About Căluiu Monastery
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Călui, Olt County. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.
Căluiu Monastery, dedicated to St Nicholas, stands on the edge of the village of Gura Căluiu, near the Olteț river. Tradition says it was begun under Neagoe Basarab, around 1515, by the boyars Vlad Banul, Dumitru Pârcălab and Balica Spătar. The work was left unfinished, and the founder-grandfather was followed by his grandsons, the Buzești brothers (Radu Clucerul, Preda Banul and Stroe Stolnicul), who completed the church: the stone inscription shows it was finished on 8 June 1588. The interior painting and the consecration are dated 1594, in the reign of Michael the Brave, and the courtyard walls, the houses and a bell tower were ready the same year. The monastery was also known as Cepturoaia.
Preda Buzescu, his wife Stanca and his brother Radu Buzescu are buried here. Over the centuries the monastery was dedicated to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, had a school and a book-copying workshop, and in 1657 was praised by the traveller Paul of Aleppo. After centuries of decline and a scientific restoration begun in 1968, monastic life resumed in 1986; the old church was restored in 2008.
What you can see
The old church is a modest building, with brick-and-stone façades, decorative belts and a tall tower with arcaded windows. Inside, the votive paintings survive: the Buzești family, Michael the Brave and Petru Cercel, beside portraits of ladies of the age. In front of the church, in the paving, are tombstones of the Buzești and their descendants. The gate lies beneath a bell tower reached by a wide flight of steps, and the brick enclosure wall still surrounds the old part. A large new church has been built outside the old enclosure.
Good to know
It is a working monastery with a small community of monks; enter in modest dress and keep quiet. The porch added around 1610 was demolished in 1859, so the church no longer has one.
- The votive paintings in the old church: the Buzești family, Michael the Brave and Petru Cercel.
- The tombstones of the Buzești, among them Radu and Preda Buzescu.
- The tall tower of the church, with belts of brick and stone on the façades.
- The gate bell tower, with its wide flight of steps, and the brick enclosure wall.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the monastery is ~12–15 km from the town of Balș and ~40 km from Slatina, in the village of Gura Căluiu; from Balș head towards the village of Călui, then ~3 km along a side road to the monastery, on the edge of the village by the Olteț river.
Public transport: buses run from Balș bus station to the village of Călui; from there it is another ~3 km along the side road to the monastery, on foot or by taxi. Check the timetable beforehand.
- Where to park
You can park in front of the monastery, usually free of charge; on feast days or at major services the spaces fill up quickly.
- Fees & discounts
We found no published prices; entry to the courtyard and the church is normally without a ticket. Ask at the gate about any fees.
- Rules
Modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, women with their heads covered in the church. Keep quiet within the walls and switch phones off during services. Photography inside the church, especially of the paintings, only with the fathers' permission; do not touch the frescoes or the tombstones.
- Facilities
restored old church · new, large church outside the old enclosure · courtyard with green space · tombstones displayed in the church and in the paving
Frequently asked questions about Căluiu Monastery
- How long does a visit to Căluiu Monastery take?
- A visit to Căluiu Monastery takes about 45 min (old church and courtyard).
- Can you visit Căluiu Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Căluiu Monastery is suitable for children (modest dress and quiet).
- Where can I park at Căluiu Monastery?
- There is free parking at Căluiu Monastery (in front of the monastery). You can park in front of the monastery, usually free of charge; on feast days or at major services the spaces fill up quickly.
- How do I get to Căluiu Monastery?
- Căluiu Monastery is located at Gura Căluiu village, on the edge of the village, by the Olteț river, Călui, Olt County. By car: the monastery is ~12–15 km from the town of Balș and ~40 km from Slatina, in the village of Gura Căluiu; from Balș head towards the village of Călui, then ~3 km along a side road to the monastery, on the edge of the village by the Olteț river. Public transport: buses run from Balș bus station to the village of Călui; from there it is another ~3 km along the side road to the monastery, on foot or by taxi. Check the timetable beforehand.
- When is the best time to visit Căluiu Monastery?
- The best season for Căluiu Monastery: April – October (autumn, with colourful foliage).
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