Mănăstirea Văratec

Văratec Monastery is the largest convent for nuns in Romania, set in a peaceful clearing at the foot of wooded hills near the town of Piatra Neamț, in the land of the Neamț monasteries. Founded at the end of the eighteenth century by mother Olimpiada together with the spiritual father Paisie of Neamț, the settlement grew over time into a true monastic hearth, with churches, cells scattered like a village, and renowned workshops of weaving and embroidery. The main church holds old icons and heritage objects, and in the monastery cemetery lies the grave of the poet Veronica Micle, linked to the figure of the great poet Mihai Eminescu. The atmosphere of peace, the traditional Moldavian architecture and the natural setting make Văratec a place of pilgrimage and contemplation, as well as a cultural destination.

The monastery museum preserves collections of old church art. Set near other famous monasteries such as Agapia, Văratec fits into a spiritual circuit. Visitors are asked to respect the proper dress and the quiet of the place.