About Dealu Monastery
Dealu Monastery stands on a wooded hill on the edge of Târgoviște, in the village of Viforâta, and appears in documents as early as the first half of the 15th century. Today's church was founded by Prince Radu the Great: the foundation stone was laid on 26 August 1499, and the church was consecrated on 4 December 1501. It is one of the masterpieces of medieval architecture in Wallachia, with façades clad entirely in dressed stone.
Being close to the princely capital, Dealu became the most important princely necropolis of Wallachia. Buried in the narthex are, among others, Vladislav II, Radu the Great, Vlad the Younger, Radu Bădica, Vlad the Drowned and Pătrașcu the Good. After Michael the Brave was killed in 1601, the prince's head was brought here, according to tradition by the boyar Radu Buzescu, and lies in a tomb on the right-hand side of the narthex. Dealu is also linked to the printing press of the hieromonk Macarie, who produced the Liturgikon in 1508, the first book printed in Wallachia.
The monastery went through many changes: Constantin Brâncoveanu restored it, Gheorghe Bibescu rebuilt the cells and the bell tower in 1845, and between 1912 and 1940 the buildings housed the "Nicolae Filipescu" Military High School. After the 1940 earthquake, which brought down the school buildings, the ensemble was rebuilt in the 1950s under Patriarch Justinian. Today it is a convent.
What you can see
The church of St Nicholas has a trefoil plan, two towers over the enlarged narthex and one over the nave, and its stone façades are divided into two tiers of blind arcades, with windows and rosettes carved like stone lace. In the spacious narthex, designed as a burial space, you can see the princes' tombs, the marble sarcophagus of Radu the Great and the tomb holding the head of Michael the Brave. You enter the precinct beneath the bell tower built by Bibescu; the grassy courtyard is enclosed by brick cells with arcades. The monastery also has a small museum, refurbished in 2014, and since 2016 it has a bust of Macarie, a gift from Montenegro.
Good to know
It is a working convent: enter in modest dress and keep quiet. Visiting hours for the church and the museum are not published online.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The church's façades, clad in dressed stone, with two tiers of arcades and carved rosettes.
- The tomb in the narthex where the head of Michael the Brave is kept.
- The marble sarcophagus of Radu the Great, founder of the church, in the narthex full of princely tombs.
- The bell tower built by Gheorghe Bibescu, beneath which you enter the precinct.
- The bust of the hieromonk Macarie, printer of the 1508 Liturgikon, a gift from Montenegro in 2016.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the monastery is ~5 km north-east of the centre of Târgoviște (~10 minutes), on Aleea Mănăstirii Dealu, next to the DN72. From Bucharest it is ~85 km on the DN71 via Târgoviște (~1½ hours), and from Ploiești ~45 km on the DN72 (~1 hour). It combines easily with the Princely Court in Târgoviște.
Public transport: Târgoviște has a railway station, with trains from București Nord, and a coach station; from the town to the monastery the easiest option is a taxi.
- Fees & discounts
Neither the monastery nor the Archdiocese of Târgoviște publishes prices for visiting, for the museum or for photography; ask at the church shop.
- 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. Do not take photos in the church without the nuns' permission; pets are not allowed inside the precinct.
- Facilities
monastery museum · church shop · restaurants and accommodation in Târgoviște · the courtyard is level, with paved paths, the church has steps at the entrance
Frequently asked questions about Dealu Monastery
- How long does a visit to Dealu Monastery take?
- A visit to Dealu Monastery takes about ½ – 1 hours (church, courtyard and museum).
- Can you visit Dealu Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Dealu Monastery is suitable for children (modest dress and quiet).
- How do I get to Dealu Monastery?
- Dealu Monastery is located at Aleea Mănăstirii Dealu, Viforâta village, ~5 km north-east of the centre of Târgoviște, Aninoasa, Dâmbovița County. By car: the monastery is ~5 km north-east of the centre of Târgoviște (~10 minutes), on Aleea Mănăstirii Dealu, next to the DN72. From Bucharest it is ~85 km on the DN71 via Târgoviște (~1½ hours), and from Ploiești ~45 km on the DN72 (~1 hour). It combines easily with the Princely Court in Târgoviște. Public transport: Târgoviște has a railway station, with trains from București Nord, and a coach station; from the town to the monastery the easiest option is a taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Dealu Monastery?
- The best season for Dealu Monastery: All year round (all year, close to town).
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