St John Cassian's Cave
About St John Cassian's Cave
St John Cassian's Cave opens in a limestone wall on the northern slope of Casian Hill, above the Casimcea valley, in a Dobrujan steppe landscape on the border between the Gura Dobrogei and Cheile Dobrogei nature reserves. John Cassian, the Dobrujan monk born around 360 and who died in Marseille in 435, gave his name to the hill and to the nearby village; according to historical sources there is no proof that the cave or the valley was his birthplace, but local tradition links the cave to him, and it was a place of pilgrimage long before the monastery was founded.
Archaeological research in 1984–1985 found letters and small crosses incised in the stone inside the cave, and a great deal of Late Roman pottery from the 4th century, a sign that Christians took shelter here, perhaps even during the persecutions. The inscriptions on the walls are attributed to monastic communities of the 9th–11th centuries. At the foot of the hill, in a small wood, stand two rocks with Greek inscriptions from the 2nd–3rd centuries, the “Written Stones” (Pietrele Scrise), studied by Vasile Pârvan in 1912.
A few hundred metres away, on the crest of the hill, stands St John Cassian Monastery of the Archdiocese of Tomis, founded in 2002.
What you can see
The way to the cave climbs a narrow path with steps cut into the rock, then a metal staircase 8–10 metres high to the arched mouth. Inside is a spacious, elongated cave with niches along the sides, where candles are placed. The right-hand branch is a crack that cannot be passed; the left-hand one climbs gentle steps cut in the stone and after ~10 metres opens into a small chamber with a constant temperature in summer and winter. From the mouth of the cave you can see the Casimcea valley, with the two lakes formed on the river's meanders.
Next to the cave are also worth seeing the monastery, with its stone chapel consecrated in 2006 and its cells with wooden balconies, and Cassian's Spring, fitted out in 2006, a few hundred metres from the monastery.
Good to know
Access is only by the metal staircase and the steps in the rock, so the cave is not suitable for pushchairs or for people with mobility problems. On the feast day (28 February, 29 in leap years) and on other occasions, the Holy Liturgy is celebrated at midnight in the cave, which then becomes too small for the crowd. John Cassian's Cave by the Casimcea is not La Adam Cave, which lies in another part of the Dobrogea Gorges.
Information verified on 31 October 2026.
- The arched mouth of the cave, at the top of the metal staircase, with a view over the Casimcea valley.
- The small chamber in the left-hand branch, ~10 metres from the entrance, with a constant temperature all year round.
- The letters and small crosses incised in the cave walls, traces of Christian inhabitants of the early centuries.
- The Written Stones at the foot of the hill, with Greek inscriptions from the 2nd–3rd centuries.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the cave is on Casian Hill, in the Casimcea valley, ~52 km from Constanța (~1 hour) and ~220 km from Bucharest (~3 hours). From Constanța take the A4 and the DN2A towards Mihail Kogălniceanu, then ~11 km towards Târgușor to the monastery. The cave is ~300 m from the monastery, at the end of a path that starts behind it.
Public transport: a regular connection to the monastery is not confirmed.
- Where to park
Leave the car at the monastery; from there continue on foot along the path to the cave.
- Rules
Modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, women with a covered head in the cave and in the church. Keep quiet and respect the prayer of those in the cave; phones off during services. The cave lies in a protected natural area: do not disturb the bats and do not leave litter.
- Facilities
monastery with lodging for pilgrims and a refectory · Cassian's Spring a few hundred metres from the monastery · no access for pushchairs
Frequently asked questions about St John Cassian's Cave
How long does a visit to St John Cassian's Cave take?
A visit to St John Cassian's Cave takes about ½ – 1 hours (including the monastery and the spring).
Can you visit St John Cassian's Cave with kids?
No, St John Cassian's Cave is not recommended for visits with children (8–10 m metal staircase).
How do I get to St John Cassian's Cave?
St John Cassian's Cave is located at Casian Hill, in the Casimcea valley, ~300 m from St John Cassian Monastery, Casian, Constanța County. More under “Getting there”
When is the best time to visit St John Cassian's Cave?
The best season for St John Cassian's Cave: April – October (easier in dry weather).
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