Stelea Monastery

The Stelea Monastery is located in the center of Târgoviște and preserves the church built in 1645 by the ruler of Moldavia, Vasile Lupu. The foundation is linked to his reconciliation with Matei Basarab and brings elements of Moldavian architecture to Wallachia. The two towers, the buttresses and the rows of niches on the facades give the church an easily recognizable profile. The ensemble also includes the bell tower, which has an older history than the current church.

In the courtyard of the monastery, the proportions of the construction and the details of the masonry can be seen before entering the church. The closed porch and the decoration of the facades provide benchmarks for comparing the monument with other religious foundations of the period. The monastery was reactivated in 1990 and is a functioning religious place. The visit must be adapted to the services and rules of the place, respecting the quiet atmosphere and photography guidelines.

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