Mănăstirea Durău

Durău Monastery lies at the foot of the Ceahlău Massif, one of the most beautiful mountains of Moldavia, in a mountain resort of the same name in Neamț County. With origins reaching back to the seventeenth century, when hermit nuns lived here, the present complex was developed mainly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The monastery church is famous for the wall painting made at the start of the twentieth century by the painter Nicolae Tonitza together with his pupils, a remarkable work in a distinctive style in which the saints have the faces of children, unique among Romanian Orthodox churches. Its position at the foot of Ceahlău makes the monastery a starting point for hikes on the mountain trails.

The clean air and the quiet of the place attract both pilgrims and nature lovers. Visitors can combine a spiritual stop with a climb on the mountain. It is best to respect the monastic rules during the visit.