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Radu Vodă Monastery: a quiet monastery on one of Bucharest’s oldest hills

Radu Vodă Monastery (Mănăstirea Radu Vodă) is a Romanian Orthodox monastery in the middle of Bucharest, on the banks of the Dâmbovița and a few hundred metres from Piața Unirii. It is a listed historic monument, and the hill it stands on has yielded traces from the Palaeolithic and from the Dacian age.

In 1595 Ottoman troops briefly used the church of Radu Vodă as a mosque, then set it on fire as they retreated before the army of Michael the Brave.

WhereRadu Vodă Street, Bucharest, on the banks of the Dâmbovița, close to the Patriarchal Cathedral

TypeRomanian Orthodox monastery of the late 16th century, rebuilt in 1625 and restored 1969–1974

Best forA calm stop in the capital, old churches and layers of Bucharest history

Getting thereA few hundred metres from the Piața Unirii metro station, in central Bucharest

The history of Radu Vodă Monastery

The hill of Radu Vodă was settled long before any monastery. Archaeologists have found important traces from the Palaeolithic here, and the English Wikipedia describes it as the oldest known settlement site on the territory of Romania, followed by continuous occupation in the Neolithic, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. In the time of the Getae and Dacians the hill, near today’s Piața Unirii, had strong fortifications and was a strategic point of the first rank.

A first church on the hill is attributed to Prince Mihnea the Bad, who reigned in 1508–1509. The monastery as known today was founded by Alexander II Mircea, who reigned from 1568 to 1577 and was a great-grandson of Vlad the Impaler, together with his wife Catherine Salvaresso. They gave thanks for a military victory, and the church was meant to be the metropolitan church of the capital. Their son Mihnea the Turk endowed it with estates, villages and valuables, and during his reign the first library in Bucharest was set up at the monastery. It is named after Radu Mihnea, under whom the work was completed.

Violence and disaster marked the next centuries. In 1595 the church was used for a short time as a mosque by the troops of Sinan Pasha and then set on fire as they retreated before the army of Michael the Brave. Radu Mihnea rebuilt the monastery from its foundations in 1625 and dedicated it to the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos. Between 1653 and 1657 the Patriarch Macarie of Antioch and Paul of Aleppo visited and were deeply impressed by its architecture. Earthquakes in 1829 and 1838 caused heavy damage and required extensive repairs. In 1875 the minister Titu Maiorescu ordered the demolition of a large part of the monastery, as of other monastic complexes and inns in Bucharest, which were considered unhealthy. The church, the bell tower and some of the cells were left standing.

The buildings found other uses. The Seminary of the Metropolitan See worked here from 1839 to 1847, the French Lycée was housed here for a short time, and early in the communist period the monastery served as a school for party cadres. The seminary buildings south of the church date from 1893. In 1960 the monastery was dissolved. Patriarch Justinian then asked for the church to be restored, which was done between 1969 and 1974, and it was consecrated again in 1979. The painting is the work of Archimandrite Sofian Boghiu, though a significant part of Gheorghe Tattarescu’s earlier painting survives in the pronaos. Patriarch Justinian Marina, who died in 1977, is buried in the church. The monastic community was revived in 1998 by Patriarch Teoctist.

Curiosities about Radu Vodă Monastery

English Wikipedia calls the hill the oldest known settlement site on the territory of Romania, with traces from the Palaeolithic through the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
The remains of a fortified Dacian-era settlement lie on the site of the monastery.
In 1595 the church was used for a time as a mosque by the troops of Sinan Pasha and then burned during their retreat.
The first library in Bucharest was established at the monastery in the reign of Mihnea the Turk.
The founder, Alexander II Mircea, was a great-grandson of Vlad the Impaler.
In 1875 much of the monastery was pulled down on the order of the minister Titu Maiorescu; the church, the bell tower and some of the cells escaped demolition.

Tours near Radu Vodă Monastery

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Private Day Trip from Bucharest: Dracula’s Castle, Peles & Brasov

★ 5 (68 reviews) · 10 h

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Private Walking Tour: Essential Bucharest + Hidden Gems

★ 5 (53 reviews) · 2 h

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Contrasts of Communism - Small Group Walking Tour in Bucharest

★ 5 (48 reviews) · 3 h

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Private Tour to Dracula's Castle, Peles Castle from Bucharest

★ 5 (44 reviews) · 12 h

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Visiting Radu Vodă Monastery: what to see

The church is the heart of the visit. Its painting is by Archimandrite Sofian Boghiu, with a significant part of Gheorghe Tattarescu’s earlier work preserved in the pronaos.
The tomb of Patriarch Justinian Marina is in the church. The old bell tower and some of the monastic cells are also still standing.
The seminary buildings south of the church were built in 1893 as a boarding house for the theological seminary.
The monastery is in central Bucharest, on the banks of the Dâmbovița near the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral, and a few hundred metres from the Piața Unirii metro station.
Antim Monastery and Stavropoleos Monastery are about 1 km away, and the Fire Lookout Tower (Foișorul de Foc) and Kretzulescu Church about 2 km. It is an active monastery, so check the current opening hours before you go.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Radu Vodă Monastery is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Radu Vodă Monastery

Questions

Where is Radu Vodă Monastery?

It is on Radu Vodă Street in central Bucharest, on the banks of the Dâmbovița and close to the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral. The Piața Unirii metro station is a few hundred metres away.

Who founded Radu Vodă Monastery?

Prince Alexander II Mircea and his wife Catherine Salvaresso founded it to give thanks for a victory in battle. It is named after Radu Mihnea, under whom it was completed and later rebuilt.

Why is it called Radu Vodă?

The monastery carries the name of Prince Radu Mihnea, who completed it and rebuilt it from its foundations in 1625.

Who is buried at Radu Vodă Monastery?

Patriarch Justinian Marina, who died in 1977 and had asked for the church to be restored, is buried in the church.

Is Radu Vodă Monastery old?

The monastery dates from the late 16th century, and a first church on the hill is attributed to a prince of 1508–1509. The hill itself was inhabited as early as the Palaeolithic.

What else can you see near Radu Vodă Monastery?

Antim Monastery and Stavropoleos Monastery are about 1 km away, and the Fire Lookout Tower and Kretzulescu Church about 2 km.