Putna Monastery
The grand Putna Monastery is situated 30 km North-Western of Radauti, near Putna river. The monastery and the village with the same name are surrounded by forested hills and wilderness. Stefan cel Mare built the monastery as being his future grave, between 1466 and 1469 and the Church “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” was sanctified one year later.
The Museum of the monastery has an impressing collection of medieval-art objects, especially during Stefan cel Mare and his close succesors.
Only 3 years after the monastery was finished, a fire destroyed it, but soon after it was rebuilt. It was destroyed again in 1963 by Timus’ Hmelntichi’s army. The actual church was practically rebuilt between 1653 and 1662 by Vasile Lupu and his succesors. The plan of the base follows the plan of the original building, as it was proved when the foundation of the first church was dug up, between 1968 and 1970.
In the Putna Monastery there is the grave of Stefan cel Mare, as well as the grave of other members of his family. His grave became a place of pilgrimage.
The church was unusually big for its time, but the explanation was whether that it was built for becoming Stefan cel Mare, his family and succesors’ grave.
The whole Southern side was rebuilt to gather a big conference room.
Although the actual church follows the plan of the building of a typical moldovian monastery from the 15th and 16th century, it has many architectural and decorative particularities, that are typical to the churches from the 17th centuries.
Putna is situated in the Valley of Putna river, on DN 2H, where you can find accommodation and information about the trip. The town is situated on 37 km, North-West from Suceava, following the E85 way for 22km and then to the left on DN2 H for other 15 km, on the field between Suceava and Sucevita river. To get to Suceava, one must follow the European ways E85, E 5, by train Bucuresti-Cernauti_Liov or by plane. Suceava also has an airport.
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