Mănăstirea Humorului: Monastic history and hiking trails

An unusually specific view of Mănăstirea Humorului begins at the ruins of the former Humor monastery complex: they can still be seen today about 500 m from the present-day church.

History

The former Humor monastery complex was first mentioned in 1415 in a deed of donation that refers to the monastery of the boyar Ivan Vornicul near Humor. By around 1527, it had apparently fallen into disrepair.

Humor Monastery was built on 15 August 1530 at the expense and through the efforts of the grand logothete Toader and his wife Anastasia, and was dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God.

Humor Monastery is less than 6 km from the centre of Gura Humorului and can be reached via DJ 177.

Culture

The church of Humor Monastery is decorated with frescoes inside and out, painted by the artist Toma from Suceava together with a team of painters. The Biserica Mănăstirii Humor was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 as part of the group “Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia”.

The water mill of Mănăstirea Humorului is a single-storey building with one room and an area for the milling equipment; it is made of dressed rubble stone and has a four-sided roof covered with wooden shingles.

Vera Andronic and Beleca Maria from Mănăstirea Humorului are associated with the fields of domestic textile production and folk costume.

Hiking

The Mănăstirea Humorului–Cacica hiking trail begins at the edge of the village of Mănăstirea Humorului and then follows a forest road along the Valea Țiganca valley.

The marked hiking trail from Cacica to “La Monument” is about 6.5 km long and takes approximately two hours uphill or about one and a half hours downhill. From “La Monument”, the trail can be continued to Mănăstirea Humorului in about one hour and 15 minutes.

For planning purposes, the trails can be compared by direction, duration, length and elevation gain.

When comparing hotels in Mănăstirea Humorului, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the offer pages. Accommodation details and your consideration of culture, hiking and scenery remain two separate planning levels. The location and route information can be organised according to your own timeframe and desired trail length.

Landscape

The circular trail runs from Gura Humorului via Pârâul Varvata, Poiana Humor and Mănăstirea Humorului to Pleșa, returning to Gura Humorului via Vârful Călugărița.

An eight-kilometre section of the circular trail passes through deciduous forest and leads, with alternating ascents and descents, to Vârful Piciorul Înalt at an elevation of 795 m.

A challenging circular trail in the area of the Mănăstirea Humorului commune leads over the Obcina Humorului and the Obcina Cacica; it is 28 km long and has more than 1,000 metres of elevation gain.

For the broader travel overview: Comuna Mănăstirea Humorului.