|
|
Suceava The City of Stephen the Great!
|
|
In County Suceava
|
|
|
The Old Capital City
The city of Suceava is the capital of Romania's Bucovina region,
and is a favourite stop for tour groups and travellers alike.
Both Suceava and nearby Iasi have one-stop flights from America
and England, and Suceava and the painted churches of Bukovina are
just two hours by first-class train carriage from Iasi. See
more in our Suceava Transportation
section
downtown
sights
The downtown area is a pleasing mix of parkland and historic
churches, ruins of castles, and the great Citadel of the Suceava
Throne up on the hill.
The Bucovina Village Museum, the Armenian Monastery, and other
sites in the city centre, including the busy city markets, are all
reasons to spend a little time in the city of Suceava at least.
The Neighbourhood Churches of Suceava
From the Church of St Friday and the Church of the Holy Cross,
to those dedicated to Saint George, Saint Nicholas, St Simion, St Ilie, or the
Holy Trinity, the dozen or so neighbourhood churches (and even a
great old synogogue!) all hold their own special charm, and of
course, great cultural utility for the neighbourhood residents.
If it's a quiet afternoon, you're usually more than welcome to
step in for a respectful look, but of course if there is a funeral
or wedding underway, don't disturb the locals.
See more on these churches here
Around Suceava
Most tourists, either on their own or through a tour group, tend
to head to the west or to the northwest from Suceava to see the
painted churches of Bucovina.
True, there are a few other places to see in Suceava and
Botosani and just to the south of Suceava as well. However, you can
safely say you've seen the best of Bucovina if you just head to the
main sites to the west.
The surrounding region, which was once part of the Bucovina
duchy under the Austrian empire, is home to the UNESCO World
Heritage Painted Churches. This is one of the main drawcards of
Suceava as a city, and makes the town good jumping off point for the
mountains and monasteries in the nearby Carpathians. See
more on The Painted Churches of Bucovina Here
If you have some information for us about Suceava or County
Suceava, please
Let us know about it now!
|
|
|
|
|
Downtown Suceava
Around the Main Piaţa
Most major centres in Romania have a Cultural House, and Suceava
is no different.
In front of this 1968 Communist modernist monument, you can find
the statue of early Moldovan leader Petru I Musat.
The Cultural
House was designed by local architect Paul Vasilescu, and often
hosts art exhibits and is a centre of activity during the annual
Suceava Days each June. In addition to activity space for local
clubs, the popular theatre group "Matei Millo" do the shows her,
along with the artistic ensemble "Ciprian Porumbescu" and the "Hora"
folkloric song and dance group will.
The cultural house (or Casa that culture), is just a half block
to the northwest from the main piazza, 22 December.
Central Park
The Central Park is, not surprisingly named Central Park, and it
is indeed in the centre of town.
Romanians love putting sculpted busts of local denizens in the
city parks and you will not be disappointed here. The 1933 sculpture
by Ioan Cirdei of local composer Ciprian Porumbescu, born in 1853
during the Austrian rule in the Fountainhead (Şipot) district of
Suceava, is proudly displayed.
In those days, the entire Bukovina region was administered along
with the Galicia province of southern Poland by the Austro-Hungarian
empire.
Porumbescu was of Polish ancestry, and went on to write
Romania's first and arguably most authentic operettas based on
Romanian folklore and traditions.
Alongside Porumbescu is the more recently done (in 1977) bust of
Petru Rares (by Gavril Covalschi), the bastard son of Stephen the
great, who fought in Transylvania for the Ottoman empire, and who
eventually was installed again by the Turks as a prince of Moldova
in 1541, after having lost the title and the confidence of his
Turkish masters through a series of tactical battlefield blunders.
Like his more famous father, Rareş left a series of beautiful
churches and monasteries, mostly to the east and south of Suceava at
Botoşani and Roman, in particular.
|
The photo immediately preceding this notice is Copyright (C) 2005 - 2008 Rest
Romania SRL, All rights reserved.
Photo:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
Citadel
of the Suceava Throne
|
|
Looming over the Town
Orienting yourself in the city centre is very straightforward,
thanks to the looming Princely Citadel, or Citadel of the Suceava
Throne which can be seen from most of the main streets.
Perched on a plateau on the eastern side of town that Petru I
Musat laid the first foundation stone in 1388. From there the
first rulers of Moldavia (or Moldova) ran their rich empires from
Musat, through to Alexander the Good, and most famous of all,
Stephen the Great, followed by others.
The system fortifications constructed in Moldova at the end of
the 14th century were primarily designed to counter the danger of
the invading Ottoman Turks from the south.
All manner of fortification techniques were used from rammed
earth and wood to stone and brick. Prince Petru I Musat (1375-1391)
oversaw the building of the citadel with defence of walls 10m high
and 2m thick and great rook towers on the corners.
Stephen the Great and Holy
During the rule of the grandson of Alexander the Good, Stephen
the Great and Holy, Prince of Moldova, the citadel was given an
extra defensive ring, along with a series of ditches to better
defend the complex.
Bridges to accommodate troops and supplies were then built over
the new wide moat-like perimeter trenches. It was from within the
walls of these massive ramparts that the great Turkish Sultan Mehmed
the Second, and was fought off during the campaigns of 1476 when
Stephen was just 16.
A popular leader in his time, Stephen the Great
was revered by the local peasantry is roughly translated as:
Stephen, Stephen, the great Lord,
Has no equal in the world
Except the splendid sun!
The whole world is in amazement:
For the land is small, the land is strong,
Yet the foe could not advance!
The Citadel served for many years as the capital city of
Moldavia, far enough away from the marauding Turks to make a good
stronghold in the foothills of the Carpathians.
Stephen defended the citadel from the Turks with the help of
local free peasants, whose right to own land was directly tied to
their military service in Stephen's army.
