Top attractions in Suceava County
Suceava County, part of the rich folk region of Bukovina, is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Romania. That is because the traditional flavour is still alive here, not only in the sights but also in the daily life of the locals: people work their land as they once did, live in peasant cottages and use wooden barns for hay, and the village lanes will remind you of summers spent at your grandparents’.
Besides all these details with a traditional Romanian flavour, Suceava has a rich and varied tourist heritage.
The town of Suceava was the seat of Stephen the Great, which helped it grow both economically and politically. Suceava Citadel (the Princely Seat Fortress) was part of the system of fortifications built in Moldavia, which withstood a series of attacks by the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, it did not hold out against a later attack and was razed to the ground. Today it has been restored and is well preserved, and it is open to visitors. Among the most interesting rooms are the cellar, the prison and the chapel. Another interesting sight is Stephen the Great’s very old oak trees, in the courtyard of the citadel.
Putna Monastery was built at the request of Stephen the Great and is one of the most visited sights in the area, famous for pilgrimages. It is said that the prince chose the site for its construction by shooting an arrow from the top of the mountain. Construction began where the arrow fell, in 1466, and lasted 3 years.
Vatra Dornei resort, or the Pearl of Bukovina, lies at 802 metres above sea level and 100 km from the town of Suceava. Tourists come in ever greater numbers thanks to the picturesque landscapes and the winter sports facilities. The resort is surrounded by the Giumalău, Călimani, Rodna and Bistrița Mountains and Obcina Mestecăniș. It also has a say as a spa destination, as its mineral springs and natural mofettes are used to treat various conditions.
Cacica Salt Mine, in the village of the same name, is one of the oldest recrystallised salt mines in Europe (it is more than 200 years old). It was built at the request of Empress Maria Theresa (it was dug by thousands of miners) and has been open to visitors since 1791. Its 8,200 galleries stand out for their simplicity. Inside you can also visit the Orthodox Chapel, the Chapel of St Barbara, protector of miners, and the brine lake, which is 38 metres deep.
The Bukovina Village Museum, founded in the 1970s, offers a journey into the world of the Bukovina village, perfectly illustrating country life in this area. It has the form of an authentic traditional Bukovina village, with over 30 exhibits: traditional wooden houses, craft workshops, and also the church and bell tower from the village of Vama, which date from as early as 1783. The houses show the typical peasant way of life, as inside them you find ovens, household textiles, furniture, items of folk costume, and so on.
The list of tourist attractions does not stop here. It is worth planning a trip to Voroneț Monastery (probably the best known in the country thanks to the famous “Voroneț blue”, the unique colour used to paint its walls), Humor Monastery, Moldovița Monastery (built by Petru Rareș, son of Stephen the Great), Daniil the Hermit’s Cell (he was an adviser to Stephen the Great), Pietrele Doamnei (one of the most spectacular trails in the Carpathians) or the Egg Museum (where you can discover a collection of 3,000 decorated eggs). Do not hesitate to try the traditional dishes of Bukovina.
Photo sources: Putna Monastery, Bukovina Village Museum, Putna Town Hall.
