Manastirea Curchi
Manastirea Curchi
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
63 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
17
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Alexander R
58 contributions
Jul 2021
This monastery is a gem. It has excellent architecture of all its buildings and very nice landscaping and shady trees. Also, the churches have excellent art inside and great atmosphere overall.
If you have time to visit only one monastery in Moldova, do visit this one (not Capriana or Chitcani, for example), Churchi is the best.
If you have time to visit only one monastery in Moldova, do visit this one (not Capriana or Chitcani, for example), Churchi is the best.
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_Amy
Brighton, UK286 contributions
Apr 2013
We had a great guide who brought us here. We stopped off at the top of the valley to check out the view and it really is stunning. We also visited the archeological museum which contains centuries-old artefacts that local villagers have unearthed from their land.
The church / monastery is very unusual as it is carved in to a cliff and very dark inside. It is tiny but very interesting and you can also see the monks' sleeping quarters.
The church / monastery is very unusual as it is carved in to a cliff and very dark inside. It is tiny but very interesting and you can also see the monks' sleeping quarters.
Written April 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harriontheroad
Helsinki, Finland88 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Moldovas number one monastery, newly renovated. Fabulous details in great surroundings. Good for photography. If the guards say no to photo, monks give permission. ( I didn't had any problems). Lady's need to cover their head, so take a scarf with you.
Written June 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maarten81
the Hague147 contributions
Sep 2012
the Curchi monastery is a very nice place to visit. the road there is good. it has been well restored, showing that the church has quite some money.
the gardens are very nice and have a nice backdrop.
an added element of interest can be the huge limousines in summer for the Moldovan weddings, along with the pretty ladies in nice dresses.
the gardens are very nice and have a nice backdrop.
an added element of interest can be the huge limousines in summer for the Moldovan weddings, along with the pretty ladies in nice dresses.
Written August 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gordon B
NZ160 contributions
Winter in Moldova can be cold. Really cold. When we arrived it was -17ºC, which makes you cough when you first breathe it in.
When we visited the monastery the snow had melted a little but had now refrozen.
The lake in front of the monastery was a flat blanket of white with trails to fishing holes cut into the ice.
The walk to the monastery is only a hundred yards/metres but gives you enough perspective to note the setting of the monastery complex among the trees and hills.
Inside the gate, guarded by two ridiculously young policemen (the explanation later given was that 90% of the traffic police - and presumably others as well - were sacked in a crackdown on corruption and replaced by new recruits), the complex consists of some accommodation blocks in the background, the main, very vertical building to one side and a smaller church to the other side.
There is a wiki page (http://ro.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%83n%C4%83stirea_Curchi) which could stand translating but which gives an idea of the history.
Unfortunately for us the main building was closed for internal restoration, so we wandered around, past a few monks and a nun, asked a snow-shovelling monk (had he been naughty?) if the gold crosses were solid gold - no - and into a smaller church.
The womenfolk were asked to cover their heads, and scarves were supplied, turning them instantly into so many babushkas..
The church is pretty new.. and pretty but photographs weren't allowed. Not were the women allowed to approach the altar, behind a screen, where baptisms were performed (boys only of course).
At this stage I decided a discussion about women priests was probably moot.
After we lit a few candles the priest seemed to warm up in every way. He gathered us in a semi-circle to face the altar (he had special dispensation that allowed him to turn his back on it) and spoke, with warmth, humour and great consideration (he would stop so I could get an interpretation of what he said, Romanian not being on my list of languages taught in school) about the beliefs and the history of the place.
Not nearly as false, condescending and one-eyed (in fact he was none of those) as I find most in his position, he added immensely to the charm of the place.
He explained some of the rituals and showed us a very ornate box purporting to hold fragments of saints..
Towards the end he bemoaned the fact that when people came and left names to be prayed for, as apparently is the custom, they didn't leave more names, such as those of their extended family. Personally I would ask for fewer names, but I guess I'm not cut it for the priesthood.
Just when I thought he was winding up for the pitch about donations.. he didn't, and just smiled, wished us peace and happiness and asked if we wanted any prayers.
