Cozia Monastery

Cozia Monastery (Romanian: Mănăstirea Cozia) is one of the most important medieval monastic complexes in Romania, located on the right bank of the Olt River near the town of Călimănești in Vâlcea County. Founded in the late 14th century by voivode Mircea the Elder, the monastery has played a pivotal role in the spiritual, cultural, and political history of the region for over six centuries. Its construction between 1387 and 1391 marked a defining moment in the development of Wallachian religious architecture and established Cozia as a prominent Orthodox monastic center.

Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, Cozia Monastery is notable not only as a religious institution but also as a royal necropolis, housing the tomb of its founder, Mircea the Elder, who is remembered for his military resistance against the Ottoman Empire and his contributions to the consolidation of Wallachia. The monastery’s architecture is a blend of Byzantine, Serbian Morava, and local Romanian influences, and it served as a model for subsequent ecclesiastical constructions in the region.

The monastery remains an active monastic community and a key pilgrimage site. Its frescoes, icons, and inscriptions constitute an invaluable part of Romania’s artistic and religious heritage. Cozia has also held a symbolic place in Romanian national identity, appearing in poetry, philately, and historiography, and continues to attract scholars and visitors alike.