Lainici Monastery
About Lainici Monastery
Lainici Monastery sits in a narrow spot of the Jiu Gorge, between the river and the wooded slope, hard up against the DN66 road. Tradition links its beginnings to St Nicodim of Tismana in the 14th century, but today's church was built by Oltenian boyars between 1812 and 1817, during the reign of Prince Ioan Gheorghe Caragea, and dedicated to the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple. Tudor Vladimirescu is said to have hidden here dressed as a monk in 1817.
In the First World War German troops devastated the monastery, took away the bells and burned the archive. Monastic life was rebuilt after 1929 by Abbot Visarion Toia, canonised in 2025, and in 1961 the communist regime dissolved the monastery. Its revival came after 1990, together with the new church. The best-known name of the place is St Irodion, abbot here, with interruptions, between 1854 and 1900; his relics were found in 2009, and his canonisation was proclaimed at Lainici on 1 May 2011.
What you can see
The old church is small, with a square tower above the narthex, an open porch on spirally painted columns and a row of saints painted on the façades, under the eaves; the interior painting dates from around 1860. Beside it rises the new church, dedicated to the Life-giving Spring and St Irodion, begun in 1990 and consecrated in 2011: it has a Greek-cross plan, a porch with columns of Viștea stone and two churches one above the other, the lower one dedicated to the Christians of the catacombs, up to the year 313. This is where the reliquary of St Irodion is kept. The courtyard is enclosed by monks' cells and the white, arcaded abbot's house.
Good to know
It is a working monastery for monks: enter in modest dress and keep quiet. On feast days, especially on 3 May, St Irodion's day, thousands of pilgrims come and the car park fills up quickly. In summer and autumn 2026 there is maintenance work on the DN66, with alternating one-way traffic and stops of 10–15 minutes.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The façades of the old church, with the row of saints painted under the eaves and the spirally painted porch columns.
- The reliquary with the relics of St Irodion of Lainici, in the new church.
- The lower church of the new church, dedicated to the Christians of the catacombs.
- The porch of the new church, with columns of Viștea stone, against the wooded slope of the gorge.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: on the DN66 (E79), which runs right past the monastery: from Târgu Jiu it is ~32 km north via Bumbești-Jiu (~40 minutes), and from Petroșani ~25 km south via Livezeni (~30 minutes). From Craiova you get there via Târgu Jiu in ~2½ hours. It combines easily with the Brâncuși Ensemble in Târgu Jiu and the rest of the Jiu Gorge.
Public transport: buses and minibuses between Târgu Jiu and Petroșani run along the DN66, past the monastery; ask the driver whether they stop at Lainici. The Bumbești – Livezeni railway runs on the other bank of the Jiu.
- Where to park
Two small car parks by the DN66, north-west of the precinct, ~150 m from the churches. They fill up on feast days and on summer weekends; do not stop on the carriageway, the road is narrow and winding.
- Fees & discounts
There is no charge to enter the monastery precinct. No photography fees are published; ask at the candle shop.
- Rules
Modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, women with their heads covered in church. Keep quiet within the precinct and switch phones off during services. Do not take photos in the churches without the monks' permission; pets stay outside the precinct.
- Facilities
candle shop and religious bookshop · car parks by the road · petrol stations, shops and restaurants in Bumbești-Jiu and Petroșani · the courtyard is paved and level, the churches have steps at the entrance
Frequently asked questions about Lainici Monastery
- How much is a ticket to Lainici Monastery?
- Admission to Lainici Monastery is free (entry to the precinct). There is no charge to enter the monastery precinct. No photography fees are published; ask at the candle shop.
- How long does a visit to Lainici Monastery take?
- A visit to Lainici Monastery takes about 45 min (both churches and the courtyard).
- Can you visit Lainici Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Lainici Monastery is suitable for children (modest dress and quiet).
- Where can I park at Lainici Monastery?
- There is free parking at Lainici Monastery (by the DN66, ~150 m away). Two small car parks by the DN66, north-west of the precinct, ~150 m from the churches. They fill up on feast days and on summer weekends; do not stop on the carriageway, the road is narrow and winding.
- How do I get to Lainici Monastery?
- Lainici Monastery is located at DN66 (E79), in the Jiu Gorge, Lainici district, Bumbești-Jiu, Gorj County. By car: on the DN66 (E79), which runs right past the monastery: from Târgu Jiu it is ~32 km north via Bumbești-Jiu (~40 minutes), and from Petroșani ~25 km south via Livezeni (~30 minutes). From Craiova you get there via Târgu Jiu in ~2½ hours. It combines easily with the Brâncuși Ensemble in Târgu Jiu and the rest of the Jiu Gorge. Public transport: buses and minibuses between Târgu Jiu and Petroșani run along the DN66, past the monastery; ask the driver whether they stop at Lainici. The Bumbești – Livezeni railway runs on the other bank of the Jiu.
- When is the best time to visit Lainici Monastery?
- The best season for Lainici Monastery: April – October (crowded on feast days).
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