Curtea de Arges Monastery – between myth and reality

Romania is a country which you will find beautiful, proud and rich, if you know how to look at. Unfortunately, we forget that the real riches are not those who warm our pockets, but those who warm our souls and feed our minds. Well, such values abound in Romania, turning it into one of the richest countries in the world.

We have the sea, we have the Danube and the Carpathians, we have the most majestic castles and fortresses and the most famous and legendary monasteries and every Romanian should take the time to see them. This way, we might be able to find cure for indifference, carelessness and sometimes ignorance.

One of the most famous and visited places in Romania is Curtea de Argeș Monastery. I am convinced that each of you has heard the shattering legend that stands at the origin of this wonderful place, and I also know that if you stopped at least once in this place full of history, you would want to come back whenever you have the opportunity.

Curtea de Argeș monastery is located in the city with the same name, being like an emblem of the whole county. Located at the end of an alley shaded by old linden trees, this important place of worship invites you into a different reality, from another world, encouraging you to meditate and relax your soul and mind.

Founded by the great ruler Neagoe Basarab who ruled between 1512-1517, Curtea de Argeș monastery is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, on that day the most believers from all corners of the country gather here. This place impresses not only with its religious symbolism but also with its cultural one, becoming a real mine of information for the minds thirsty for culture.

When you step inside Curtea de Arges Monastery for the first time, you will be impressed looking at the mural painted in oil by some French painters. At the same time, your attention will be stolen by the group of 12 columns representing the 12 disciples. The whole building is 18 m long, 10 m wide and 25 m high.

Over time, the monastery went through several restoration processes, the most important one taking place in the second half of the 19th century under the supervision of the French architect Andrei Lecomte du Nouy and the great Nicolaie Gabrielescu. The works were finished in 1885, and a year later the monastery was consecrated.

In Curtea de Arges Monastery we can find the relics of Saint Filoftea, parts of the relics of Saints Sergius, Vach and the martyr Tatiana, as well as the Gospel of the Resurrection from Holy Saturday written in golden letters by Queen Elizabeth. In the silence of the monastery, kings Ferdinand and Carol I and queens Elisabeta and Maria sleep their eternal sleep.

At the genesis of Curtea de Argeș Monastery, there are two legends that will surely soften your soul. The first refers to Manole and his team of craftsmen who were commissioned by Neagoe Basarab to build the most majestic monastery. Everything that the craftsmen built during the day, fell apart at night, without any explanation. One night, however, the craftsman Manole dreams that in order to build the monastery, he must sacrifice the first woman who will come there, laying bricks over her body. The next day, Ana, Manole’s wife, approaches the place where the monastery was being built and Manole is forced to sacrifice her, closing her between the walls of the monastery. After this cruel sacrifice, the construction of the monastery faced no further impediments. Seeing the beautiful construction, Neagoe Basarab ordered the scaffolding to be taken down, so that Manole and his team remain up, without the possibility of going down. Thirsty for life, the craftsman Manole builds himself some wings, but he collapses in the middle of the monastery courtyard and dies. In that place appeared a spring fed by the tears of the unfortunate Manole.

The second legend refers to Filoftea, a 12-year-old girl who every day had to bring food to people who worked for her father. But one day, seeing some poor and hungry people, she decided to give them the food. Learning about this deed, her father kills her with an ax blow. It is said that the body of the little Filoftea became so heavy, it could only be moved at the moment when Curtea de Arges Monastery was mentioned for the first time.

Alpin Hotel invites you to take your time and visit the Curtea de Arges Monastery, a place where every soul should stop at least once in their life.