I think he got more donations that way, proving the old adage about catching more flies with honey..
When we visited the monastery the snow had melted a little but had now refrozen.
The lake in front of the monastery was a flat blanket of white with trails to fishing holes cut into the ice.
The walk to the monastery is only a hundred yards/metres but gives you enough perspective to note the setting of the monastery complex among the trees and hills.
Inside the gate, guarded by two ridiculously young policemen (the explanation later given was that 90% of the traffic police - and presumably others as well - were sacked in a crackdown on corruption and replaced by new recruits), the complex consists of some accommodation blocks in the background, the main, very vertical building to one side and a smaller church to the other side.
There is a wiki page (http://ro.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%83n%C4%83stirea_Curchi) which could stand translating but which gives an idea of the history.
Unfortunately for us the main building was closed for internal restoration, so we wandered around, past a few monks and a nun, asked a snow-shovelling monk (had he been naughty?) if the gold crosses were solid gold - no - and into a smaller church.
The womenfolk were asked to cover their heads, and scarves were supplied, turning them instantly into so many babushkas..
The church is pretty new.. and pretty but photographs weren't allowed. Not were the women allowed to approach the altar, behind a screen, where baptisms were performed (boys only of course).
At this stage I decided a discussion about women priests was probably moot.
After we lit a few candles the priest seemed to warm up in every way. He gathered us in a semi-circle to face the altar (he had special dispensation that allowed him to turn his back on it) and spoke, with warmth, humour and great consideration (he would stop so I could get an interpretation of what he said, Romanian not being on my list of languages taught in school) about the beliefs and the history of the place.
Not nearly as false, condescending and one-eyed (in fact he was none of those) as I find most in his position, he added immensely to the charm of the place.
He explained some of the rituals and showed us a very ornate box purporting to hold fragments of saints..
Towards the end he bemoaned the fact that when people came and left names to be prayed for, as apparently is the custom, they didn't leave more names, such as those of their extended family. Personally I would ask for fewer names, but I guess I'm not cut it for the priesthood.
Just when I thought he was winding up for the pitch about donations.. he didn't, and just smiled, wished us peace and happiness and asked if we wanted any prayers.
I think he got more donations that way, proving the old adage about catching more flies with honey..
Written December 31, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ana Belén G
Salamanca, Spain30 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
It is worth visiting the monastery to see the rich history and heritage of Moldova. Exceptionally well kept and of great artistic value.
Written June 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dora J
Zagreb, Croatia8 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
We went here one morning, the monasetry and garden are beautiful. It’s approximately one hour driving from Chisinau, so If you have a free time it would be a nice trip.
Pictures are better than words.
Pictures are better than words.
Written October 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PandaHouston
Houston, TX6,120 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
We took a Day Tour from Chisinau with Top Tours Moldova (see separate post) to visit Curchi, Old Orhei and Cricova Winery. Curchi Monastery is about an hour's drive from Chisinau.
The area is very peaceful and the visit was well worth it. There are no entrance fees. When we went on a Saturday morning, there were very few people. The monastery is small but very pretty inside.
The area is very peaceful and the visit was well worth it. There are no entrance fees. When we went on a Saturday morning, there were very few people. The monastery is small but very pretty inside.
Written April 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
global-traveller48
London, UK546 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We were lucky to be there quite early and so we had the complex pretty well to ourselves. It is worthwhile checking the history of the monastery complex, which was shut down during the Russian occupation. Thre are 2 major churches. The large is called The Summer Cathedral, and has been wonderfully restored with an excess of gold. The other, Winter Catheral, is smaller and looks old.
It is an excellent stop on a day tour from Chisinau
It is an excellent stop on a day tour from Chisinau
Written October 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pilgrim_gsa
New Delhi, India1,397 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Due to recent re-construction this is most appealing of the monastery that is definitely not to be missed for it's creative religious art forms inside.
Worth the trip for few hours from Chisinau .
Worth the trip for few hours from Chisinau .
Written October 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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