Arbore Church
Arbore, Suceava County · Bukovina
About Arbore Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Arbore, Suceava County. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 7 October 2026.
The Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist in Arbore was founded not by a prince but by a boyar: Luca Arbore, gatekeeper of Suceava and hetman under Stephen the Great, began it on 2 April 1502, on the site of an older hermitage, and finished it on 29 August, its feast day. He intended it as his family's burial church, next to his manor. The founder came to a tragic end: in 1523 Prince Ștefăniță had him executed at Hârlău on a charge of treason, followed by two of his sons.
The church is small, rectangular and without a tower, under a single broad roof, and on the west side the side walls extend to frame a tall semicircular niche, a new solution in Moldavia at the time. In 1541 Ana, daughter of the elder Arbore, paid for the facades to be painted; the work is signed by the painter Dragoș Coman (Dragoșin), son of the priest Coman of Iași. Unlike the blue of Voroneț, green dominates here, in several shades, alongside blue, red and ochre, with lively figures and a multitude of small scenes. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Churches of Moldavia", inscribed in 1993.
For a long time a parish church, Arbore became a monastery for monks again on 7 January 2022, under the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. A restoration project funded by Romania's Recovery and Resilience Plan (the interior paintings and those on the north, west and south facades, the roof, the bell tower and the fence) was signed off in April 2026, and on 29 August 2026, the feast day, Luca Arbore's remains were reburied with military honours in the crypt in the narthex.
What you can see
The niche on the west facade is the best preserved and richest part: dozens of small scenes in stacked registers, with the lives of saints (George, Demetrius, Paraskeva) and episodes from Genesis, among them Adam ploughing and Eve spinning. On the south facade, to the left of the Gothic doorway, is the Akathist of the Mother of God, with the Siege of Constantinople along its base, and to the right the Last Judgment; on the north side the painting has not survived.
In the narthex is the founder's tomb, under a Gothic canopy of carved stone, next to that of his wife Iuliana; in the nave, the votive painting shows Luca Arbore with his wife and two children. In the grounds, north-west of the church, stands the stone bell tower of 1867, surrounded by the crosses of the old cemetery.
Good to know
Arbore is much quieter than Voroneț or Sucevița and is well worth combining with them on a tour. The monastery does not publish visiting hours or prices, and the interior cannot be visited during services; come during the day, not very early or late.
- The niche on the west facade, with dozens of tiny scenes from the lives of the saints and from Genesis, including Adam ploughing and Eve spinning.
- The green of Dragoș Coman's frescoes, the colour that sets Arbore apart from the other painted churches.
- The Siege of Constantinople at the base of the Akathist on the south facade, next to the Gothic doorway.
- Luca Arbore's tomb in the narthex, under the Gothic stone canopy, where his remains were reburied in 2026.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Suceava take the DN2 north, then the DN2H and DN2K to Arbore (~35 km, ~40 minutes); the church is in the centre of the village, by the main road. From Rădăuți it is ~16 km (~25 minutes), and from Gura Humorului ~28 km (~40 minutes). It combines easily with Cacica Monastery (~10 km), Sucevița (~22 km) and Solca (~11 km).
Public transport: Arbore has no railway station; minibuses run from the Suceava and Rădăuți bus stations to Arbore and Solca, with few services at weekends, so check the timetable beforehand.
- Rules
This is a working monastery: modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered, quiet within the grounds and phones switched off during services. Do not touch the frescoes. Ask a monk first before taking photos inside the church.
Frequently asked questions about Arbore Church
- How long does a visit to Arbore Church take?
- A visit to Arbore Church takes about 45 min (the church and grounds).
- Can you visit Arbore Church with kids?
- Yes, Arbore Church is suitable for children (modest dress and quiet).
- How do I get to Arbore Church?
- Arbore Church is located at DN2K, in the centre of Arbore village, Arbore, Suceava County. By car: from Suceava take the DN2 north, then the DN2H and DN2K to Arbore (~35 km, ~40 minutes); the church is in the centre of the village, by the main road. From Rădăuți it is ~16 km (~25 minutes), and from Gura Humorului ~28 km (~40 minutes). It combines easily with Cacica Monastery (~10 km), Sucevița (~22 km) and Solca (~11 km). Public transport: Arbore has no railway station; minibuses run from the Suceava and Rădăuți bus stations to Arbore and Solca, with few services at weekends, so check the timetable beforehand.
- When is the best time to visit Arbore Church?
- The best season for Arbore Church: All year round (west facade in afternoon light).
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