Coșula Monastery
About Coșula Monastery
Coșula Monastery stands in the village of Coșula, in the commune of Copălău, about 20 km south-east of Botoșani. It was built in 1535 by the grand treasurer Mateiaș, an adviser to Petru Rareș, and the church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was painted in fresco in 1537–1538. Its simple trefoil plan follows the model of churches from the time of Stephen the Great and Petru Rareș. The painting is linked to the so-called "Coșula yellow", the shade that made the place famous.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the monastery was a centre of learning: it kept a manuscript with the oldest Romanian translation of a text by Herodotus, and several volumes later reached the Romanian Academy through Nicolae Iorga. In 1908 the monks left, the church remained a parish church, and the monastery buildings were given to the Ministry of Health, which used them as a hospital. Monastic life was renewed in 1991 on the initiative of Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea.
A large EU-funded restoration project, begun in 2014, covered the church, the enclosure wall, the bell tower and the abbot's house. The complex was reconsecrated after the works ended and is today a working monastery of monks.
What you can see
The white church, with its slim tower and wide shingle roof, keeps fragments of its old exterior painting under the eaves, the only one of its kind among the monasteries of Botoșani County. The entrance has a carved stone portal. In front of the church, a small tin-roofed wooden pavilion shelters a devotional feature of the grounds.
The white bell tower, from the second half of the 18th century, can be seen from afar among the trees of the grounds and the 17th-century enclosure wall. The restored abbot's house, with brick arches and a wooden gallery on the upper floor, holds a small museum of icons, old service books, priestly vestments and the monastery's first bells, more than 300 years old; the oldest item is a Gospel book printed in 1731.
Good to know
The church underwent works in 1848, 1856–1858 (when the original painting was covered with oil paint), 1968 and 1978, when the porch and an annex of the church were demolished. The ensemble is listed as a historic monument under code BT-II-a-A-01959. The monastery does not publish visiting hours; it is an active place of worship, so enter with shoulders and knees covered.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The Church of St Nicholas from 1535, with a trefoil plan and fragments of its old exterior painting under the eaves.
- The carved stone portal at the church entrance.
- The white 18th-century bell tower among the trees of the grounds.
- The restored abbot's house, with brick arches, which holds the monastery museum.
- The 17th-century enclosure wall, restored together with the ensemble.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the monastery is in the village of Coșula, Copălău commune, about 20 km south-east of Botoșani, on DJ208H. From Botoșani it takes roughly 25–30 minutes.
Public transport: there is no published information on regular public transport to the village; the simplest way is by car or taxi from Botoșani.
- Where to park
The monastery publishes no parking information; cars are parked next to the monastery grounds.
- Fees & discounts
The monastery does not publish prices; ask at the gate whether the museum charges a fee.
- Rules
Modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and men bareheaded in the church. Keep quiet within the grounds. Ask before photographing inside the church and do not take photos during services.
- Facilities
Museum in the abbot's house · accommodation and restaurants in Botoșani, about 20 km away
Frequently asked questions about Coșula Monastery
- How long does a visit to Coșula Monastery take?
- A visit to Coșula Monastery takes about 45 min (church, grounds and museum).
- Can you visit Coșula Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Coșula Monastery is suitable for children (wide grounds; modest dress).
- How do I get to Coșula Monastery?
- Coșula Monastery is located at Coșula village, Copălău commune, on DJ208H, Coșula, Botoșani County. By car: the monastery is in the village of Coșula, Copălău commune, about 20 km south-east of Botoșani, on DJ208H. From Botoșani it takes roughly 25–30 minutes. Public transport: there is no published information on regular public transport to the village; the simplest way is by car or taxi from Botoșani.
- When is the best time to visit Coșula Monastery?
- The best season for Coșula Monastery: April – October (spring and summer).
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