Franciscan Monastery in Șumuleu Ciuc

The Franciscan monastery from Șumuleu Ciuc is located in the northeastern part of the municipality of Miercurea Ciuc, at the foot of the Șumuleu hills. The Franciscans settled here in the fifteenth century, and the first Gothic church was completed in 1448. The increase in the number of pilgrims led to the construction of the current church, begun in 1804 and consecrated in 1876. The facade with two towers combines baroque and classicist forms.

In the center of the altar is the statue of the Virgin Mary, carved in linden wood at the beginning of the sixteenth century and preserved from the old church. The monastic buildings adjoin the church to the south, around an inner courtyard with galleries. The ensemble is linked to the Pentecost pilgrimage, when Șumuleu Ciuc becomes a meeting place for communities from several regions.

Photo: Pavel Sinka. Photo source. CC BY-SA 4.0. Proportional resizing and cropping to 650 × 400 px. Adapted photo retains same license.