Voronet Monastery

At the border between Moldova and Romania, in a small village called Voronet, there is a very interesting monastery that was built by Stephen the Great in 1488. The Church of St George of Voroneţ is one of the most famous in the country and is also within the monastery. It is known for its brightly colored frescoes and the hundreds of small figures and sculptures placed in the background. The church is next to a river that is located at the end of the village. The river has the same name as the village. The nearest town is Gura Homorului. No one knows exactly when it started to be a monastery here.

The Moldovan painted monasteries are one of Romania's unique treasures (the other being the wooden churches of Maramureş). The churches are noted for their exterior frescoes, protected by broad overhanging roofs (but still, largely restored). Truly, every surface, inside and out, of these churches is painted. Voroneţ is the brightest gem on the loop of the Moldovan monasteries; you can visit four or more in a full-day trip from Suçeava. The Last Judgment, painted here on a protected outside wall without interruption by doors or windows, is fascinating. You can at turns be awed and amused by the frescoes throughout.