Introducing Suceava

Click to see all image gallery

Welcome to Suceava

Once the capital of Moldova (from 1388 until 1565), Suceava is an excellent starting point for trips to the many historical, cultural and natural attractions travelers can enjoy in the Bucovina region. Suceava is also the gateway to visiting the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina.

The town has some noteworthy attractions of its own, including Saint George’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Bucovina Ethnographic Museum, with its valuable folk costumes collection and traditional items exhibits, and Suceava’s main tourist site, the remains of the Princely Court.

Other sights in Suceava include the 14th century Mirauti Church, the Zamca Monastery and the Bucovina Village Museum, dedicated to the woodcraft, ethnography, history and folk art of the region. The Bucovina History Museum displays medieval armor, coins, weaponry, tools and ancient documents. Visit these archeological and historic gems before heading to the painted monasteries area.

City Landmarks

Mirauti Church (Biserica Mirauti)
Address: Str. Mirautilor 17
The oldest church in Suceava, Mirauti Church was founded by Petru I Musat in 1375. Until 1522 it served as the Moldavian coronation church. It was here where Stephen the Great was crowned Prince of Moldavia in 1457 after receiving the bishop’s blessing. The church was restored between 1898 and 1901, preserving the original design.

Princely Court (Cetatea de Scaun)
Address: Dealul Cetatii
Open: Mon. – Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (summertime);
Mon. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (wintertime)
Admission charge
Built by Petru Musat at the end of the 14th century, the fortress was later enlarged and strengthened by Alexandru cel Bun to hold off invading Ottoman Turks. Stephan the Great (1457 – 1504) added the moat, 105-foot-tall defensive walls, and defensive towers that enabled it to withstand the artillery of Mehmmed II, conqueror of Constantinople. The fortress was finally blown up by the Turks in 1675. Today, visitors can tour the remains of the impressive fortifications and take in a great view of the city.

Princely Inn (Hanul Domnesc)
Address: Str. Ciprian Porumbescu 5
One of the oldest buildings in Suceava, featuring thick stonewalls and vaulted ceilings, the inn served for a long time a favorite meeting point for the noble court as they returned from hunting in the thick forests of Suceava; hence its name, the Princely Inn. The ground floor dates from the beginning of the 17th century, while the second floor dates from the 19th century when it served as a hunting lodge during the period of Hapsburg rule. Today, the Princely Inn is home to the Bucovina Ethnographic Museum.

Saint George’s Church / The Monastery of Saint John the New
(Biserica Sf. Gheorghe / Manastirea Sf. Ioan cel Nou)
Address: Str. Ioan Voda Viteazul 2
Open: Mon. – Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Admission charge
Built by Bogdan the 3rd and his son, Stefanita Voda, between 1514 and 1552 to serve as the Metropolitan Church of Moldavia, St. John the New Monastery is nowadays the seat of the Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti.

St. George Church houses the relics of Saint John the New, brought to Moldavia by Alexandru cel Bun in 1415. The relics are placed in a silver casket, richly decorated with scenes from the saint’s life. The outstanding exterior frescoes of the church, illustrating scenes from the Old and New Testament, were completed in 1534 during the reign of Petru Rares, a glorious time in the era of religious murals.

The style of St. George’s frescoes resembles those at Moldovita and Humor. Although only some parts of the Hymn of the Dead, the Tree of Jesse and the legend of the Prodigal Son can still be seen on the southern wall, the church is nonetheless impressive, especially due to its mosaic roof and belfry tower.

Zamca Monastic Complex
Located at the west end of town, this fine architectural complex was founded by Armenians exiled in Moldavia. The church dates from the 17th century. According to an inscription, the bell-tower was built in 1606.

Historic Churches

St. Dumitru Church
(Biserica Sf. Dumitru)
Address: Str. Stefan cel Mare 1
Built by Petru Rares between 1534 and 1535, this stone church displays some rather impressive dimensions. Its interior frescoes, dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, have recently been restored. The church serves as resting place for Bogdan, the son of Petru Rares, and a series of important Moldavian boyars.

Jewish Suceava

One of the earliest sites of Jewish settlement in the region, Suceava was already home to an established community at the beginning of the 16th century. Some 18 synagogues and small Hasidic prayer rooms were in use before World War II, the majority of them taken down during the 1950s’ communist ‘urban renewal’ period. Only one synagogue still stands today, beautifully preserved, along with two Jewish cemeteries.

Impressive tombs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be seen in the newer Jewish Cemetery (located at Str. Parcului 6). The Old Jewish Cemetery (located on Str. Stefan Tomsa) with its elaborately carved tombs bearing traditional Jewish symbols, dates back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest in Moldavia.

Gah Synagogue
Address: Str. Dimitrie Onciul 7
Richly decorated on the interior with symbolic representations of the Tribes of Israel and views of Jerusalem, this is the only remaining synagogue still in use.

Suceava Jewish Community (Comunitatea Evreilor din Suceava)
Address: Str. Armeneasca 8
Telephone: (230) 213.084

Museums

Bucovina Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie Hanul Domnesc)
Address: Str. Ciprian Porumbescu 5
Telephone: (230) 516.439
Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Housed in the 16th century Princely Inn (Hanul Domnesc), the museum features a comprehensive collection of folk costumes, domestic tools, crafts and other traditional items from several regions of Bucovina.

Bucovina History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie)
Address: Str. Stefan cel Mare 33
Telephone: (230) 516.439
Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Medieval armor, coins, tools and ancient documents are on display at the museum. The Hall of the Throne is a re-creation of Stephen the Great’s court with furniture, weapons and costumes.

Bucovina Village Museum (Muzeul Satului Bucovinean)
Address: Platoul Cetatii
Open: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Mon.
Admission charge
Located nearby the Royal Court, this open-air museum features a collection of 80 buildings representing the history and design of Bucovina’s rural architecture, including a small 18th century church from Vama and a typical water mill from Gura Humorului.