The peasants enjoyed the good life under the rule of Stephen the
Great, because Romania had no tradition of serfdom or a feudal
system like in the rest of Europe.
That system of oppression did not come for another 100 years,
introduced by Michael the Brave who forced peasants into servitude
with Romania's first feudal laws. The feudal system in Suceava
and Bucovina was not disbanded until the Austrians released the
serfs by proclamation in 1848. And it was in this citadel
Stephen the Great died on the 2nd of July 1504.
The key points of the citadel's defences were mostly dismantled
by Dumitrascu Cantacuzino in 1675, following the instructions of the
ever-nervous Turks.
Parts of the great citadel from time to time roped off due to
ongoing archaeological works.
Major restoration works took place in the late 1800s and began
in the early communist era in the 1950s and 1960s. Luckily, during
the communist era, archaeology was always considered an area of
little real interest by the political police. Archaeologists across
the country continued their work on the great citadel from World War
II to the fall of the Ceausescu regime in 1989.
The whole fortress complex good for a bit of family fun, and can
be seen with kids running all over the walls on summer days,
hopefully exhausting themselves on the circular, circular staircases
before a lunch at a nearby terasa.
Today, the entire complex provides the visitor with an insight
into mediaeval life, with some stunning vistas including moats and round
turrets, castle walls and on foggy days, a truly inspiring glimpse back into
the glory days Moldovan
history.
Open Summer Months 8am - 8p, Autumn 9am - 6pm,
Winter 10am - 6pm.
Admission 1.50RON, Children 0.50RON. Still
Photography Fee: 5RON, Video Filming is 7.50RON
On Fortress Street (str. Cetăţii) + 40 (743)
950.415
(the phone number is for the Fortress curator)
|
The Royal Court of Suceava
The Royal Court of Suceava was memorialised in the writings of
Moldovan chroniclers, and in the stories of passing travellers.
The Royal Court of Suceava was described variously as a palace,
great church and waypoint at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains.
The Royal court was located on the perimeter of the mediaeval
town, just near the St Dumitru Church in the Fountainhead (Şipot)
District, which was the old craftsman centre of Suceava. The
foundations are still visible today and it's worth a look at some of
the information panels, though, on your way to see one of the nearby
churches.
Address: Ana Ipătescu Blvd, +40 (230) 216 439
Fax: + 40 (230) 522.979
The Suceava Natural Sciences Museum
The Suceava Natural Sciences Museum presents the full breadth
and scope of natural life in Bucovina. Distinguished amongst the
collections is one of rock crystals and gem formations (which
Romanians call "mine flowers") and dioramas showing off local
wildlife of the zone in their natural habitats.
Address: str. Stefan cel Mare, nr. 23, Suceava
Telephone: + 40 (230) 213.775
Like History? Check out the Suceava History Museum in our
Suceava History Section here
The Suceava Planetarium
Opened in 1981, the Suceava planetarium is composed of the
planetarium, an education room, an observation terrace and a rather
oddly, a German library with a lecture hall attached.
Address: str. Universităţii, nr 13A, Suceava Telephone: + 40
(230) 216.439 (interior 119).
The Village Museum of Bucovina
Distributed throughout Romania are several village museums are
showing the local cultures and traditions of the region.
Suceava's own Village Museum of Bucovina and adjoining
Ethnographic Museum, display the traditional wares and costuming
from the local area, including a mock-up of a Tavern and a typical
family household.
If you're not familiar with the concept of the village Museum,
simply put, it's a series of buildings from various ages placed in a
field, each connected by walkways so you can visit each of the
display buildings in turn. For those travellers who have been to
Dayton, Ohio, The Carillon Complex There is a similar sort of
collection of restored buildings, all furnished and decorated to
represent a particular period in history.
Several of the homes representing peasant life, buyer gaily
decorated with beautiful linens, textile, rustic furniture, and all
manner of pottery and daily utensils.
The Village Museum is located adjacent to the Citadel of the
Suceava Throne and is certainly worth a half hour of browsing and
looking at the various displays and wares on display.
The Prince's Inn is one of the oldest public buildings in
Moldova, with the lower floor and wine cellar dating from the end of
the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century.
The "Hanul Domnesc" building was first a waypoint to travellers and merchants
arriving in the region, but later, around the 17th to 19th century,
the building served as a royal house, a hunting lodge for the
Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph. Today, it houses the
Ethnographic Museum of Suceava.
The 17th-century monument presents principally the ethnographic
history of the southern Bucovina region.
The permanent exposition in the lobby was recently opened to the
public, and reconstitutes the atmosphere of an inn from the 18th
century.
This restored inn was a stopping point for merchants and
travellers on the road to Suceava.
The rather entertaining exposition is configured to show the
various rooms: the reception hall, the kitchen, sleeping chamber,
the larder, the wine cellar, and the knock shop, all vital parts of
any Bucovina inn.
But on the second floor are some very interesting pieces of
ethnographic and popular art, representative of this part of the
country.
It makes sense to do the museum and citadel at the same time, so
if you're not feeling particularly fit, you can take a taxi to the
top of the hill of the citadel and go down to the museum from there;
otherwise, you can take the 20 minute hike up the hill from the
museum, using a series of pathways and stairs to reach the top. The
view from the top is great, don't forget the camera!
Address: str. Ciprian Porumbescu, nr. 5, Suceava
Telephone: + 40 (230) 516.439 (interior 115)
The Simion Florea Marian Memorial House
"To win with the stroke of the pen" is what the biggest
folklorist and Romanian ethnographer, academician Simion Florea
Marian did. When awarded the 4000 gold lei Herescu Medal for his
work, a study of the Romanian people.
This Memorial house is representative of the normal trappings of
any Memorial house throughout Romania, with furnishings,
photographs, portraits, monographs and a library of the author’s
favourite books.
