Sâmbăta de Sus – Monastery, Churches and the Făgăraș Mountains

The Brâncoveanu Monastery is a pilgrimage site for many believers. Its history began in the mid-17th century. It is located in the valley of the Sâmbăta River at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, at an elevation of over 600 metres.

Culture

The Brâncoveanu Monastery houses the Museum of the Mitropolit Antonie Plămădeală Collection, with two exhibition halls. The collection includes old Romanian and foreign books, manuscripts, folk art, incunabula, glass and wooden icons, liturgical vestments and religious objects. The painting workshop of the Brâncoveanu Monastery produces traditional reverse-glass paintings and new works by hand in the style of the earlier masters; the paintings are exhibited in one wing of the monastery museum.

The western church of Sâmbăta de Sus, dedicated to Saint Theodore Tiron the Great Martyr, was built in 1784 in the Brâncovenesc style. Its massive walls are made of river stone. The eastern church of Sâmbăta de Sus was built in 1786 by Abbot Visarion. Brâncoveanu is regarded as its founder.

The present-day Brâncoveanu Palace was built by Grigore Brâncoveanu in the 19th century, incorporating the cellars of the older palace. The stone entrance gate of the Brâncoveanu estate preserves richly decorated parts of the complex built by Constantin Brâncoveanu. Brâncoveanu Castle is located in the western part of the village of Sâmbăta de Sus and is a tourist attraction in the area as well as a valuable historical monument.

The Academia de la Sâmbăta is a building with around 70 rooms and an amphitheatre, where people from outside the area can be admitted, accommodated and provided for during study and retreats. It is designed as a venue for various conferences on religious, cultural, scientific and artistic topics.

Nature

Around half of the municipality of Sâmbăta de Sus lies within the ROSCI0122 Munții Făgăraș protected area. This also includes approximately half of the settlement’s built-up area southwards to the DJ 104A road. Forty-one percent of the municipality of Sâmbăta de Sus lies within the ROSPA0098 Piemontul Făgăraș protected area.

Cabana Valea Sâmbetei is located at the edge of the alpine zone in Valea Sâmbetei, at an elevation of 1,400 metres. It is a starting point for Romania’s highest peak, Vârful Moldoveanu, at 2,544 metres.

Hiking

Route 07MN58 is an officially approved hiking trail. In winter, it is recommended only as far as Cabana Valea Sâmbetei.

Other places

Other local pages: Bunești, Deutsch-Weißkirch, Săcele, Victoria, Cheia, Vama Buzăului, Prejmer, Rupea

Religion and customs

The La chilia Părintelui Arsenie Boca church welcomes many pilgrims for prayer and spiritual retreat. Local customs and traditions from 6 December to 7 January include Ceata de feciori and Ceata de irozi. Izvorul Tămăduirii is a local religious event held on the first Friday after the Easter holidays.

To the main travel overview: Brasov.