Churches, Cathedrals & Monasteries in Romania To Visit
There are many options for churches, monasteries or cathedrals to visit in Romania. Some are historic and date back to the medieval era; others are new and rather grand. Many of the churches and cathedrals in Romania are free to enter; however, some have a fee.
I’ve visited many pleasant churches, monasteries and cathedrals while exploring Romania. This includes the capital, Bucharest; Brașov; Cluj-Napoca; and Constanța by the Black Sea. The main denominations are Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
Nice Cathedrals To See in Romania
Some unique and pretty cathedrals in the towns and cities of Romania.
Evangelical Cathedral of St Mary in Sibiu
One of my favourite churches to visit in Sibiu in Romania was the Evangelical Cathedral of St Mary. The Evangelical Cathedral is a beautiful building to see from the outside in Piața Albert Huet. You can also see the church’s distinct spire throughout the city. The cathedral is a fantastic Gothic church building that dates from 1371, and its current building is from 1520.
The building has an epic 7-level tower, which is 73 metres tall and which you can climb inside; it is rather challenging, but the views of the city are worth it. This is the second tallest church in Romania, behind a church in Bistrita. The tower has four turrets on the roof, which look great and are a sign that the city had the right to condemn people to death.
Inside the church, it is beautifully decorated and has many interesting things to see. One thing that caught my eye throughout was the stone funerary slabs on the walls. The pulpit and high altar were also eye-catching.
The Evangelical Cathedral also has four pipe organs to see. These were all pretty decorative. To enter the cathedral, they charge a small fee, which I thought was well worth it.
Coronation Cathedral Alba Iulia
The Coronation Cathedral, or, in Romanian, Catedrala Încoronării, in Alba Iulia. It’s dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the Holy Archangels, Michael and Gabriel. This is a Romanian Orthodox cathedral that was constructed shortly after. It was built to commemorate the union of Transylvania with Romania.
St Michael’s Cathedral in Alba Iulia
St Michael’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Alba Iulia is the oldest and the longest cathedral in Romania. It dates back to the 11th century. In the 13th century, they rebuilt St Michael’s in the transitional style, which is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Assumption Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca
Assumption Cathedral is a pleasant Orthodox cathedral to see or visit in Cluj-Napoca. It was built in the Romanian Brâncovenesc style, a blend of Renaissance and Byzantine. You can find the cathedral in Avram Iancu Square, a nice place, especially when the market is on. It is one of the most important religious buildings in the city.
They completed building the cathedral in 1933, after the unification of Transylvania with Romania. The building is made from stone and is 64 metres high at its highest point. It has 8 domes, which makes it rather striking to see. They also have 4 bells that periodically ring; the heaviest of these weighs nearly 2 tonnes.
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Sibiu
Another impressive cathedral in Sibiu is the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral is in the city centre, and it’s wonderful to visit the inside to see the decor. It’s free to enter; however, you can purchase candles and other religious items at the shop.
They built this Byzantine Revival-style cathedral in the early 20th century and completed it in 1904. The cathedral has two spires above the entrance and a nice dome to see. I found this a nice place to see the art and take a few photographs inside. There were no rules on this, unlike in some Orthodox places of worship.
St Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest
St Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest is a free and interesting place to visit. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral with a lovely interior, and the outside is distinctive because of its large rose window. The cathedral dates from 1875, when construction began. They subsequently finished it in 1883.
St Joseph’s Cathedral is Romanesque and has some lovely features to see. This includes the high altar, which they made from white marble. A famous event at St Joseph’s Cathedral was the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1999.
The Cathedral of John The Baptist in Fagaras
A splendid cathedral to visit is Catedrala Sfântul Ioan Botezătorul, aka The Cathedral of John the Baptist, in Fagaras. It’s a beautiful cathedral to see, especially its golden dome that you can see from throughout Fagaras.
This is a modern cathedral and is all new inside. Despite the lack of history, the cathedral is still pretty special to visit inside. I can find very little information about the cathedral when visiting or on the internet. There seem to be mixed opinions in reviews about its appearance. Some like it, and others prefer something less modern.
During my visit, it was empty, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see all the decor and artworks inside. It certainly had more light than other cathedrals I visited in Romania. The marble floor was pretty special, and the fish symbols on the marble caught my attention.
Outside is a chapel near the entrance, where people light candles to remember loved ones. The fascia and decorative side walls were also pretty nice to look around. The garden was being renovated during my visit to the town.
Churches To Visit in Romania
Here are some notable or eye-catching churches to visit while in Romania.
The Black Church in Brașov
A really nice church to see in Romania is the Black Church in Brașov. This is the biggest Gothic church in the country. The German community in the city built the church in the 14th century, and it’s become the main Gothic monument in Romania.
The church is impressive to walk around while sightseeing in Brasov, and you can also visit the inside. They occasionally host events and concerts inside too. The Black church is one of my favourite religious buildings in the country.