Marian's true utility to history came from his laborious
collection and compilation of legends, songs, myths, and images from
the rural areas of Romania, many from Bucovina in particular. He
greatly contributed to solidifying and emphasising the Romanian
national identity in a time when such an identity was becoming more
and more important with the union of Moldova and Wallachia.
Many peasant beliefs had their first codification in Marian’s
writings, and his research and writings including articles in
magazines late in hundreds were well-timed with the spiritualist
movement of that era. See more and traditions and folklore section
here.
The house itself was purchased by the writer from money he
gained from the Romanian Academy for a writing competition in 1883.
He lived gentlest at the 19 set in and did a large portion of his
work at this house.
The house itself is truly lovely, with six rooms in a rambling
atmosphere and was refurbished in June of 1974. It is clear that the
curators of this fine monument and lovingly look after the legacy
and the spirit of this great Romanian writer.
Stephen the Victorious!
The relief at the base of the famous equestrian statue
on the citadel hill in Suceava
|
|
The Zamca Monastery Gatehouse
|

|
The St. Friday's Church in Suceava
|

|
|
|
The house is on the street of the same name at
Nr. 4. Tel: + 40 (230) 216 439
The Statue of Stephen the Great
The statue is indeed a monumental work, which proves the great
affection and admiration of the people of Moldova for the legendary
hero, Stephen the great.
Unveiled during the heyday of the communist era in 1977, the
statue shows Stephen mounted on his steed, and an intricate series
of reliefs running around the base pedestal depict Stephen in battle
against the Turks.
Indeed, at that Battle of Vaslui, Stephen was once again a
victorious. This great sculpture was realised by Eftimie Bârladeanu
and unveiled in 1977.
The monument is a good place to catch your breath before
continuing your journey up the hill to the great Citadel of the
Suceava Throne.
Walks through Suceava City
Along the Armenian way
Take a Maxi Taxi out from the Centre at Piaţa 22 December to the
Old Zamca Monastery, a glorious old pile with the tower and stone
ramparts, more like a fortress than a religious compound.
Check out the frescoes in the church there and marvel at the
combination of architectural influences throughout the complex.
From the Zamca Monastery, you can walk down about four blocks to
the Red Rook Church (also known as the Saint Simeon Church), along
with its cemetery and the adjacent Armenian cemetery.
From there, you can travel south a few blocks to the Simion
Florea Marian Memorial House, and then on to the Bucovina Village
Museum, and if you are ambitious, up to Citadel of the Suceava
Throne.
The Church Roundup
Start at the Piaţa!
Once again starting out at Piaţa 22 December, you have a wealth
of good churches within a three-block radius. It may seem a little
odd to tour of these seemingly “normal” churches, when the region
around the city of Suceava as the UNESCO World Heritage Area Painted
Churches.
But these little urban gems are all within a few blocks of each
other and were built during very different times in Moldova's rich
history. Included is a chapel for the old Royal court, and Armenian
Orthodox Church, as well as many different styles of Moldovan
church-building.
The Princess Church
Commonly known as Biserica Domniţelor, this church, dedicated to
St John the Baptist (Ioan Botezatorul) is just across from the ruins
of the old Royal court.
Vasile Lupu laid the cornerstone for the church in 1643, which
served as a chapel for the court, now separated by the main road,
Str. Ana Ipătescu. The chapel replaced a previous church on the same
site, which was also dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
The little church is also known to the locals as the Church of
the Masters (Biserica Coconilor) or Church of the Princes Royal
(Biserica Beizadelelor). It's a cute little church with the belfry
integrated into the north-west wall and charming exterior
decorations with a modest front garden.
There is a quiet residential street behind it, and you can
follow that over it to the church of St Gheorghe. The main
thoroughfare between the court ruins and the church can get a little
busy, so if you are not brave enough to cross, there are bigger and
better churches to be seen elsewhere in Suceava.
The Iconic St Dimitri Bell Tower
Underscoring that Suceava is part of
Moldova, with its distinct architectural style.
|
 |
The Church of St Dumitru
You can see the 45 m high tower from the ruins of the old Royal
court of this clever little church in the heart of town. As you
approach, you can see the great crest of the principality of
Moldova, on the side of the tower.
This symbol of the Great Auroch, or Eastern European bison, is
also shared with the crest of the Bucovina region with its red and
blue background. The auroch (or "zimbru", as the Romanians call it),
was hunted to extinction in Moldova in 1867, but survives in captive
breeding programs.
The solid and very Moldovan bell tower, built by Alexandru
Lapuşeanu in 1560, was used as a fire lookout tower under the late
Austrian rule, during the great fire seasons of the late 1800s.
The church itself was built by Petru Rareş between the years of
1534 in 1535 with a base of an older church, as was common in those
days. The church is painted on the interior and the exterior, and
from an architectural point of view, the church is a representative
encapsulation of the Moldovan style.
You can continue on from here east along the main boulevard
towards the church of St Gheorghe.
The Cathedral of St. Gheorghe at Mirăuţi
On a little plateau situated about half way between the old
Royal court and the citadel of the Suceava Throne, the church of St
Gheorghe was built on what used to be known as Tartar Hill.
The original Biserica Sf. Gheorghe din Mirăuţi church on the
same site was the oldest church in Suceava, probably originally
constructed with wood and then replaced with stonework by Petru
Musat. It was however, by 1402, the seat of the Metropolitan of
Suceava during the reign of Alexandru the Good, and was the site of
coronations until a Tatar attack in 1513 which destroyed the
original church.
Rebuilding was begun in 1514 by the son of Stephen the Great,
Bogdan III the Blind, the same year Bogdan subjugated Moldova to the
Ottoman Empire, in an unfortunate deal exchanging the sovereignty of
Moldova for protection against the marauding Tatars.
Construction on the church finished around 1522, under the rule
of Little Prince Stephen, the son of Bogdan, and Stephen the Great’s
grandson. Stephen the Great's first wife is buried here.
