Churches painted on the outside five hundred years ago, a day trip away
Eight churches in northern Moldavia are on the UNESCO list. What links them is the painting on their outer walls, from the 16th–17th centuries: Bible scenes, saints and sieges, in colours that have come through hundreds of winters.
From the cabins, the easiest to reach are Moldovița, Voroneț, Humor and Sucevița. You can see all four in a single day, on a loop over the Ciumârna Pass.
At a glance what’s good to know
Moldovița
~1 h 30 min
~76 km
Voroneț
~1 h 45 min
~93 km
Humor
~1 h 50 min
~97 km
Sucevița
~2 h
~107 km, over the Ciumârna Pass
The whole loop
~250 km
~4 h 30 min of driving, 10–11 h with stops
Entry fee
At the entrance
amount: check on the spot
Getting there
Take the DN17 through Vatra Dornei and over the Mestecăniș Pass to Câmpulung Moldovenesc. For Voroneț and Humor, carry on to Gura Humorului. For Moldovița, turn off onto the DN17A through Sadova; the same road climbs over the Ciumârna Pass and comes down to Sucevița. The short version: just Voroneț and Humor, ~200 km there and back.
Open in Google Maps
What to see and what to do
- 01
Voroneț (1488), with the Last Judgement on its west wall and the blue that bears its name.
- 02
Humor (1530), with its outer paintings in shades of red, and a watchtower.
- 03
Moldovița (1532), with the Siege of Constantinople painted on its south wall.
- 04
Sucevița, with the Ladder of Virtues on its north wall, and high walls with towers.
- 05
Marginea, between Sucevița and Solca, with its black pottery workshops.
More to do around the nest
A day on the road, an evening on the hill
Set off after breakfast, see four monasteries and come back to the fire at your cabin.
Your nest is waiting
Tell us which cabin you’d like and when you’re coming, and we’ll reply on WhatsApp within 24 hours.
