Putna combines monastic history with a local craft tradition and the starting point of the Via Transilvanica. The town’s cultural heritage includes sacred buildings from different centuries, a medieval museum and a cave carved into the rock. Decorating eggs is also known here as an old tradition.
Monastic history and collections
Mănăstirea Putna was built by Ștefan cel Mare between 1466 and 1469. The Orthodox monastery is one of Romania’s most important cultural, religious and artistic centres. Its medieval museum preserves manuscripts and embroideries from the monastery’s workshops, as well as church and educational books, ecclesiastical treasures and ceramic objects. The collection therefore ranges from writing and textiles to religious and ceramic items.
Another historical period is represented by the wooden church „Intrarea Maicii Domnului în Biserică“, also known as the „Dragoș Vodă“ wooden church or Schitul Putna. According to tradition, it dates back to the mid-14th century; today it serves as a chapel and museum. The Biserica „Nașterea Maicii Domnului“ was built later: Romanian Orthodox believers from the town built it between 1900 and 1908 with support from the Church Fund of Bukovina. Together, these churches illustrate different chapters in Putna’s religious architectural history.
A second monastery complex
Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei comprises four places of worship: two small chapels dedicated to „Sfântul Ioan Evanghelistul“ and „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului“, the Biserica „Buna Vestire“ and the large church „Izvorul Tămăduirii“. The original Biserica „Bunavestire“ was built between 1754 and 1758. During restoration work, it was rebuilt from the ground up between 1990 and 1996 and consecrated on 29 September 1996. The Biserica „Bunavestire“ houses a reliquary containing the relics of the venerable abbots Sila, Natan and Paisie. Pilgrims visit the monastery to attend the services celebrated there.
The name Biserica de la izvor is also useful for finding your way around the complex: it is another name for the Biserica „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului“. It is on the left, 200 metres before the entrance to Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei. Right beside the church is the Izvorul Starețului Sila, which many believers visit to collect blessed water.
Walking and the Via Transilvanica
The Via Transilvanica begins in Bukovina at Mănăstirea Putna. The Bukovina section is 144 kilometres long and leads from the monastery towards the Sucevița Depression. This is a different scale from the route between the two monasteries: the 3.7 kilometres between Mănăstirea Putna and Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei can be covered on foot. This makes it possible to distinguish a short connection between monastery sites from planning the longer-distance trail.
Another landmark is the Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul: the cave carved into the rock lies in the valley of the Vițău stream, about one kilometre from Mănăstirea Putna. The pronaos, naos and altar of a chapel carved into the rock are still visible inside the cave; beneath them is a cell, also carved into the stone. Putna railway station can also be placed in context: Mănăstirea Putna is about 1.5 kilometres away. If you are planning to travel by train, check current rail services in advance.
A local craft tradition
Decorating eggs is a tradition known in Putna since ancient times. The craftswomen use a simple tool, which each master craftswoman makes herself and which is popularly known as „chișiță“. The tradition is therefore defined not only by the decorated eggs, but also by the handmade tool. Together with the monasteries, the museum collection and the sites in the surrounding landscape, this tradition offers another perspective on Putna’s cultural life.
For the broader travel overview: Comuna Putna.