It's an exceptionally handsome building, strong and beautiful
and graced with a roof of glowing enamelled tiles. The murals
painted on both the interior and exterior were done under the rule
of Petru Rareş. To further enhance its grandeur, the upper part of
the church was modified in the early 17th century, and the twisting
turrets erected for added effect. The church became the seat of the
Suceava and Rădăuţi archbishopric in 1991.
After viewing St Gheorghe, probably Suceava's most important
church, it's natural to take a walk over to the Citadel of the
Suceava Throne upon the hill.
The Church of St George
St George and St Gheorghe were actually different figures from
Christian history, and the church of St George is actually part of
the St John the New Monastery complex along Mănăstirei street.
Although this similarly named church more towards the centre of
town was indeed built to supplant the other as the seat of the local
Metropolitan (the bishopric) of Suceava, them are never happened,
giving Suceava to rather grand churches.
The port city of Whitecastle (Cetatea Albă) on the Black Sea
coast was once within the sphere of influence of the Moldovan
principality (then under the Ottoman Empire), and in the early
1300s, a Turkish man named John of Trebizon (on the south shore of
the Black Sea, in today's Turkey) refused to recuse his Christianity
in the face of the local Paşa.
As the legend goes, the future Suceava Saint was
cruelly dragged through the streets, and tortured, and upon still
refusing to adopt Islam, was executed.
On hearing of this tale, the then-leader of Moldova in Suceava,
Bogdan the One-Eyed, arranged to have the bones of John removed from
his grave in Whitecastle and moved Suceava. John was then
turned into Suceava's first home-town saint, becoming "St. John the
New" (Sf Ioan cel Nou), to distinguish him of course fromn the other
St. John, the Baptist.
The Church of St George today holds these holy relics, bones
from a devout Turkish man of the Eastern Orthodox faith, which gives
the monastery it's name of the Monastery of St John the New,
although most refer to it as simply St George.

The Gah Synagogue
The Gemilut Hasidim Mutual Aid Society of Suceava was dedicated
to providing services and support across the region for the poor,
the needy, and those in distress.
Hasidim (Hebrew: חסידים) is the plural of Hasid
(חסיד), meaning "pious" or "righteous", with Gemilut meaning acts.
Gemilut hasadim literally translates to “acts of loving
kindness.”, typically, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry or
extending hospitality to strangers. In the Jewish faith, such acts
are considered greater than common charity as they are primarily
acts of kindness to the poor, the sick and those in need, as well as
honouring the dead, and not simply donations of money.
The Gah Synogogue was built with these sentiments in mind, which
the Society built as a monument to their faith in 1870, at a time
when the Jewish population of Suceava neared 10,000, when the town
had 10 synagogues. Jews were heavily represented in Suceava crafts,
the learned professions and in government.
Jews lived in many towns in Bukovina, ranging from a metropolis
like Czernowitz to tiny shtetls. To this day, the synagogue is a beautiful example
of authentic Moldovan architecture combined with the rich tapestry
of the Jewish faith.
Unfortunately, after decades of a fairly harmonious society
under Austrian rule, when the Austrians left, the Romanian brand
traditional bias against their neighbours of Jewish faith took over.
It had been, after all, a "fanatical Jew" who’d beheaded
Suceava's own saint, St John the New at Whitecastle (Cetatea Albă)
on the Black Sea in 1330. So through harassment, and sometimes
outright violence, the Jewish population of Suceava was forced out
over the ensuing decades.
Even Romania's King Carol II and the
particularly nasty Nazi-style Iron Guard contributed to the
widespread anti-Jewish sentiment in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Jewish population of Suceava was decimated during the Second
World War, a time when the population of Jews in Romania dwindled
from 800,000 to 400,000, thanks to deportation, forced labour camps,
and outright slaughter. Romania's wartime leader,
Marshal Ion Antonescu was a loyal Hitler ally and viewed the local
Jewish population as Bolsheviks. Many proud Romanian Jewish families
then, and in the decades since, Romanianised their names to avoid
being detected.
Several Suceava synagogues were destroyed during the early
Communist years, and today, only the
one remains in use, and it's well worth visiting both to model at
the beautiful architecture, as well as to the thousands who once
enriched the city with the kind acts of the society. Sadly,
the Romanian government is still
loath to admit the Holocaust actually happened in Romania during
the World War II years.

Civic life in Suceava
While the town offices area does not have the churches or
museums of other areas of the town, a walk around the city blocks
surrounding the mayor’s office where 1 May Boulevard turns into
Stephen the Great street offers a nicely concentrated insight into
Romanian town life.
Heading north from the mayor’s office, you’ll run into the park
and then the main campus of the “big” university in town, also
called Stephen the Great, we can also marvel at the stars in the
adjoining planetarium.
There is a neighbourhood market, just behind the university and
continuing down two blocks to the southwest, you'll find a high
school, named after the famous Armenian and national hero Spiru
Haret. Heading backwards the main drag, you'll cross the grounds of
the County Hospital, which may well make you stop complaining about
the health-care service back home.
On the way back Boulevard 1 May look as the sports arena and on
to the local soccer team, the pride of Suceava
The Bosanci Floral Reserve
If the day is nice and Suceava and the inspiration hits you,
head for the piata so for a few fresh vegetables and fruit and then
get in the car and drive over to the lakes, woods and the floral
reservation of Bosanci.
If you're not driving, the InterTrans maxi taxi
company plays the route several times a day, taking about 15
minutes.
Just 7 km from the heart of Suceava, this local wonderland of
all things floral and natural will delight the eye, particularly
after you've spent the last week touring buildings and museums! The
beautiful area, a true rural idyll, was the home of the celebrated
Romanian academician Theofil Sauciuc-Săveanu.
Bosanci is known for its professional troupes of carollers each
Christmas, who Don traditional costumes, and perform at the
town hall, and go from house to house with their carolling and
crying out: "Open the Doors Christians!"
