The Monastery of a Tree, Francești, Vâlcea

1. The monument, the painted arch, the fountain

At the end of the wide entrance alley is a roundabout next to which an impressive monument erected in honor of the heroes of military aviation is found next to a tricolor flag raised on a mast higher than the monument. We followed, like everyone else, the road to the left. It passes under the painted arch in the monastery wall.

From here, a paved alley with small islands of flowers leads to the stone church. The alley is guarded by stone columns like the Roman ones. A fountain with a stone cross cools the hot atmosphere. The cleanliness and care of the entire area we are in is remarkable. We climb some stairs and pass under a new vault under which there is a long inscription in the marble slab that moves you. It is a commemorative plaque in honor of the “heroes of Romanian aviation” – inventors, engineers, technicians, pilots, civilians and soldiers. We read heavy names such as Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu, Henry Coanda, Gogu Constantinescu, which open another longer list of names written in alphabetical order. Next to it, the marine heroes are commemorated on another marble stone, the plaque being placed next to an anchor.

2. The stone church

Above is the stone church, which in this well-kept green setting, seems naturally framed as it could not be better. Next to the church, people enter, people leave. The stone church was built in the 16th – 18th centuries and is declared a historical monument.

3. Secular oaks

We climb a little more, so first let’s take a breath of fresh air in our chests, A landscaped path continues uphill gently among centuries-old oak trees. The diameter of their stem and their notched bark impresses. How many people will be hosted and cooled in their shade?

4. The church of a tree

There is a house up on the hill, says the song…. In our case, up on the hill is the House of God, it is a Church of a tree, apparently built in the 16th century. The wood gives it a particular charm, it has a particular smell from the thick wooden beams, as if the huge oak from which it was built is still breathing. It has a roof, obviously also made of wood, but which stands like a hat with large brims, providing a lot of shade around it. In the little wooden church there is the icon for which many believers and especially suffering people climb in search of hope and healing, the icon of the Mother of God. For those who come here with an open soul, the importance is faith, because only with it you can fight through the hard trials of life. The church is literally loaded with painting icons lined up and agitated on the walls and ceiling.