Șumuleu Ciuc

Șumuleu Ciuc is the most important Roman Catholic pilgrimage centre in Romania, set on a hill at the edge of the town of Miercurea Ciuc, in the heart of the Szekler land in eastern Transylvania. The ensemble is dominated by the imposing Franciscan church, a baroque edifice raised in the eighteenth century on the site of older places of worship, which shelters a medieval wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, considered miraculous and deeply venerated by the faithful. The place is renowned above all for the great Whitsun pilgrimage, one of the largest religious events in the region, which year after year gathers impressive crowds of believers from across the Hungarian world, in a display of faith and cultural identity. On the nearby hill lies the saddle where the festive open-air mass is held.

The monastic ensemble also preserves an old printing house and heritage objects. The natural setting, with wooded hills, completes the atmosphere of contemplation. Visitors are asked to respect the sacred character of the place and the quiet of the pilgrims.