Tismana Monastery
About Tismana Monastery
Tismana Monastery is considered the oldest monastery in Wallachia where monastic life still continues today. It was founded by St Nicodemus, a monk from south of the Danube, with the support of Princes Radu I and Dan I; the stone church, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God, was completed in 1377–1378. The ensemble stands on a rocky spur of Stârmina hill, above the Tismana valley, and the water that emerges from beneath the walls drops to the river in a waterfall of about 40 m.
The church, in the Byzantine style, with a trefoil plan and three towers, has been rebuilt several times: after a fire in 1542, then in 1855 by the architect Carol Benesch. St Nicodemus died here in 1406 and was buried in the narthex. Since 1949 Tismana has been a convent.
In the summer of 1944 the National Bank of Romania brought the country's gold reserve to Tismana, around 190 tonnes, together with about 3 tonnes of Polish gold. After 23 August the gold was moved to a cave next to the monastery and it stayed there until early 1947, when it was taken back to Bucharest. Since 2016 the cave has housed the BNR Treasure Museum.
What you can see
The courtyard is enclosed by white cells on two levels, with the rock face of the hill above, and in the middle stands the white church with three towers. The monastery keeps the oak iconostasis of 1766 and the reliquary with the relics of St Nicodemus, and its museum holds old icons, church objects, books, vestments and the old doors of the church. Next to the precinct are the waterfall below the walls, the cave in the rock where St Nicodemus prayed and the Treasure cave, fitted out as a museum.
Good to know
The restoration begun in 2019 was almost finished in October 2026: the interior of the church and the courtyard are complete, but work continues on the access road, the drainage and the walls. In April 2026 the relics of St Antonina of Tismana, a nun of the monastery canonised in 2025, were placed in a reliquary. It is a working convent: modest dress and quiet.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The white church with three towers, dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God, first built in 1377–1378.
- The reliquary with the relics of St Nicodemus, the founder of the monastery.
- The waterfall dropping from beneath the precinct walls towards the Tismana valley.
- The cave where the National Bank's gold was hidden from 1944 to 1947, now the Treasure Museum.
- The courtyard with its two-storey white cells, tucked beneath the rock face of Stârmina hill.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Târgu Jiu take the DN67D west, via Peștișani, ~35 km (~45 min) to the town of Tismana; from there the road climbs north along the Tismana valley for another ~4 km to the monastery. From Drobeta-Turnu Severin it is ~90 km via Baia de Aramă (~1¾ hours), from Craiova ~150 km (~2½ hours). It combines easily with Brâncuși's ensemble in Târgu Jiu.
Public transport: Tismana has no railway station; trains run to Târgu Jiu, from where minibuses leave for Tismana. From the town to the monastery it is ~4 km: a taxi or almost an hour on foot.
- Where to park
The monastery has a car park at the foot of the access path, under rehabilitation in 2026; from there it is a few minutes' walk uphill to the gate. On the feast day of 15 August and on holidays it fills up quickly.
- Fees & discounts
The monastery does not publish prices for visiting, for the museum or for photography, and there is no officially published price for the BNR Treasure Museum; ask at the gate.
- 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. The cave is cool all year round: bring a light jacket.
- Facilities
monastery museum · BNR Treasure Museum in the cave next to the precinct · guesthouses and restaurants in the town of Tismana · the access path is sloping, the courtyard is paved, the church has steps at the entrance
Frequently asked questions about Tismana Monastery
- How long does a visit to Tismana Monastery take?
- A visit to Tismana Monastery takes about 1 – 1½ hours (with the waterfall and Treasure cave).
- Can you visit Tismana Monastery with kids?
- Yes, Tismana Monastery is suitable for children (sloping path, modest dress).
- How do I get to Tismana Monastery?
- Tismana Monastery is located at Strada Mănăstirii 290, ~4 km north of the centre of Tismana, Tismana, Gorj County. By car: from Târgu Jiu take the DN67D west, via Peștișani, ~35 km (~45 min) to the town of Tismana; from there the road climbs north along the Tismana valley for another ~4 km to the monastery. From Drobeta-Turnu Severin it is ~90 km via Baia de Aramă (~1¾ hours), from Craiova ~150 km (~2½ hours). It combines easily with Brâncuși's ensemble in Târgu Jiu. Public transport: Tismana has no railway station; trains run to Târgu Jiu, from where minibuses leave for Tismana. From the town to the monastery it is ~4 km: a taxi or almost an hour on foot.
- When is the best time to visit Tismana Monastery?
- The best season for Tismana Monastery: May – October (summer, in the forest shade).
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