The Bucovina History Museum
Romanian museologists don't feel that they have a complete
collection without stone-age exhibits and the Bucovina history
Museum is no exception.
But the section on the mediaeval times is somewhat more
rewarding and covers most of the region's important history and
culture through the ages. Of course, once having been Moldova's
capital, Stefan cel Mare (or Stephen the Great) is prominently
featured throughout several of the rooms.
Despite having once been the capital of the principality of
Moldova, with nearly 150 years under Austro-Hungarian Royal has
meant that the citizens of the city of Suceava, and the surrounding
county, actually have an accent more akin to their brethren in
Transylvania.
33 Piaţa 22 Decembrie
Get Some Mall Therapy
If you're planning on spending much time exploring the painted
model streams of Bucovina, and in particular, if you plan on staying
in any of the guest houses or accommodation in the countryside, the
stock up in Suceava first.
At
the Iulius Mall you will have that I could be anywhere in the
world feeling, with superstores, supermarkets and all of the bright
lights of the city. The Iulius Group, headed by founder and the
synthetic fibres magnate Iulus Dascălu, is somewhat like
Australia's Westfield Corporation, in that they actually have a
series of malls with the same name throughout the country.
Dascălu is outfitting one of the disused 200 m high stack towers
on the site of the old Famos factory in Suceava with a public
viewing platform. At 40m high, the platform will feature a
suspended restaurant, and you'll get stunning panoramas of Suceava
city in all directions. The mayor's office also has plans for a
telegondola to connect to the mall to the citadel of Suceava, about
a 2 km ride.
Suceava's
Iulius Mall is complemented by those in Timişoara, Iaşi,
and other towns. You can certainly reduce culture shock by
sitting at any one of the international coffee house chains in the
mall.
Located in the Şipot neighborhood of Suceava city, IuliusMall is
a very attractive destination for the inhabitants of Suceava, as
well as for those of the neighboring cities of Botoşani, Fălticeni,
Târgu Neamţ, Rădăuţi.
If you're not in the mood for a commercial scene, the main agricultural market is just a block away from the St
Dumitru Church, along Petru Rareş Street, great for some fruit,
cheese, drinks, or something else to make it through your walking
tour day.
The Stephen the Great Mediaeval Festival
Each summer in August, the Stephen the Great
Mediaeval Festival features all the trappings of a Renaissance
Faire.
With mediaeval ceremonies and costuming taking part around the
citadel of the Suceava Throne, the old Royal court, and the main
church at Mirăuţi, the St Gheorghe church.
The townsfolk of Suceava practise for weeks ahead of time, to
make sure their costumes are in order and that they understand the
rules of the jousting competitions which take place at the old
castles and on the streets.
Several spectacles during the
night-time hours are featured, with scenes from history re-enacted.
All of the staples of any mediaeval festival are here, from archery
competitions and lessons, to face painting, and is supposedly period
fare. Worth changing your itinerary if you possibly can, to
enjoy this summer delight in the Bucovina's heartland!
Attractions near Suceava
If you did manage to get a car and driver for Suceava, a
morning's drive in the nearby countryside will reveal yet more of
the churches built by Stephen the Great.
The Church of St. Elijah is about 2 km
from downtown, and about 8 km out, at Pătrăuţi, is his 1487, the
masterpiece.

A favourite of locals (you can see them hitchhiking out
here every day), is the complex of the Dragomirna Monastery, a
female monastery are full of nuns, where women can overnight in one
of the four beds for an ecclesiastical slumber. Definitely check out
the illuminated manuscripts done by the monastery's founder,
talented artist.
It's near the Mitocu Dragomirnei
commune (“Mitocu” meaning the little adjacent buildings, or
satellite community near a main monastery, often with lodging),
about 10 km from the Suceava city centre.
Across the Suceava river, along Union Road (Calea Unirii) going
towards the Suceava industrial zone, there is a town bazaar of
little shops and stallholders, which can be lively, if you're in the
mood for browsing through the wares and trinkets from the
surrounding countryside.
And there is also the Şcheia fortress,
at 384 meters high on the north-western side of the town, was built
in the 1300s, with a typical rhombus shape. The Şcheia
community as a separate entity to Suceava city, with its own mayor's
office.
Suveava History
One supposition considers the name Suceava of Dacian origin,
being derived from davă ("fort"). Dimitrie Cantemir in his famous
work Descriptio Moldavie gives the origin of the name as Hungarian:
Szűcsvár, meaning city of furriers.
The city of Suceava was for long the capital of the Moldavian
state and main residence of the Moldavian princes (between 1388 and
1565). During the rule of Alexandru Lăpuşneanu, the seat was moved
to Iaşi.
Together with the rest of Bucovina (or Bukovina for German and
some English speakers) of which it was the main administrative
center), Suceava was under the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy (later
Austria-Hungary) from 1775 to 1918; the border of Habsburg domains
passed just south-east of the city. At the end of World War I, it
became part of Greater Romania.
Read more in our Suceava History section
|
The photo immediately preceding this notice is Copyright (C) 2005 - 2008 Rest
Romania SRL, All rights reserved.
Photo:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
Suceava residences on a foggy autumn day from the old citadel walls
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed below are some local agents who can help you with bookings and organize local tours in the Suceava area.
