Sâmbăta De Sus: Monastery, Churches and Mountain Scenery

At the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains, in the valley of the Sâmbăta River, Brâncoveanu Monastery sits at an altitude of over 600 metres. Its history dates back to the mid-17th century. In Sâmbăta de Sus, the history of the monastery and its churches is set against a mountain landscape shaped by protected areas and hiking trails.

Monastery, Collection and Painting

The Museum of the Mitropolit Antonie Plămădeală Collection is located at Brâncoveanu Monastery and comprises two exhibition halls. The collection includes old Romanian and foreign books, manuscripts and incunabula, as well as folk art, glass and wooden icons, liturgical vestments and religious objects. The collection therefore brings together distinct areas of interest: the history of writing and books, folk art and church objects.

The monastery’s painting workshop produces traditional reverse glass paintings and new works by hand in the style of earlier masters. The paintings are exhibited in one wing of the monastery museum. Alongside the historic collection, this craft tradition is another focus of the monastery complex.

Churches and Historic Buildings

The western church of Sâmbăta de Sus was built in 1784 in the Brâncovenesc style and is dedicated to Saint Theodore Tiron, the Great Martyr. Its massive walls are made of river stone. The eastern church was built in 1786 by Abbot Visarion; Brâncoveanu was its founder. The dates and architectural features give each church its own point of historical reference.

The present-day Brâncoveanu Palace was built in the 19th century by Grigore Brâncoveanu, incorporating cellars from the older palace. The stone entrance gate to the Brâncoveanu court preserves richly decorated elements of the ensemble built by Constantin Brâncoveanu. Brâncoveanu Castle is located in the western part of the village and is a local tourist attraction as well as a valuable historic monument.

Faith, Education and Traditions

Brâncoveanu Monastery is a pilgrimage site for many believers. The church La chilia Părintelui Arsenie Boca also welcomes many pilgrims for prayer and retreat. The Academia de la Sâmbăta provides another cultural focus: the building, with around 70 rooms and an amphitheatre, is designed to welcome, accommodate and provide for people from elsewhere who come to study and retreat. It is intended as a conference venue for religious, cultural, scientific and artistic topics.

Local customs from 6 December to 7 January include Ceata de feciori and Ceata de irozi. Izvorul Tămăduirii is a local religious event held on the first Friday after the Easter holidays. These calendar dates give the traditions a different time frame from the churches and monastery buildings that shape the area year-round.

Mountain Scenery and Hiking Information

About half of the municipality of Sâmbăta de Sus lies within the ROSCI0122 Munții Făgăraș protected area. This also includes approximately half of the built-up area, extending south to the DJ 104A. Forty-one percent of the municipality lies within the ROSPA0098 Piemontul Făgăraș protected area. The two municipal shares refer to the respective protected areas; the additional overlap described as extending south to the DJ 104A concerns the built-up area.

Cabana Valea Sâmbetei is located at the edge of the alpine zone in Valea Sâmbetei, at an altitude of 1,400 metres. It is a starting point for Vârful Moldoveanu, Romania’s highest peak at 2,544 metres. In winter, the homologated hiking trail 07MN58 is recommended only as far as Cabana Valea Sâmbetei. Before your hike, check the latest route guidance, especially if you plan to hike during the cold season.

Discover more destinations: Șirnea, Honigberg, Predeluț, Racoș, Tohanu Nou, Kronstadt, Prejmer, Predeal

For the broader travel overview: Brasov.