Cetățuia Hill – Cetățuia Monastery

Cetățuia (hill no. 2) is dominated by forests, vineyards and by the fortified monastery of Cetățuia, built between 1668 and 1672 by Moldavian Prince Gheorghe Duca. The church was inspired from the architecture of the ”Three Hierarchs Monastery”, with a median spiral belt and octagonal star-based steeple, but without having the stone broidery. The legend has it that the Princely Court in the city centre and Cetățuia Monastery were connected by a secret tunnel used by the princes of Moldavia in case of danger of enemy invasion. The princely bath, the Princely Residence with its religious art museum and the Gothic Hall with the monastery wine cellars beneath can be admired in the yard. The pilot Aurel Vlaicu flew over the Cetățuia Monastery in 1911, admired by the royal family. (PHOTO : Tudor GHIOC)