Sâmbăta De Sus – Monastery, Churches and the Făgăraș Mountains

Sâmbăta De Sus is home to Brâncoveanu Monastery, whose history began in the mid-17th century. The monastery lies in the valley of the Sâmbăta River, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, at an altitude of over 600 m.

Culture

Brâncoveanu Monastery houses the Museum of the Mitropolit Antonie Plămădeală Collection, with two exhibition halls. The collection includes old Romanian and foreign books, manuscripts, folk art, incunabula, glass and wooden icons, liturgical vestments and religious objects.

The sacred architecture of Sâmbăta De Sus includes a western and an eastern church. The western church, dedicated to Saint Theodore Tiron the Great Martyr, was built in 1784 in the Brâncovenesc style; its massive walls are made of river stone. The eastern church was built in 1786 by Abbot Visarion and traces its foundation to Brâncoveanu.

The Academia de la Sâmbăta is a building with around 70 rooms and an amphitheatre. People from outside can be admitted there for study and retreat, and can be accommodated and provided with meals. In addition, the Academia is designed as a venue for various conferences on religious, cultural, scientific and artistic topics.

In the painting workshop of Brâncoveanu Monastery, traditional reverse-glass paintings and new works in the style of earlier masters are made by hand. The paintings are displayed in one wing of the monastery museum.

The present-day Brâncoveanu Palace was built in the 19th century by Grigore Brâncoveanu, incorporating the cellars of the older palace. The stone entrance gate of the Brâncoveanu estate preserves richly decorated elements of the ensemble built by Constantin Brâncoveanu. Brâncoveanu Castle is located in the western part of the village of Sâmbăta De Sus and is a tourist attraction in the area as well as a valuable historical monument.

Brâncoveanu Monastery is a pilgrimage site for many believers. The La chilia Părintelui Arsenie Boca church welcomes many pilgrims for prayer and retreat. Local customs and traditions from 6 December to 7 January include Ceata de feciori and Ceata de irozi. Izvorul Tămăduirii is a local religious event held on the first Friday after the Easter holidays.

Nature

About half of the municipality of Sâmbăta de Sus lies within the ROSCI0122 Munții Făgăraș protected area. This also includes approximately half of the settlement’s built-up area, extending south to DJ 104A. Forty-one percent of the municipality of Sâmbăta de Sus lies within the ROSPA0098 Piemontul Făgăraș protected area.

Cabana Valea Sâmbetei is located on the edge of the alpine zone in Valea Sâmbetei, at an altitude of 1,400 m. It is a starting point for Romania’s highest peak, Vârful Moldoveanu, at 2,544 m.

Hiking

Route 07MN58 is an officially approved hiking trail; in winter, it is recommended only as far as Cabana Valea Sâmbetei. The combination of trail status and season helps you assess the hike.

When comparing hotels in Sâmbăta De Sus, you can first check the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages. This information allows for an objective comparison of different options by period, room type and conditions.

Other places: Codlea, Prejmer, Rotbav, Rupea, Kálbor, Tohanu Nou, Cincșor, Râşnov

To the higher-level travel overview: Brasov.