 +40 (230) 235377 FAX: +40 (230) 232133
 +40 (230) 520257 FAX: +40 (230) 520257
 +40 (230) 551617 FAX: +40 (230) 551617
 +40 (230) 521094 FAX: +40 (230) 521094
 +40 745916285
 +40 740828888
 +40 (230) 524894 FAX: +40 (230) 522694
 +40 (330) 102680 FAX: +40 (330) 102680
+40 (230) 570070 FAX: +40 (230) 570070
+40 (230) 524991 FAX: +40 (230) 524991 +40 (230) 523755 FAX: +40 (230) 523755
+40 (230) 523024 FAX: +40 (230) 523024
Iakius Turism, Str. Ana Ipatescu nr. 4 , bl. F, sc. D, ap. 3, parter in Suceava
+40 (230) 522501 FAX: +40 (230) 522501
+40 (230) 522460 FAX: +40 (230) 522460
+40 (230) 520555 FAX: +40 (230) 520555
+40 (230) 520539 FAX: +40 (230) 520539
+40 (230) 520376 FAX: +40 (230) 520376
+40 (230) 521615 FAX: +40 (230) 520070
+40 (230) 420477 FAX: +40 (230) 420477
+40 (230) 210526 FAX: +40 (230) 210526
+40 (230) 214335
|
|
|
Click here for a
larger version, or CLICK ON TOWNS
for info on each town in CountySuceava
|
See a Road Map of the Suceava Area

|
|
|
See More Maps of
Romania and Suceava at
|
 |
|
|
|
See a Street Map of Suceava

|
|
|
See Other Towns in
County Suceava Here
|
Geography
The city covers two types of geographical areas - the hills (including
the hill were the citadel rests, although the highest point is the Zamca Hill
with the Zamca monastery complex) and the meadows of the
Suceava River valley.
The curious configuration of Suceava City includes two rather
agrarian districts - Zamca to the central west of the city and also
the highest land in the area, and Şipote, meaning "Fountainhead",
both of which are located
within the city limits. Burdujeni to the northeast and home of the
main train station, is connected to the rest of the city by Union
Road, and abided by the Suceava river making it resemble a satellite
town of Suceava.
High atop Zamca Hill, you'll find the old Armenian Zamca
monastery, in disrepair, but worth a look if you're in the area.
|
Transportation
Driving to Suceava
Situated on the north of the country, Bukovina is linked through
a network of national roads from all corners of Romania and Suceava
is 447 km from Bucharest and from Bacău, about 325 km.
The national road 2 or European route 85 runs from Bucharest
through Bacau to Suceava, taking about six hours of the drive. Going
further into the Bucovina region from Suceava, the National Road 17
makes the link between Suceava and Şiret, Rădăuţi, Câmpulung
Moldovenesc with the National Highway 18 linking Iacobeni,
Ciocanesti and Borsa going in to Maramureş from there.
It you'll be driving extensively in Romania or
Suceava, it may be worth your while to contact the Automobil Clubur
Român (ACR) telefon +40/21/615510, fax. +40/21/3128462, www.acr.ro
The National Highway 17 goes through the town of Vatra Dornei,
just over 100km from Suceava. This trip takes about two hours by
car, and the road continues through the Tihuţa Pass going then into
Transylvania.
You can quite easily get a hire car at the airport of Suceava,
and most of the tour companies will gladly pick you up from the
airport to take you to your first accommodation.
The public transport system in Suceava is not brilliant,
especially for the tourists, so get used to the system of maxi
taxis, which offer of good routes, good prices, and probably the
most suitable way to get to your nearby destination.
If you do decide to drive a car, or you were driven by somebody,
understand, you must have an driver's licence, ownership papers, and
of course insurance, which is a green card in Romania.
Credit Cards and Petrol
Some of the newer petrol stations such as OMV do accept credit
cards, although other main franchises such as Lukoil, generally do
not. The speed limit in Suceava city is 50 km per hour, which raises
to 90 km per hour on the margins and outside town.
Public Transport
The local TASA transport company has a bus network which can get
you to most places of tourist interest within the city, although you
really need to ask a local as to which stop you need to be at for
which bus.
InterCity Coaches
The TASA bus company is a subsidiary of the ATLASIB bus group,
and is a good choice if you need to take a bus to Bucureşti, Sibiu,
Cluj or Timişoara from Suceava. They are very good choice even if
you have only an hour's trip away from the city of Suceava into the
county.
If the language barrier is an issue for you, taking one of the
better marked maxi taxi services and paying the extra two or three
euros is probably a better option. Or, a taxi won't break the
bank for a short hop.
Suceava by Rail
Riding the train between Bucuresti and Suceava you go through
the towns of Bacău and Roman on the way.
All of the trains stop at the North station in Suceava, and
trains going through Suceava stop at the South Station at Burdujeni,
which is generally more convenient forgetting to the city centre.
If you're interested in having a first-class cabin, and the
restaurant car, select one of the InterCity trains plying the route
between Bucharest’s Nord station and Suceava.
Or you could cleverly combine accommodation with travel and take
the overnight train, which gets in just past 6 a.m. It should be
noted that the InterCity service on this route is only about a half
hour faster, saving three stops.
If you decide to take advantage of the one-stop flights from
America to Iaşi, you can then enjoy the Accelerat train from Iasi to
Suceava.
The train, which has both first and second class carriages,
introduces you to the Moldovan countryside, taking just five stops
and a little over two hours to arrive in Bucovina's capital city of
Suceava.
The Suceava Train Station
The main train station in Suceava is on the north side of town
towards the Cuza Vodă (Prince Ion Cuza) quarter of the Burdujeni
neighbourhood, and is actually on the other side of the Suceava
river from the main part of town.
The station building is located on the main line across from an
extensive series of freight yards, and it can be quite challenging
to cross the tracks to actually find your passenger train, as not
all of them a pull up right next to the station. Really, this is one
of the situations were having a Romanian guide with you really
helps.
So you'll need to take a maxi taxi or taxicab into the centre,
if that's where your accommodation is. Neither should cost more than
five euros maximum.
Trains out of Suceava
If you booked your Bucovina accommodation in one of the towns to
the west of Suceava city, the train fBeforerom Iasi continues on
westward from Suceava towards Transylvania.
You will first go through Gura Humorului, Vama, and to Câmpulung
Moldovenesc after two hours, with another hour on to the ski and
resort town of Vatra Dornei.
