| DAY 1 |
|
| 08:15 | Meeting with the guide at The Palace of the Parliament |
| 08:30 | Departure for Vama on the following route: Bucharest – Buzau – Focsani – Bacau – Piatra Neamt – Varatec – Agapia – Targu Neamt – Falticeni – Vama. |
| 14:00 | Arrival in Piatra Neamt |
| 14:00-15:00 | Lunch in Piatra Neamt |
| 15:00 | Departure for Varatec |
| 15:40 | Arrival in Varatec |
| 15:40 – 16:15 | Visit at the Varatec Monastery |
| 16:15 | Departure for Agapia |
| 16:30 | Arrival in Agapia |
| 16:30-17:15 | Visit to the Agapia Monastery |
| 17:15 | Departure for Vama |
| 19:15 | Arrival in Vama |
| 19:15-21:00 | Accommodation and dinner in Vama. |
| DAY 2 | |
| 08:00-08:30 | Breakfast |
| 08:30 | Departure to Moldovita; |
| 09:00 | Arrival in Moldovita |
| 09:00-10:00 | Visit at the Moldovita Monastery |
| 10:30 | Departure for Sucevita |
| 11:00 | Arrival in Sucevita |
| 11:00-12:00 | Visit at the Sucevita Monastery |
| 12:00 | Departure for Marginea |
| 12:15-13:00 | Arrival in Marginea |
| 13:00 | Departure for Putna |
| 13:30 | Arrival in Putna |
| 13:30-14:30 | Lunch in Musatinii guest house |
| 14:30-15:30 | Visit at the Putna Monastery |
| 15:30 | Departure tu Cacica |
| 17:00 | Arrival in Cacica |
| 17:00-19:00 | Visit at the Cacica Salt Mine |
| 19:00 | Departure for Vama |
| 20:00 | Arrival in Vama |
| 20:00-22:00 | Accommodation and dinner in Vama |
| DAY 3 | |
| 08:30-09:30 | Breakfast. |
| 09:30 | Departure for Voronet |
| 10:00 | Arrival in Voronet |
| 10:00-11:00 | Visit Voronet Monastery |
| 11:00 | Departure for Bucharest: |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch in Hanul Ancutei-restaurant |
| around 20:00-20:30 | Arrival in Bucharest |
Cost: 350 EURO/pers in double room, an additional fee of 60 EURO for single room supplement
Costs are available for minimum 15 pax groups.
Services included:
- 2 night accommodation, half board – Guest house in Vama
- 3 lunches in Piatra Neamt, Putna, Tupilati (Hanul Ancutei)
- Bus with air conditioning and audio-video equipment
- English/French speaking guide for the entire trip
- Entrance tickets for Varatec, Agapia, Moldovita, Sucevita, Putna and Voronet Monasteries, Cacica Salt mine
Please note that alcoholic drinks are not included in the services listed above.
Văratec Monastery is an Orthodox monastery of nuns in Romania, located in a clearing at the foot of the mountains, in the village Văratec of common Agapia ( Neamt County ) at a distance of 12 km from Targu Neamt and 40 km from the city of Piatra- German . It is the largest convent in Romania, here vietu over 400 nuns.
The monastery was founded in 1785 by the monk Olympics with Joseph confessor. In this paper, Olympics mother was advised and guided by Velicicovschi Paisius, abbot of the Monastery Neamt. Placed under administration Agapia Monastery nearby monastery monastery Văratec became independent in 1839.
Founding of the monastery is connected with the name Văratec Herescu Bala (1757-1842), daughter of the priest Michael “St. Nicholas” in Iasi
Agapia Monastery
The monastery was built between 1641-1643. Church architecture does not have a specific style. What gives great value to the monument are frescoes painted by Nicolae Grigorescu during 1858-1861.
Founder of the Monastery of Vale or Agape Agape is hetman Gavriil New Coci brother Prince Vasile Lupu (1634-1653). He built a church dedicated to “St. Princes Michael and Gabriel “during 1641-1643, after Enache Ctisi architect from Constantinople . The place of worship was consecrated on 12 September 1646 by Metropolitan Motoc Barlaam of Moldova, surrounded by a large group of priests and monks, in the presence of Vasile Lupu.
Between 1858-1862, during abbey mother Ursache Tavefta were performed repairs and expansion of the church: the interior walls were dismantled between the nave and the narthex and the nave and porch were enlarged window openings were added one diaconicon south altar and altar one Oblation north and the west was extended porch crowned by a pediment in classic style. The church then had three towers: they added one tower above enclosed porch and the altar, along with the Pantocrator.
Mother Tavefta brought painter Nicolae Grigorescu , then only 20 years old, to paint the interior walls of the church (1858-1861). During these repairs, the church was equipped with upgraded furniture, worked in Vienna and Paris. The church was re-blessed on January 25, 1862 by Bishop Calinic Miclescu of Hariopoleos
Moldovita Monastery
It is one of the oldest monastic settlements, with an important historical past. Its origin is not precisely known, but tradition still reminds rulers during Musatin
Under the reign of Alexandru cel Bun was the first church built of stone, documented between 1402-1410 with the entire set of constructs, having already dedicated to the Annunciation and cultural center. Monasteries of Moldova has enjoyed the privilege of Stephen the Great. Through several charters confirmed monastery Prince 11 villages, more mountain lakes, apiary and commercial privileges that stood among the richest monasteries in Moldova.
