Dealu Monastery, Dâmbovița

The head of Michael the Brave and the tomb of Radu the Great

Where? When? When?

Dealu Monastery is located near Targoviste, Dambovita county.

The address is: Aleea Manastirii Dealu 1, Viforata (DB), postal code 130004

From Wednesday to Friday it is open from 7 am to 10 pm, on Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm, the rest of the day.

To get there by car, exit Targoviste on DN72 towards Ploiesti, cross an industrial railroad and where the main road turns right, we continue straight ahead. From here the asphalt road is called DJ718A and winds up for 2 km to the monastery, where there is a free parking lot. From Targoviste there are 8 km which can be covered in 15 minutes.

Entry to the monastery is free.

About Dealu Monastery

Dealu Monastery is a nunnery.

History

- probably founded by Prince Mircea the Elder

- 1431 the first documentary attestation when the ruler Alexandru I Aldea assigns him 2 villages

- in its present form from around 1500, rebuilt and founded by Radu the Great

- 1515 craftsman Dobromir paints the church

- 1598 - Michael the Brave swears the oath of allegiance to Emperor Rudolf II here

- 1644 Prince Matei Basarab brings here the printing press from Govora

- 1985 the church was repainted

1. Church exterior

We enter the monastery gate on a wide alley (paved road) bordered by a neat green fence. After a curve to the left, the entrance to the inner courtyard is through an arcade. In front of them is the statue of Michael the Brave.

In the middle of the inner courtyard is the monastery church. It has some constructive elements similar to Curtea de Arges Monastery.

From the far plane of the courtyard we have a view of Targoviste. Another spectacular view of the city can be found if you leave to the right the winding road that climbs up to the monastery at its last winding to the left.

Entry

Dealu Monastery

Michael the Brave

Dealu Monastery

Michael the Brave

Dealu Monastery

Michael the Brave

2. Inside the church

We enter the church in silence. The front of the church shelters the tomb of Prince Radu the Great and the gravestone with the head of Prince Michael the Brave. The sarcophagi are made of marble.

The painting and the ceiling and the catapeteasma look impeccable. Biblical scenes are depicted. The monastery also houses the tomb of Vlad the Younger.