Church & monasteryMoldavia

Bistrița Monastery in Neamț: walls, an old icon and a prince’s tomb

Bistrița Monastery (Mănăstirea Bistrița) is a Romanian Orthodox monastery in the valley of the Bistrița river, about 8 km west of Piatra Neamț in Neamț County. Founded by the Moldavian prince Alexandru cel Bun, who is buried in its church, it keeps a walled courtyard, a bell tower from 1498 and a venerated icon of Saint Anne.

Four Moldavian princes endowed this monastery, and its monks kept adding to one remarkable list of names, the Bistrița Pomelnic, for almost three centuries, from 1407 to 1682.

WhereBistrița village, Alexandru cel Bun commune, Neamț County, about 8 km west of Piatra Neamț

TypeRomanian Orthodox monastery founded in the early 15th century by Moldavian princes

Best forMedieval Moldavian history, princely tombs, old frescoes and a quiet monastery courtyard

Getting thereIn the Bistrița valley, on the road from Piatra Neamț towards Bicaz; Văratec Monastery is about 20 km away

The history of Bistrița Monastery

Bistrița Monastery owes its origin to the Moldavian prince (voivode) Alexandru cel Bun, who ruled from 1400 to 1432. His church was built between 1400 and 1402 and dedicated in 1402, and the monastery is first documented in 1407. The prince endowed it with villages, estates and precious objects, and he is buried in the church. The monastery is counted as the foundation of four princes of the Mușatin dynasty: Alexandru cel Bun, Ștefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș and Alexandru Lăpușneanu.

In 1498 Ștefan cel Mare, Stephen the Great, added a bell tower with a chapel dedicated to Saint John the New of Suceava, and its fresco paintings still survive. In 1538 the original walls were destroyed by the army of Suleiman the Magnificent. Petru Rareș rebuilt them between 1541 and 1546, together with the gate tower, which has a chapel to Saint Nicholas on its upper floor, and he renewed the princely house of Alexandru cel Bun. In 1554 Alexandru Lăpușneanu carried out a complete restoration of the monastery, which is why he too is counted among its founders.

Bistrița was an important cultural centre, with calligraphers, miniaturists and chroniclers among its monks. Here the Bistrița Pomelnic was begun in 1407, a list of names for prayer that records rulers, hierarchs, monks, donors and boyars, including those who died fighting the Ottomans at Vaslui in January 1475. Later hands kept adding to it until 1682, and it is one of the oldest monuments of medieval Romanian culture and a key source for early Moldavian history. The monastery also guards an icon of Saint Anne, which tradition says came from the Byzantine empress, wife of Manuel II Palaiologos, as a gift to Lady Ana, the wife of Alexandru cel Bun, and which Lady Ana gave to the monastery in 1407–1408.

Time and repairs changed the buildings. The wall was rebuilt in 1776 by abbot Iacov, and the repairs of 1792 at the princely house sacrificed large parts of the original frescoes and enlarged the windows and doors. A major reconstruction led by the architect Carol Benesch took place in 1855, and extensive restoration between 1967 and 1984 returned much of the original appearance. In 1982 a marble statue of Alexandru cel Bun was set up near the entrance to mark 550 years since his death.

Curiosities about Bistrița Monastery

Four Moldavian voivodes of the Mușatin dynasty are counted as founders: Alexandru cel Bun, Ștefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș and Alexandru Lăpușneanu.
Besides Alexandru cel Bun, the church holds the tomb of his wife Ana, of Alexandru, a son of Ștefan cel Mare, of Chiajna, the wife of Stephen V, and of Anastasie, Metropolitan of Suceava.
An 18th-century note attributed to Metropolitan Gheorghe says that in times of drought the icon of Saint Anne was carried in procession out of the monastery, and rain followed.
The icon was restored in the 18th century and in 1853 was placed in a new carved and gilded wooden section of the choir stalls.
The monastery walls, 4 to 6 metres high, have loopholes in places and once served for defence as well as enclosure.
A 3 m marble statue of Alexandru cel Bun, set up in 1982, stands at the entrance to the courtyard.

Tours near Bistrița Monastery

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

Red Lake and the Bicaz Gorges Day Tour

★ 4.7 (3 reviews) · 4 h

See details ›

Full Day 4x4 Tour in the Eastern Carpathians

★ 5 (3 reviews) · 6 h

See details ›

Via Ferrata Tour near Red Lake (Lacu Rosu)

★ 5 (2 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Half-Day 4x4 Tour in the Eastern Carpathians

★ 5 (2 reviews) · 3 h

See details ›

Visiting Bistrița Monastery: what to see

The entrance leads through the arch of the gate tower, with its upper chapel to Saint Nicholas, into a nearly square courtyard enclosed by walls.
In the centre stands the church, with the bell tower of 1498 to its north-east and its chapel with frescoes. The Petru Rareș house is in the north-west corner of the courtyard.
The monastery museum holds an important collection of medieval art.
Outside the walls are the cemetery and its church, lodgings for pilgrims and the monastery orchard. Respect the quiet of a working monastery.
Văratec Monastery is about 20 km away and Neamț Monastery about 35 km. Check the current opening hours before you go.

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

Map: where Bistrița Monastery is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Bistrița Monastery

Questions

Where is Bistrița Monastery?

It is in Bistrița village, Alexandru cel Bun commune, in Neamț County, about 8 km west of Piatra Neamț in the valley of the Bistrița river.

Who founded Bistrița Monastery?

The Moldavian prince Alexandru cel Bun founded it in the early 15th century and is buried in its church. Ștefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș and Alexandru Lăpușneanu later added to it, so it is counted as the foundation of four voivodes.

What is the Bistrița Pomelnic?

It is a medieval list of names for prayer, begun at the monastery in 1407 and added to until 1682. It records rulers, clerics, monks and boyars and gives valuable data on early Moldavian history.

Who is buried at Bistrița Monastery?

Alexandru cel Bun and his wife Ana are buried in the church, along with Alexandru, son of Ștefan cel Mare, Chiajna, wife of Stephen V, and the Metropolitan Anastasie of Suceava.

What is the miraculous icon of Saint Anne?

It is a venerated icon which tradition says was sent from Constantinople by the wife of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos to Lady Ana, wife of Alexandru cel Bun. It was given to the monastery in 1407–1408.

What can you see near Bistrița Monastery?

Piatra Neamț is about 8 km away. Văratec Monastery lies about 20 km away and Neamț Monastery about 35 km.