It is the oldest surviving princely foundation in Wallachia, on UNESCO's tentative list, with some of the oldest wall paintings in the country.
About the place
Basarab I built the princely court here in the first half of the 14th century, and the church of St Nicholas was finished in 1352, the year he died. The interior paintings date from around 1364–1369, under Prince Vlaicu, and include scenes from the life of St Nicholas, the Dormition of the Virgin and the Last Judgement. The church holds princely tombs; one, found in 1920 and attributed to Radu I, contained rich gold jewellery. Next to the church you can see the ruins of the princely palace and the gate tower of the precinct.
Since spring 2025 the church and the precinct wall have been under EU-funded restoration, due to finish in May 2028, and scaffolding covers the whole monument. Since summer 2026 visitors can enter the church again; it now also holds the reliquary of St Filofteia. The entrance to the precinct is from the car park in front of the Municipal Museum; opening hours during the works are not published.
Good to know
- Call +40 733 945 161 beforehand to check the opening hours while the works last.
- The Municipal Museum is right next to the entrance, and the Sân Nicoară ruins are on the neighbouring hill, 200 m away.
- Until the works end in 2028, the façades and the precinct wall are only visible through scaffolding.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.