Curchi Monastery

Curchi Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Curchi Monastery stands in a wooded valley in the Orhei district of central Moldova, about sixty kilometres north of Chişinău, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is one of the largest and most beautiful monastic complexes in Moldova. Most visitors come on a day trip from Chişinău that combines Curchi with Orheiul Vechi, a dramatic archaeological and religious site in a river canyon with a cave monastery, about twenty kilometres away, and sometimes with a wine tasting, as Moldova is famous for its wineries, including the underground cellars of Cricova and Mileştii Mici.

A car or tour is the easiest way to reach the monastery. The monastery is active, with a community of monks, and visitors should dress modestly, with women covering their heads. The grounds include gardens and a lake. Tours from Chişinău usually visit Curchi and Orheiul Vechi in about six hours, including lunch.

Visiting Curchi Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in the eighteenth century, around 1773, by the Curchi family of boyars, and it grew into a large complex with several churches. The main church, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, built between 1810 and 1818, is a large neoclassical building with a dome and columned porticoes, and there are also a winter church dedicated to Saint Dimitrie and a smaller church of Saint Nicholas. During the Soviet period, the monastery was closed and used as a psychiatric hospital and later as a prison, and its buildings were neglected. After Moldova's independence, the monastery was returned to the church, and it has been restored, with new frescoes, gilded iconostases and landscaped grounds.

The complex includes monks' cells, a bell tower and a guesthouse, surrounded by forested hills. The cathedral's interior is decorated with paintings and gilded carvings on the iconostasis. The monastery's gardens are carefully landscaped, with paths, flowers and fountains. The church of Saint Dimitrie has a small, warm interior used for services in winter. The bell tower rises above the entrance gate. The monastery's museum displays icons and religious objects. The monks produce honey and other goods. The complex's white buildings stand out against the green hills. The monastery has also been used as a filming location. Visitors often combine prayer with walks in the forest around the monastery.

Curchi Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily. Moldova has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters; spring and autumn are the best seasons for visiting, and autumn is also the grape harvest season. The feast of the Nativity of the Virgin on 21 September, according to the Julian calendar, is the monastery's main celebration. Orthodox Easter and Christmas bring services and pilgrims. The National Wine Day festival in October is held in Chişinău. Allow about forty-five minutes for the monastery, and combine it with Orheiul Vechi. Orheiul Vechi's cave monastery, carved into a limestone cliff above the Răut river, offers dramatic views of the canyon.