Șinca Veche monastery

Șinca Veche monastery tickets: which one to buy

The Șinca Veche rock-hewn monastery lies in the forested hills near the village of Șinca Veche, in Brașov County, central Romania, between the towns of Făgăraș and Brașov, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is a small cave church carved into a sandstone hill, surrounded by legends and known locally as the Temple of Wishes, and it is one of the most mysterious religious sites in Transylvania. The site is reached by a short, steep path through the forest from a car park, and a car is the easiest way to get there, since public transport is limited.

Visitors often combine it with the Făgăraș fortress, the Brâncoveanu Monastery at Sâmbăta de Sus, the Transfăgărășan mountain road in summer, and the city of Brașov with its Black Church. A small wooden church and monastery buildings stand near the cave, and a community of monks lives there. Visitors should dress modestly and be quiet. The path can be slippery after rain, so wear good shoes. The surrounding forest and the carved rooms create an atmosphere quite different from the painted churches of Romania.

Visiting Șinca Veche monastery: what to see

The origins of the cave church are uncertain, and many theories surround it. Some say it was carved by Orthodox monks or hermits fleeing persecution in the eighteenth century, when the Habsburg authorities pressed the Romanian Orthodox faithful to unite with Rome, and others believe the site is much older, perhaps a pre-Christian sanctuary. The complex consists of several rooms carved into the soft rock, connected by passages, with an altar space and niches. One of the most striking features is a vertical shaft in the ceiling, open to the sky, through which light enters the chamber, and visitors often see a shape in the rock above it that local tradition interprets as a symbol.

According to local belief, a wish made in the room will be granted within a year, which gives the site its name. The walls are marked with carved crosses and inscriptions, and the surfaces of the sandstone have been worn by time and visitors. The cave was later abandoned, and it was revived as a place of worship in the twentieth century, when a monastery was established nearby. The small wooden church beside the cave has a traditional Romanian design, with a shingle roof. The monks look after the site and welcome pilgrims.

Șinca Veche monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The site is open during the day, and it is usually accessible all year, although the path can be icy in winter. Summer and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons, with the forest green or colourful and the path dry. Weekends and holidays bring many Romanian visitors, so weekdays are quieter. The light through the ceiling shaft is most dramatic around midday on sunny days. The feast days of the monastery bring services and pilgrims. Allow about an hour for the walk and the visit.