In a small and marginal country, ie on the edge of the EU, there are relatively few objectives to impress from an architectural point of view. Few at first sight but many if you do a deeper search and try not to make comparisons with Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and many other countries with old and grandiose histories.
Because in a small country the constructions and monuments are small, also although there are exceptions, the most notable is in my own country and of course, I will have to present this situation as well. My little country is called Romania and I think some of you know what exception I mean.
But now, again about church architecture, this being the most notable form of architecture in the Romanian Middle Ages. Romania is an Orthodox Christian country, with Greek and Russian influences, I mean the religious influences of the past.
The Romanian countries of the past, before the formation of the unitary state, were Moldova and Wallachia (Romanian Country). They were led by rulers who found in the church an important ally in the rule of the country, because the inhabitants, lacking the most basic knowledge, were very religious. They were God-fearing and this was exploited to the full by the leaders and the church. In order for this faith to be preserved and perpetuated, they needed something to impress and gather the people, and of course, that was the churches and the monasteries. Imagine the way people lived in small houses, some buried in the ground, the big churches and monasteries. Impressive buildings in size and decorations. This explains, in my opinion, the multitude of churches built in that period. Besides, the rulers were also religious and built churches to be forgiven of sins ... and they had a lot! Moreover, everyone wanted to build the largest and most beautiful church, surpassing the buildings in neighboring countries.
A few days ago I went to get vaccinated against covid-19 in a locality near Bucharest because there was a big crowd in the city at the vaccination centers. Near that locality, there is an old monastery, built in a very picturesque place, bordered on one side by the forest and on the other by a large lake.
Caldarusani Monastery
Some historical landmarks:
This monastery was founded in 1638 by Matei Basarab (1632-1654), an important leader of Wallachia.
Hello @bluemoon, just dropping by to congratulate you. Continue to inspire us with your beautiful photographs and witty writing.
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Nice monastery, beautiful post
It is so simple outside, but inside is so majestic, wow!
You're welcome.
Hello @bluemoon
Wow, that's a great post. Stunning photos and very well described, you have a flair for being able to go describing, even, you talked about history and the way you discussed it sure could entertain anyone.
Thanks for sharing that journey.
The interior is a complete contrast from the stark white exterior walls! It's a beautiful monastery. Great that it was deserted, you were able to take beautiful photographs.
Love that, it is true that photographers are always behind.
Wow! What a construction from the past!! It would take me at least five days to walk and see this place. How could these people build such a castle fortification with so much details and designs! They were genius of those era.
You have the trick of picking very rare places to visit!! It’s well worth your traveling effort! I could imagine how awe-struck I would be to suddenly be in contact with such powerful work and vibes of past glory!
The Caldarusani Monastery is definitely an old religious building but, on the outside, I find the design quite modern and belongs to a more recent era, maybe because of the white paint and the light-colored textures and surfaces. On the other hand, its authentic antiquity can be witnessed in the interiors because of its stark contrast from the exterior. The interior's dark ambiance and color theme with carvings, paintings, artifacts, and furniture all add up to an ancient period that got frozen in time. What a marvelous Romanian architectural experience! Thank you @bluemoon for the comprehensive tour!
What a beautiful and calming place to be in and those arches, the open spaces, the intricate structural details, all are very amazing.