Founded by Alexander the Good lasted until the late sec. the fifteenth century, when it collapsed due to landslides
The ruins seen today at 500 m from the present building. Wanting to continue the existence school principal, ruler Petru Rares changes its location and the new church built in 1532 (preserved until today), toasting a same dedication. At that time the monastery was surrounded by walls and towers of defense, gaining a stronghold aspect In terms of art, decorating churches with exterior painting is an innovation. Moldoviţa Monastery painting is a whole general culture – besides religious scenes.
Suceviţa Monastery
Tradition places the valley Suceviţa river , the hills, a wooden church and a schivnicie the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Legend has it that, later, who knows what the redemption of sins, a woman brought her chariot pulled by oxen, for thirty years, should current stone building. Documentary monastery is attested to 1582, the time of Prince Peter the Lame.
The monument is in fact common foundation Movilesti families (large landowners, scholars and even rulers of Moldova and the Romanian Country, sec. Sixteenth century). Built in the style of Moldavian architecture – art mix of Byzantine and Gothic elements, plus the architectural elements of the old wooden churches of Moldova , building, large-scale, three-lobed plan and style keeps settled in the era of Stephen the Great , with enclosed porch.
The enclosure is a rectangle (100×104 m) high walls (6 m) and thick (3 m) equipped with buttresses, battlements, watch road, four corner towers and a chapel over the entry corridor (coat of arms of Moldova) longer rooms of the old royal houses and cellars where it was a fabulous hidden fortune.
Sucevita last church in Bucovina painted on walls (1596), the monument with the highest number of religious images in the country, is a “testament old Moldovan art” (Paul Henry). Tradition and innovation come together in an original and picturesque way dominated by green with “strength and vigor emerald green grass after rain”.
Marginea
Town has won a well-deserved reputation through extremely valuable tradition in pottery craft. The village has more than 30 families of potters who produce the famous black pottery of various shapes and with different backgrounds. Also, here visitors can watch the whole technological process: preparing the clay, shaping his potter’s wheel, polishing and decorating the end of the combustion process. A permanent exhibition provides visitors with sale Marginea. Which greatly impresses the tourists in this area is popular architecture, whose specific is given by houses and beautifully decorated wooden doors. Edge is an ancient hearth and folklore, habits and customs of the ancestors preserved with Bucovina port of rare beauty and sobriety.
Vessels are also forms since ancient times: high pot, large pot with two handles, bowls of dealt with different size pots with gloves. Decoration is the traditional technique: a stone vessels are special polish, gray traces still remaining unburned vessel walls mixing with their black metal.
Putna Monastery
The monastery was a major cultural center; here were copied manuscripts and precious miniatures were made. The place has a rich monastery museum, with embroideries, manuscripts, religious objects, icons etc.
Stephen the Great built the monasteras his burial place between 1466 and 1469, and the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin was consecrated one year later.
Stephen the Great ruled for half a century, 1457-1504. He earned his surname “Great” for his several successful military campaigns against the infidel Turks. He is also famous for building and influencing the building of dozens of churches and monasteries all over Moldavia. Allegedly he founded a religious edifice after each important military victory. In the Putna monastery, is found the tomb of king Stephen the Great and several of his family members. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage. The icon waves and the tomb covers are evidence of the creative spirit of the Moldavian artists of Stephen the Great’s time.
The church was unusually large for its time, but the explanation was that it was built to be the burial place of the Prince, his family and his successors. The thick walls are made of massive blocks of stone, and twelve buttresses support the walls. Originally there were only six, and the other six were added during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Although the present church follows the ground plan of a typical 15th and 16th century Moldavian church, it has many architectural and decorative features that are typical of 17th century churches.
Cacica
Around 1780, the location of the town today Cacica were discovered deposits of salt . In 1798 was put into operation here a saline , bringing the workers and technicians from different provinces of the Habsburg Empire , especially in Galicia (mainly Bochnia, Wieliczka and Kalusz next Stanislawow ), most being ethnic Polish and Roman Catholic.
One of the earliest salt exploitation in Europe recrystallized from brine, salt Cacica is unique in that its galleries were dug by hand, without any machinery. For exploitation and extraction of salt from Salina Cacica not use coaches, the only way to access the stairs underground fir mineralized brine penetrated the wood over time. Salina, has around 8200 armed with wooden galleries, which are in good condition after more than 220 years after its opening official in 1791.
Deposit of salt brine from salt recrystallized from Cacica has been exploited since the distant past. By exploiting salt was made in 1775 by pastors stationed primitive surroundings and the Roman rulers armies that defended the area. Subsequently, the Austro-Hungarian military administration of the area was made exploration, discovery and exploitation of the deposit by workers from Galicia (southern Poland), salt exploitation specialists, workers who work began mining. The salt was mined until 1817 in the form of rock salt-Bulgarians, especially for livestock as ore contains only 87% sodium-chloride (NaCl), being unfit for human consumption. Since the years 1817-1820 using a new technique that involves inserting Galician model water reservoir, getting brine, boil it in some pans on the surface, and getting crystallized salt, which was taken at a modeling section where salt was obtained husca (tronconica form).