Going north from Suceava, there are a few Personal trains that
wend their way through the twisting river valleys towards the
Ukraine border. But unless you have specific reason for taking the
train, you might as well take one of the many maxi taxis that ply
the same road going north towards Rădăuţi and beyond to Gura Putnei.
Suceava by Air
Even some towns which are larger than Suceava in Romania don't
have airports, so the Bucovina region is lucky to have direct flights from
Bucuresti to Suceava airport linking the Bucovina region with the
world.
You can also fly to nearby Iasi from New York with just one
stop. Delta flies direct from Atlanta to Bucharest, and non-stop to
Bucharest from JFK. Austrian flies direct from New York to Iaşi,
with non-stop jet service from Vienna daily.
In addition to serving the city of Suceava the Suceava airport
also serves the tourist centre of Câmpulung Moldovenesc, which is
about an hour's drive from the airport to the west, or just over an
hour by rail.
Carpatair
+40 (230) 529 559 (Carpatair office) Transfer: taxi
on request, 35RON Check-in: Carpatair latest check-in: 45 min
|
|
|
Listed below are some local hotels, guesthouses (B&Bs) and other accommodation in the Suceava area.
Cabana Căprioara, Adâncata in AdâncataThe hosts treat their clients with a lot of warmth. 230 521759 Pensiunea Casa Ilie, Cacica in CacicaThe locality is placed at the feet of the Obcina Mare slope, a superb area. 722 888954 Pensiunea Olimpia, Sat Ilişeşti in Ciprian PorumbescuThe construction is new, but in the traditional style of the area. 722 405285 Motel Ilişeşti, Ciprian Porumbescu in Ciprian PorumbescuThe motel is placed in the heart of the forest, being the head point for the famous bucovinean monasteries. 722 345221 Pensiunea Marika, Sat Călineşti in DarmanestiThe pension keeps many of the bucovinean traditions, which definitely will suit your taste too. 722 414403 Motel Lions, Gura Humorului in Gura HumoruluiThe motel offers quality services right next to the train station. 744 502128 Pensiunea Hilde Residence, Şipotului 2 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in a very quiet and relaxing area. 744 386698 FAX: 230 233484 Hotel Simeria, Mihail Kogălniceanu 2 in Gura HumoruluiThe hotel is placed in an especial natural environment, on Humor river's ooze. 230 230227 FAX: 230 235113 Hotel Best Western Bucovina, Bulevardul Bucovina 4 in Gura HumoruluiThe hotel is placed very close to the famous painted monasteries. 230 207000 FAX: 230 207001 Vila Ramona, Oborului 6 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in a superb area, in the middle of the nature. 230 232996 FAX: 230 232133 Pensiunea Humorelul, Pieţei 2 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed very close to the painted monasteries. Pensiunea Casa Cristian, Victoriei 26 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in the centre of the town, a dreamlike area. 230 230864 Pensiunea Casa Loredana, Mărăşeşti 8 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in the heart of Bucovina, close to the famous painted monasteries. 744 520093 Vila Renate, Ştefan cel Mare 43 Bis in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in a superb area, offering a dreamlike view. 230 235039 Vila Casa Victor, Pajiştei 2 in Gura HumoruluiThe villa also has a winery for the interested ones. 230 230797 Pensiunea Ella, Cetăţii 7 in Gura HumoruluiThe pension offers quality services for reasonable prices. 230 232961 Pensiunea Bogdăneasa, Codrii Bogdănesei in Gura HumoruluiThe pension is placed in the middle of the forest, an especial beautiful place. 230 235018 Hotel Carpaţi, 9 Mai Nr. 9 in Gura HumoruluiThe hotel represents a good option for youth and those who don't stay for long in this area. 230 231103 Cabana Voroneţ, Gura Humorului in Gura HumoruluiThe chalet is placed in a very beautiful area, in the middle of the nature. 230 231024 Pensiunea Gabriela, Păltinoasa in PaltinoasaThe pension offers a dreamlike view towards the surrounding area. 744 815873 Pensiunea Hanul Solca, Tomşa Vodă 1B in SolcaThe pension offers a lot of entertaing ways for the free time. 230 477508 Hotel West, Ştefan cel Mare 24 in SuceavaThe hotel is placed close to the centre of the town, in a very beautiful area. 230 520257 FAX: 230 520256 Pensiunea Maripet, Suceava in SuceavaHere you will have a pleasant vacation with the company of a simple bucovinean family. 740 303610 FAX: 230 510045 Pensiunea Leagănul Bucovinei, 1 Decembrie 1918 Nr. 52 in SuceavaThe pension is an excellent base for tours at the local monasteries. 740 828888 Pensiunea Giardino, Dobrogeanu Gherea 4 in SuceavaBuilt 8 years ago and completely renovated in 2005, the pension has one purpose: to make you feel good. 230 513778 FAX: 230 523775 Hotel Clasic I, Universităţii 32 in SuceavaAt Clasic Hotel they welcome you with a sincere smile. 230 510000 FAX: 230 510000 Hotel Clasic II, Universităţii 36Bis in SuceavaThe hotel is recently built, offering quality services. 230 510000 FAX: 230 510000 Hostel Class, Aurel Vlaicu 195 in SuceavaThe hostel offers quality services for youths, but not only. 230 525213 Pensiunea Bicom, Narciselor 20-22 in SuceavaThe pension is placed in a quiet location, only 20 minutes away of the economic and cultural centre of the town. 230 520007 FAX: 230 216881 Hotel Balada, Mitropoliei 3 in SuceavaThe hotel is placed in the residential area of the town, near Suceava Stronghold. 230 522146 FAX: 230 520087 Hotel Zamca, Zamca 28A in SuceavaThe hotel offers yuality services for reasonable prices. 230 521008 Pensiunea Marc, DN Suceava - Botosani, Km 5.7 in SuceavaWhether the purpose of the visit is touristic or business, you will be very pleased here. Pensiunea Iris, Chilia in SuceavaThe pension is placed at the forest's edge, in a dreamlike area. 230 525552 Hotel Autogara, Vasile Alecsandri 1 in SuceavaHere you will find a quiet area, perfect for relaxation. 230 524340 Hotel Turist, Traian Vuia 7B in Suceavathe hotel is placed in a very beautiful area. 230 226936 Hotel Socim, Jean Bart 24 in SuceavaThe hotel is a good option for the youth and those who will not stay for long. 230 516901 Pensiunea La Dolce Vita, Humorului in SuceavaThe pension offers accommodation for 17 persons in a select location. 230 526828
|
|
See also County
Suceava
for accommodation in other nearby towns
|
From the Rest Romania Website at
Communications
|
Dialling Suceava
All of the phone numbers in Suceava
start with (230) or (330), depending on whether the service
is through the previously Government controlled operator RomTelecom,
or from one of the newer entrants like Connex, Astral .
