The sanctum of Snagov Monastery

There is one thing that the people close to the capital of Romania can agree on: the beauty of the Snagov Monastery. The sanctum of the area lies not inside the Bucharest's walls, but close by in the Snagov county. Merely 40 km away from the capital, Snagov Monastery has the biggest medieval mural assembly kept by a church in Romania and awaits all those who desire a moment of tranquility after visiting the booming city.

Snagov Monastery

Strada Mânăstirea Vlad Ţepeş, Siliștea Snagovului 077117, Romania

An isolated beauty

Snagov Monastery is a quick trip away from the bustling capital of Romania, Bucharest. Many Romanians who live near the area of Snagov visit this medieval monastery, it being an all year destination. 

This beautiful monastery was placed on an island in the middle of Snagov Lake before the year 1408. Its Byzantine style combined with traditional Romanian decorations allures the locals and foreigners alike. 

Snagov Lake

P578+HM Snagov, Romania

Right up until the year 1821, people used to visit the monastery through an oak bridge that linked it to the mainland. This bridge was burned down, and people started asking fishermen to take them to the convent by boats so that they could pray and visit its beauty. Nowadays, the visitors can do the tour the monastery by walking on a pedestrian walkway which is 140 m long. This walkway is in operation since 2010 and is popular among the tourists not just because of the monastery which can be seen in the distance but also because of the lake view it offers. 

The monastery grounds

The first thing that one can see while entering the monastery grounds is the bell tower through which thousands of people pass yearly to visit the monastery. This tower was made out of river rocks and bricks, and it complements the monastery nicely, due to the fact that it is also made out of brick. 

When walking the monastery grounds, the visitors can enjoy the nature that is all around them. Peacocks, ponies, and bunnies can be seen all over the property, and the song of birds complements the multitude of flowers and trees throughout the grounds.

There are a lot of benches on the land, especially near the lake bank. Sumptuous houses can be seen from many sides of the island, and the boat owners like to take rides close to the monastery. This is a place where the old meets the new in a surprisingly harmonious way.

The burial place of Vlad Tepeș 

There has been a rumor circulating for a long time saying that the Snagov Monastery is the burial place of Vlad Tepeș. As you may already know, Vlad Tepeș was a Romanian ruler on which Bram Stoker based his character Dracula. 

It is said that after being killed by the Turks in 1476, Vlad Tepeș' body was brought by the monks to the Snagov Monastery. They wanted to bury the ruler so that his soul could rest. Supposedly, nobody knew about this, except the monks. To this day, the pictures of Vlad Tepes can be found inside of the monastery, next to the exquisite medieval mural. 

Being a frequent go-to place for the tourists, Snagov Monastery is a sanctum to many. This is a place where people can become one with nature and the animals surrounding them.