Mănăstirea Humorului: Monastery, Frescoes and Hiking Trails

History

The ruins of the former Humor monastery complex can still be seen in Mănăstirea Humorului today. They are located about 500 m from the present-day church. The former monastery complex was first mentioned in 1415. Its first mention appears in a deed of donation. The document refers to the monastery of the boyar Ivan Vornicul near Humor. The complex apparently fell into disrepair around 1527. On 15 August 1530, Humor Monastery was established. The grand logothete Toader and his wife Anastasia jointly covered the costs. Both supported its construction. The monastery was dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God.

Location

Humor Monastery is located less than 6 km from the centre of Gura Humorului. It can be reached via DJ 177.

Culture

The church of Humor Monastery is decorated with frescoes inside. Its exterior also bears frescoes. The painter Toma from Suceava carried out the work together with a team of painters. The Biserica Mănăstirii Humor was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. It is part of the group “Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia”. Mănăstirea Humorului is also home to a watermill. The building has one storey. It consists of one room and an area for the milling equipment. Dressed rubble stone was used as the building material. The building has a hipped roof. It is covered with wooden shingles. Vera Andronic and Beleca Maria come from Mănăstirea Humorului. They are associated with the field of domestic textile production and traditional costume.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The marked hiking trail from Cacica to “La Monument” is about 6.5 km long. The uphill section takes approximately two hours. About one and a half hours are allowed for the descent. From “La Monument”, the trail can be continued to Mănăstirea Humorului in about one hour and 15 minutes. The Mănăstirea Humorului–Cacica hiking trail begins at the edge of the village of Mănăstirea Humorului. It then follows a forest road. This runs along the Valea Țiganca valley. The circular trail leads from Gura Humorului via Pârâul Varvata, Poiana Humor and Mănăstirea Humorului to Pleșa. Its return to Gura Humorului runs via Vârful Călugărița. An eight-kilometre section of this circular trail passes through deciduous forest. On this section, ascents and descents alternate. The trail reaches Vârful Piciorul Înalt at an elevation of 795 m. In the area of the Mănăstirea Humorului commune, there is also a challenging circular trail over the Obcina Humorului and Obcina Cacica. This circular trail is 28 km long. It has more than 1,000 metres of elevation gain.

Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Mănăstirea Humorului can keep the village in mind as a possible base and then tailor their travel planning to their own preferences regarding the length of their stay, daily rhythm, and the desired balance between quiet and activity-filled days, at their own pace and according to their personal way of travelling.

For the higher-level travel overview: Comuna Mănăstirea Humorului.