated and difficult to access (without a car) monasteries from Bucovina.
How to get here:
By car:
The monastery is situated approximately 12 km of Vicovu de Jos on the national road DN 2E.
From South: follow the National road DN 2E from E85 (Fălticeni) till Vicovu de Jos commune and from here take the National road DN 2H towards Putna.
From Suceava, follow on Rădăuţi direction, the national road DN2 and then towards north-west the national road DN 2H through Vicovu de Jos till Putna.
Transport:
A car is the best form of transport and you have several options to rent a car in Suceava. On another hand, there are buses that go towards Vicovu de Jos and then to Putna. There is a bus that connects Suceava with Putna through Rădăuţi, but the easiest way is to get from Rădăuţi where you have more options.
Foundation Year:
1466-1469
Church or Monastery saint title:
Assumption of Our Lady
The painted monasteries from Bucovina
Putna Monastery
The construction and history of Putna Monastery:
Putna Saint Monastery is the best known among Bucovina monasteries and even if it doesn’t have a unique external color, it is famous for its interior and for what tourists and peregrines can find inside. The monastery was built by the great Romanian ruler Ştefan cel Mare (Stephan the Great) who due to its kindness, fairness, for the fact that he always defended the country against its enemies and for raising many churches and monasteries during his reign, he was canonized as a saint at 2nd of July 1992.
Putna Monastery with Treasure Tower on the side
Today he is known to Romanians as Stephan the Great, Saint and Good. The consecration of the main church was held at 3rd of September 1469. It was followed by the construction of the Lordly House and the houses for the monks because this is a monk monastery. The defensive wall with fortified towers and Treasure Tower were finished at 1st of May 1481. According to the historic man Ion Neculce who lived in that time, Stephan the Great chose to shoot by bow from the neighbor mountain and where the arrow will stop, he will build Putna Monastery.
Putna Monastery Museum
More information from the history and Putna Monastery Complex:
Due to fires, robberies, earthquakes and other disasters, the complex had to be renovated many times, but one of the most important reconstruction periods was in the XVII century. By the time Bucovina was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, between 1852 and 1856 annexed houses and other buildings were built, but huge restoration works were held in 1901-1902. The main access way in Putna complex is through Eminescu Tower and not far away of this, is the bust of the novelist Mihai Eminescu. The only building dating from Stephan the Great times is the Treasure Tower where today are held many old religious books. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) The Bell Tower was built in 1882 and the Old Lordly House in the XV century. The actual Lordly House was built between 1982 and 1988 and in 2004 exactly on the hill where Stephan the Great shot with his bow a long time ago, it was built a high cross of 28 m height. Church interior is very important and beautiful where visitors can see the 12 built graves among the best searched for is the one of Saint Voievod Stephan the Great. Next to his grave is his lady’s one Miss Maria Voichiţa daughter of Radu cel Frumos and also his 2nd wife grave, Maria of Mangop.
Stephan the Great’s grave in Putna Monastery
Putna Monastery Museum, paintings and iconography:
Putna Monastery has a museum opened to the public where tourists can see the artistic treasure of the monastery ranging from embroideries, manuscripts, silvery and crosses, till icons, ceramic objects and others. Church’s iconoclast built between 1771 and 1773 is unique, covered with gold and it has an icon of Our Lady with baby Jesus which is said to make miracles. Not far away from Putna Monastery is the cave/grotto of Saint Daniil Sihastrul known to Romanians and also here the ruler Stephan the Great came for confession and to ask for advises in the most difficult moments of Romania. The monastery houses many relics of different saints. The interior paint (realized in 2001) was sainted in 2010 only, because for more than 350 years the church was unpainted. In 2004, when Romania and also Moldova Republic asked for, at the anniversary of 500 years from the death of our ruler Stephan the Great, he was celebrated internationally by UNESCO. The history is waiting a journey from those who wish to visit this saint Putna Monastery.
Putna Monastery, night view from the back
