Putna Monastery

Putna Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in Putna commune, Suceava County, in the historic Bukovina region of northeastern Romania. It was founded by the Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great in 1466 and remains one of Romania’s principal medieval monastic complexes.

The complex’s main draw is the 15th-century church with its funerary monuments and surviving fresco fragments; the church contains the tomb of Stephen the Great. The monastic museum displays religious objects and manuscripts associated with the site, and the grounds include cloisters, a bell tower and cemetery used by visiting pilgrims and worshippers.

The monastery was founded and sponsored by Stephen the Great as a dynastic and religious foundation and has functioned as a working monastery since the 15th century. Over time the complex has undergone repairs and conservation while retaining its role as a place of worship and a cultural landmark for the region.

The site sits in Putna commune in Suceava County, in the wooded countryside of northern Bukovina. The nearest larger settlements are the local villages of Putna and nearby towns in Suceava County.

• Founding: Established by the Moldavian voivode Stephen the Great in 1466 as a princely monastery and cultural centre.
• Significance: Serves as one of the main Orthodox pilgrimage sites in the Bukovina region and contains the tomb of its founder.

What to See #

• Church of Putna: The monastic church at the centre of the complex, built in the 15th century, houses funerary monuments and original fresco fragments and remains the liturgical heart of the monastery.
• Tomb of Stephen the Great: The princely tomb located inside the church complex contains the grave of Stephen the Great and is a focal point for religious visitors.
• Monastic museum: A small museum and archive preserve liturgical objects, manuscripts and items associated with the monastery's history and the Moldavian princely court.