Suzana Monastery: Monastery, Art and Hiking Trails

Location and Landscape

Suzana Monastery is a historic monument in the valley of the Teleajen River. The site lies on a ridge at the foot of Mount Bobu. In front of Suzana Monastery, the Stancea and Iepurasul streams merge to form the Teleajen.

The landscape therefore combines several clearly defined elements: the river valley, the ridge, Mount Bobu and the confluence of the two streams. The Teleajen serves as the shared reference point for the waterways. The location of Suzana Monastery is thus shaped both by the valley and by its elevated position at the foot of the mountain.

History

Around 1740, the nun Suzana built the monastery’s first church from wooden beams and dedicated it to Saint Hierarch Nicholas. The present church of Suzana Monastery is a masonry building dating from 1882. Suzana Monastery also includes the chapel built in 1911, dedicated to Acoperământul Maicii Domnului.

The building history therefore extends from the first wooden church around 1740, through the masonry church built in 1882, to the chapel from 1911. Different construction phases and dedications stand side by side at Suzana Monastery: the first church was dedicated to Saint Hierarch Nicholas, while the chapel bears the dedication Acoperământul Maicii Domnului.

Art

The original paintings of Suzana Monastery date from 1882 and were created by Petre Nicolau. The chapel fresco at Suzana Monastery was created by the painter Eremia Profeta. The religious art collection includes wooden icons as well as glass icons from the regions of Nicula, Făgăraș and Olt.

The artistic furnishings therefore include both the church’s original paintings and the chapel fresco. The collection expands this body of work with wooden and glass icons.

Hiking Trails

The Măneciu–Muntele Clăbucetul Măneciului–Suzana Monastery hiking trail is marked with a blue dot and takes 5–6 hours. The Suzana Monastery–Stanca–Muntele Bobu Mare–Vârful Bobu Mare hiking trail is marked with a red cross and takes 2–3 hours.

The two trails differ in their markings, routes and stated durations. The longer route leads from Măneciu via Muntele Clăbucetul Măneciului to Suzana Monastery. The shorter route begins at Suzana Monastery and runs via Stanca and Muntele Bobu Mare to Vârful Bobu Mare.

Transport Connections

There is a rail connection between Ploieşti and Măneciu. A bus connection runs from Măneciu to Suzana.

The transport connection is divided into two sections: the railway connects Ploieşti with Măneciu, followed by a bus connection from Măneciu to Suzana. Măneciu is therefore both the destination of the railway line and the starting point of the onward bus connection.

Other Places

Other places:

Bughea De Jos, Măgurele, Bucov, Cheia, Boldești-Scăeni, Surani, Pisculeşti, Sinaia

To the main travel overview: Prahova.