Cârța Monastery: the Cistercian abbey of Kerz in Transylvania
Cârța Monastery (Mănăstirea Cârța, German Kloster Kerz) is a former Cistercian abbey in the Făgăraș Land of southern Transylvania, on the left bank of the Olt between Sibiu and Făgăraș. The nave lies in ruins, but the Gothic choir is still used by the local Evangelical Saxon community. It is a quiet stop for lovers of medieval architecture, and one of the hidden gems of Romania.
At Cârța the Cistercians, the monks from Burgundy’s Pontigny line, built one of the easternmost abbeys of medieval Europe. Today a Saxon congregation still prays in its Gothic choir, beside the ruined nave.
The history of Cârța Monastery
The exact year when Cârța was founded is not known. Documents point to the early 13th century, between 1202 and 1209, and a general chapter of the Cistercian order in 1206 mentions an abbot of this monastery at Cîteaux in Burgundy. The monks came from the abbey of Igriș in the Banat plain, itself a daughter house of Pontigny in France. The abbey was a royal foundation, and a royal document of 1223 describes its land, bounded by the Olt, the Arpaș and Cârțișoara rivers and the Făgăraș Mountains.
The first buildings were of perishable material, probably wood, as Cistercian custom required. Around 1210–1215 a small stone chapel followed, whose foundations the art historian Victor Roth rediscovered in 1927. The main stone abbey was begun in the 1220s, at the latest around 1230, and built in two stages, separated by the Mongol invasion of 1241. The first stage still shows late Romanesque features. In 1260 work resumed under a new architect trained in mature Gothic, and the old chapel was taken down; the north transept and part of the choir were raised on its foundations. By about 1300 the church and the east wing were finished, and the south side took roughly two more decades.
The abbey was more than a place of prayer. It helped to settle the land around it with German colonists, the Transylvanian Saxons. It founded the village of Cârța (Kerz) itself in the second half of the 13th century, and also Apoș (Abtsdorf), Criț, Meșendorf and Cloașterf. A royal document of 1322 lists ten villages as its possessions, spread between Sibiu, Brașov and the Târnava Mare valley. Its builders brought French Gothic art to Transylvania, and its influence is traced in church building in the Burzenland, for example in St Bartholomew’s in Brașov.
In the 15th century the abbey declined. Turkish raids after 1421 caused heavy damage, and on 27 February 1474 King Matthias Corvinus dissolved the abbey; its property passed to the provostship of Sibiu. The church stayed in use, and later became a Lutheran church for the local Saxon community.
The church was a three-aisled basilica with a transept and a polygonal choir, on the pattern of its mother house in Burgundy. The choir, the crossing and one side chapel survive, while the nave, the west façade and the east range of the cloister are ruins. The cloister lay to the south of the church, in Cistercian fashion.
Curiosities about Cârța Monastery
- Cârța is regarded as the easternmost Cistercian abbey of medieval Europe, leaving aside Constantinople.
- Its German name Kerz is linked to the Latin dedication to the Virgin “in Candelis”; the German form of its title is “Unserer lieben Frau zu den Kerzen”, Our Lady of the Candles.
- The foundations of a small stone chapel from around 1210–1215, only 8 to 10 metres long, were rediscovered in the spring of 1927 beneath the later church.
- The village of Apoș, founded by the abbey, was known in German as Abtsdorf, “the Monk’s Village”.
- Stylistically the first stage of the abbey is related to Walkenried in Lower Saxony and Pannonhalma in Hungary, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
- The cloister also served as a burial ground, and human bones have been found there.
Tours near Cârța Monastery
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Cârța Monastery: what to see
- The Gothic choir is the best-preserved part and is still used by the Evangelical congregation of Kerz, so visit with respect for worship.
- The ruins include the nave, the west façade and a wall with a gateway under a twin-arched window.
- The abbey stands on the left bank of the Olt, between Sibiu and Făgăraș.
- Roșia fortified church is about 20 km away, Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery about 21 km, and the Bridge of Lies and the Council Tower in Sibiu about 32 km.
- Access arrangements can change, so check the current opening hours before you go.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Cârța Monastery is
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photos of Cârța Monastery
Questions
Where is Cârța Monastery?
It stands in the village of Cârța (Kerz), in Sibiu County, on the left bank of the Olt in the Făgăraș Land, between Sibiu and Făgăraș.
Is Cârța Monastery still a monastery?
No. The Cistercian abbey was dissolved in 1474. Today its Gothic choir serves as an Evangelical Lutheran church for the local Saxon community, and the rest is in ruins.
When was Cârța Monastery founded?
The exact date is unknown. Documents place it in the early 13th century, between 1202 and 1209, by monks from the abbey of Igriș.
What is special about Cârța Monastery?
It is regarded as the easternmost Cistercian abbey of medieval Europe, and it brought French Gothic architecture to Transylvania.
What is left of the abbey?
The choir, the crossing and a south chapel survive in use, while the nave, the west façade and the east range of the cloister are ruins.
What can you see near Cârța Monastery?
Roșia fortified church is about 20 km away, Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery about 21 km, and Sibiu with its Bridge of Lies and Council Tower about 32 km.
Also nearby
Roșia Fortified Church
Sibiu County · Saxon Romanesque basilica with a Baroque altar
20 km away
Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery
Brașov County · Orthodox monastery, destroyed in 1785 and rebuilt
21 km away
Făgăraș Citadel
Făgăraș · moated fortress and princely seat
32 km away
Council Tower of Sibiu
Sibiu · iconic gate tower between two squares, with views
32 km away