St Michael’s Church in Cluj Napoca
The Roman Catholic Church of St Michael in Cluj Napoca, Romania, is a grand and historic church with a prominent tower. The building was designed in the Gothic and Baroque styles, with the new tower in the Gothic Revival style.
The church is the second-largest Gothic church in Transylvania, with the Black Church in Brasov being the largest. They broke ground on the church in 1316, and they finished construction in 1447. This is one of the top attractions to visit in Cluj-Napoca, with the highlight being climbing its tower.
Fortified Evangelical Church in Harman
The Fortified Evangelical Church in Harman near Brasov is a fantastic place to visit. It is one of many fortified churches in Romania. This is a fascinating place to visit for a day out. Harman Fortified Church has an interesting history dating back to the 13th century when the Teutonic Knights built it.
To visit the church costs a small fee. The site includes the main church with a tower. Rather impressive fortifications surround this church. When visiting, you can see all the details and present the history informatively. This was one of my favourite churches in Transylvania to visit.
Franciscan church in Cluj-Napoca
Another church worth visiting when in Cluj-Napoca is the Franciscan church in the old town area at Piața Muzeului. The Franciscan Church dates from between 1260 and 1290. The church is on the site of an older Catholic church destroyed during the Tatar invasions in 1241. Architecturally, they built in the late Romanesque style.
Inside the church is stunning, with ornate decor and an organ for music. The decor is light and very ornate, with white, gold and peach colours. The church is free to enter; however, there are donation boxes inside.
Churches at Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest
One of my favourite places to visit in Bucharest is the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. The museum is home to many historic buildings moved here from the far-flung corners of Romania. This includes quite a few old wooden churches from various towns and villages.
Some of these are quite old and date back to the 16th century, when the church was at the core of village life back then. Overall, the village museum is a fantastic place to visit, especially to see and learn the story of various churches.
Prejmer Fortified Church in Transylvania
Prejmer fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in the Transylvania region near Brașov. The Germanic Teutonic Knights founded the church, which was then subsequently taken over by the Transylvanian Saxon community. Initially, the church was Roman Catholic; it became Lutheran following the Reformation.
The church dates from 1211, when King Andrew of Hungary allowed the Teutonic Knights to settle in the Prejmer area, and they started construction. They expelled the knights in 1225; then the Cistercians took over the construction and subsequently finished the church in 1240.
The church is very historically significant and included in the fortified churches of the Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overall, it’s a unique and interesting church to visit and well worth visiting if in this part of Romania.
Biserica Sfânta Treime In The Schei District of Braşov
A lovely church on the outside of Brașov is Biserica Sfânta Treime. It’s a nice church to see, and the views from the churchyard into the mountains are pretty epic. During Easter, the candlelit services here are pretty epic to see and experience.
This is an Orthodox church that they completed in 1826 after starting construction in 1813. The church has Gothic architectural features and is nice to mooch around when in the Schei district of Brașov. It’s also a pleasant spot for a break when walking from the city centre to Solomons Rocks.
Beautiful Monasteries To Visit In Romania
There are many monasteries you can visit in Romania. This includes some very special places.
Stavropoleos Monastery Church in Bucharest
One of the most eye-catching churches in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is Stavropoleos Monastery Church. Entry to the church and courtyard is free; however, you can make a donation or buy a candle from their shop.
They built this church in the Brâncovenesc style of architecture, and the building dates back to 1724. The church’s denomination is Eastern Orthodox, like many churches in Romania.
It is easy to find the old town area of the city, and you can just pop in without a ticket. Inside, the church is nicely decorated, and the entrance to the main building has some fantastic frescoes.
They also have a courtyard to sit in or have a look around, with many decorative features and religious artefacts. The monastery also has a library with more than 8,000 books on theology, Byzantine music, art, and history. Overall, it’s a top attraction in Bucharest and is well worth visiting inside.
Sinaia Monastery
Sinaia Monastery, aka Sainte Catherine’s Monastery, is in the mountain town of Sinaia and is a great place to visit. The monastery was founded in 1695 and served both as a religious site and as a fortified stronghold. The monastery contains two churches which you can visit.
These are free to enter, and the decor inside is special. The frescoes in the doorways impressed me. The grounds and gates of the complex are also beautiful. Overall, a place worth visiting if in the Romanian town.
Caraiman Monastery in Busteni
Caraiman Monastery is an Orthodox place of worship in Busteni, a town in the mountains. The monastery is rather new for a religious site. It was founded in 1988. The monastery is free to enter, and the grounds offer fantastic views of the Bucegi Mountains.
The gardens and church buildings are lovely to see, and there are places to sit and enjoy the views. Visitors can enter the main church building, which has some stunning frescoes. Caraiman Monastery also has accommodation for believers, which you can find out more about on their website.