Mănăstirea Curtea de Argeș

Lacul Vidraru

Lake Vidraru is an impressive reservoir located in the Fagaras Mountains, on the Arges River, formed after the construction in the 1960s of the Vidraru Dam, a remarkable engineering work of the era, with a very tall concrete arch anchored between the mountain slopes. The lake, its greenish-blue waters stretching between forested ridges, offers a spectacular landscape, especially seen from the crest of the dam or from the hairpins of the Transfagarasan, the famous high-altitude road that passes beside it. Above the dam watches the monumental statue known as Electricity, a symbol of hydropower. The area is an attraction for tourists, who can go boating, admire the views or continue towards the heights of the Fagaras. The setting blends wild nature with large-scale engineering. Practical note: the best time to visit is summer, when the Transfagarasan is open; check the road status, as the high pass closes in winter.

Biserica Domnească Sfântul Nicolae

The Princely Church of Saint Nicholas in Curtea de Arges is one of the most valuable monuments of medieval Romanian architecture, raised in the 14th century in the time of the rulers Basarab I and Nicholas Alexander as the church of the voivodal court of Wallachia. Built on an inscribed Greek-cross plan, with walls of brick and stone laid in alternating courses, it preserves an ensemble of exceptional frescoes, among the oldest and best preserved in the Romanian lands. Several rulers and members of the princely family were buried here, making the church an important medieval pantheon. The plain exterior contrasts with the richness of the interior painting, which reflects Byzantine influence. The monument stands in the centre of the old capital town of Curtea de Arges, near other remains of the princely court. It is an essential site for understanding the beginnings of the medieval Wallachian state.

Necropola Regală de la Curtea de Argeș

The Royal Necropolis of Curtea de Argeș lies within the grounds of the famous Curtea de Argeș Monastery, one of the most valuable monuments of Romanian religious architecture, founded in the sixteenth century by the ruler Neagoe Basarab. The monastery church, with its richly decorated facades and characteristic twisted spires, is tied to the celebrated legend of the master builder Manole, who is said to have built it at the price of a sacrifice. The necropolis shelters the tombs of several members of the Romanian royal family, among them King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, as well as other sovereigns and members of the dynasty, which gives the place a profound national significance. The interior preserves funerary stones and decoration that evoke the solemnity of this royal pantheon. Set in a peaceful landscape, the monastery and its necropolis are a place of pilgrimage and an essential landmark of Romanian historical and spiritual heritage. A visit reveals the link between the monarchy and one of the country's most representative churches, in an ensemble of remarkable beauty.

Restaurant Montana Curtea de Argeș

Hotel Posada Curtea de Argeș

Simple quarters in a modest property with a bright restaurant/bar and breakfast.