Dialling into Suceava,
you must remove any leading zero from the county code portion
of the phone number, so that (0230) becomes (230).
Dialling a mobile number, you do the same, dropping the zero from
the (07XX) part of the number, to make it (7XX). Both
landlines and mobiles have 6 digits following the initial county
code.
For full dialling
information and a chart of county codes,
see
our Dialling Romania section here

Suceava HotSpots
You'll be spoilt for choice on the
university campus, with several zones available.
Ştefan cel Mare University 13 Universităţii
Street in Suceava
Not surprisingly, it's the
University which is supplying the juice on this campus.

+40 (230) 522 978
FAX: +40 (230) 520 080

|
|
|
The photo immediately preceding this notice is Copyright (C) 2005 - 2008 Rest
Romania SRL, All rights reserved.
Photo:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
The remaining tower of the Suceava Citadel of the Throne
|
|
|
Early Suceava History
Suceava in1600s Moldova
Moldova, briefly controlled in 1600 by
Michael the Brave, was a key buttress state for the Turks,
in their bid to stave off the Tartars.
|
 |
Image:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
Suceava in 1770s Moldova
The Habsburg Empire administered the region after
currying Russian favour in 1775
|

|
Image:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
A Map around Suceava in 1836
A geopolitical representation of the region surrounding
Suceava in the 1830s
|

Image:
© REST ROMÂNIA
|
The Citadel Throne room
|
|
The town arguably had its heyday in the 1600s and 1700s, when
the city was a key regional trading post on the route to Istanbul
from Galicia and northern Transilvania.
For over 300 years the city of Suceava served as the southern
trade capital for the Bucovina district, which stretched far to the
Polish border, from just south of the city of Suceava today north to
Chernauţi, which is presently in the Ukraine Republic.
A fairly sizeable Polish community still exists to this day in
the old salt mine town of Cacica, about 30 km north of Suceava.
you can visit the mind of the town as part of many of the monastery
tours, or you can take one of the personal trains had ignored from
Suceava's North station.
205 Years Under the Turks
The city of Suceava served as of the capital of the early
principality of Moldova, until it was eventually supplanted by Iaşi
to the southeast by about 1570, once Moldova had become a Turkish
vassal state, under Turkish suzerainty.
The town was occupied by the Russian army for five years until
1774 during a series of wars between the Turks and the Russians,
which saw the Ottomans cede territories and rights to the Russians.
Both Suceava and the Bucovina region were awarded to their
friends and allies the Habsburgs. Sadly, proud Moldovan leader Grigore III Ghica was later
murdered by the Ottomans in 1777 for his opposition to their ceding
Bukovina to the Habsburgs.
135 Years of Habsburgs
The Habsburg empire took over their new Duchy of Bukovina,
bringing in administrators from their Transilvania principality to
the west.
Suceava served as administrative centre from 1775 under the
Habsburgs through to 1910, from 1804 known as the Austrian empire,
and then in 1867, rebadged the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Suceava
remained in joint Viennese and Budapest control for 135 years,
despite having immaturity Romanian ethnic population. The
reintegration intoyour papers the newly created Romanian Kingdom Was Completed
Just before World War One.
Due to centuries-old biases, the Jewish community of Moldova
declined greatly in the 20th century, particularly in the 1920s, and
of course during the Nazi occupation of Romania. However, of Suceava
still has a synagogue worth seeing as well as the new Jewish
cemetery behind the statue of Stefan cel Mare.
Characterised by rolling hills coming down from the Carpathian
Mountains, Bucovina was both a bread basket and trade nexus for the
wider region.
The regional capital of Suceava was heavily industrialised
during the communist era. In the 19th century, industrial pollution
from pulp and paper mills led to the Suceava Syndrome where babies
were born deformed from heavy metals and chemical contaminants in
the drinking water supply.
Find out More: The Suceava History Museum
The Suceava History Museum is right off the main Piaţa 22
December, and houses a collection of exhibits and
reasonably well-done dioramas presenting the life and times of
Suceava, and Bucovina's history.
Founded in 1900, the museum also features an art gallery with
works signed by renowned artists from Bucovina and the country. One
of the big attractions is the throne room, which faithfully
reproduces the Great Throne of Suceava that once existed in the
Suceava Citadel. Lovers of period costumes will enjoy these
rooms, with some rather well-appointed characters gracing the
various tableaux.
Unlike many (most in our opinion) history museums throughout
Romania, the Bucovina History museum actually covers the WWII years,
and even ventures into some of the communist years as well, an era
most avoid (the National History Museum in Constanţa for example,
abruptly ends in 1947).
Address: str. Stefan cel Mare, nr. 33, Suceava
Telephone: + 40 (230) 216.439 Fax: + 40 (230) 522.979
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
Read More about Suceava at:
The Suceava town hall
|
|
|
|
From the Rest Romania Website at
|
|
|