Nucet Monastery, Dâmbovița

Soothing walk in Nucet

Where is Nucet Monastery?

Nucet Monastery is situated in the village of Nucet, Nucet commune, Dâmbovița county. Access is from DN71. After Mircea Voda coming from Bucharest, there is a sign to the left towards Nucet Monastery. Continue on the DJ711C, over the Ilfov river, leaving on the left the Nucet Agrozootechnical Farm and the Milk Factory. Before the level crossing with the railroad we meet DJ722 on which we continue forward, over the railroad line, then at a crossroads, on the left we leave the Nucet Town Hall. From here we continue straight ahead on DC57 and then the first or second street on the right and immediately left. There is a sign. From the exit on DN71 there are 3,6 km to cover. The distance from Targoviste is 23 km which can be covered in less than half an hour by car, and from Bucharest 66 km which can be covered in an hour or so, depending on the traffic.

History

Nucet monastery ensemble, dating from the 15th century, is composed of the following monuments:

-"St. George" Church,

-Ruins of the Hermitage,

-Chili tree,

-The bell tower,

-The ruins of the enclosure wall.

This objective is recorded on List of Historic Monuments 2010. The church was originally painted in the sixteenth century, repainted several times, the last time in 1995 and is dedicated to St. George, the Fountain of Tamaduirii and the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, and the monastery has 12 nuns.

Before the erection of the walled church, there was an older monastic settlement on this site with a wooden church, which is mentioned in several sources as dating from the XIV-XV centuries. The founders of today's monastery are considered representatives of several "generations": Gherghina Parcalab, Barbu Vacarescu and the ruler Alexandru Ghica. Thus about the great regent Gherghina Pârcălab and his wife NeagaIt is said that they rebuilt the monastery from scratch, according to a document from 1501. From this period, the tower on the north side was partially preserved and the enclosure wall and a row of cells were identified. The monastery was enriched during the reigns that followed until the 18th century.

In the years 1730-1740, the monastery is strongly affected by wars and earthquakes. Vel the Logophate Barbu Văcărescu will build a fortification by adding a new enclosure 1.5 meters outside the old one, will add a body of cells attached to the bell-tower and will rebuild the entire upper part of the church. Another milestone in the history of Nucet Monastery took place in the years 1840 - 1849 during the reign of the ruler Alexandru Ghica with the presumed support of the Baleni boyars, painted in the church among the founders, when the church was completely rebuilt.

The twentieth century was not a prosperous one for the monastery which is in a state of disrepair. It was only in 1994 that the Archdiocese of Targovistei started the steps for the re-installation of the Nucet Monastery, and the works will last 10 years. My first visit to Nucet Monastery was in 2003 and I can certify that it was still a construction site at that time. The church was consolidated, the painting was restored, the chapels and the gate tower were rebuilt. On the south side a chapel was built, and in the woods, in the immediate vicinity, a gazebo that shelters Fountain of Cure - a must-visit place.

1. Carved gate and monastery complex

The first element that cannot be overlooked is carved wooden gatethrough which the entrance to the Nucet Monastery is realized. It has a large opening in the center and two smaller, symmetrical on the sides. The roof rests on thick pillars carved and decorated with traditional Romanian motifs. A national flag flies at the gate.

To the left of the driveway is wooden churchwhich houses the chapel. On the right is museum, with the gang-shaped gate, which is actually the old entrance to the premises.

On the east side aligned with the museum are arranged kiliilies. On the north side is monastery dungeonpainted in white. Also on the north side, still under restoration, is the tower with the 16th-17th century entrance gang. To the west and south are the new keels, arranged on two levels, with a wooden porch upstairs and a brick porch on the ground floor.

wooden gate

monastery dungeon

Chili

Museum

wooden church

2. "St. George" Church

"St. George" Church is located in the center of the ensemble, and has a structure specific to the XVII-XVIII centuries, with pronaos, nave and porch. The porch houses the bell tower and the staircase leading to the bells. The rectangular rectangular pronaos is of the same width as the nave, which is square in shape, and has two semicircular apses. The dome of which the panadantivii are part is high to reduce the size of the spire. At the top, the spire has ten tall, narrow windows with semicircular tops. Above the altar is a spherical semi-dome, and the iconostasis delimits the altar. On the wall of the south facade there is a stone-framed window with a stone anchoring carved with vegetal veins in the Brancovenesque style. The spires are decorated with Tuscan Doric style pilasters.

Painting

Two layers of painting have been preserved: the lower one from the 16th and 17th centuries and the second one from the 19th century. Above the entrance, in the porch, is pisania, which recalls the restoration work, and above it a painting depicting St. Visarion and St. George slaying the dragon, the icon of honor of the church. On the porch vault is painted God the Father. Also the whole interior of the church is painted. We noticed different scenes: the Assumption, the Annunciation, the Baptism, the Transfiguration.

Large church

in the church

catapeteasma

painting

3. The monastery courtyard

Also on the grounds of the monastery, children (and not only) can enjoy several attractions. Behind the wooden church, on the left side of the entrance, in a grassy courtyard to the south, you can admire some pony. In the courtyard there is a pool with fishThe well situated on one of the beautiful paved alleys, where you can take a refreshing walk. Several landscaped places to admire multicolored tulips or pansies and a manicured lawn. We will meet bird houses yes or mini zoo with roosters, chickens, pigeons, rabbits. The nuns are happy to welcome several small, beautiful and playful puppies, the joy of the little ones. You can already imagine how pleasant this walk is.

monastery dungeon

bunnies

bird house

flowers

tulips

goldfish pond

pony

4. Fountain of Cure

On the marked road leading to the gazebo where the Fountain of Cure You can rest on the wooden benches and listen to the sound of the footbridges in the silence of the edge of the forest. There are signposts to the Fountain of Cure and you should not miss this extension of your visit to Nucet Monastery. Fountain of Cure is arranged in a large gazebo, where you will find the fountain itself, several icons, including again the one depicting the St. George slaying the dragon.

indicator to the fountain

the gazebo where the fountain is

The fountain of cure

St. George raping the dragon

5. Monastery forest

You can also take a stroll through the old and ancient oak and hornbeam forest called Monastery Forest, like we did. At a walk, at will. On carts crisscrossed by a carpet laid by wild garlic. I picked white flowers from the huge gorgeous carpet of life.

Monastery Forest

wild nightingale

through the forest

Conclusion

I went to Nucet Monastery of St. George (April 23), but the biggest celebration in Nucet is Spring of Healingon the first Friday of the week after Easter, when the Nucet commune day. I recommend a relaxing walk to Nucet.

Visit also city of Targoviste!

All the best!

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