Bukovina

Why?

Bukovina is the land of fairy-tale like fortified churches with charming painted exterior walls, beautifully painted eggs, wooden houses with original architecture, traditions and special folk costumes, all  surrounded by picturesque mountain landscapes.

The monasteries here are included in the UNESCO World Heritage, such as Voroneţ, Humor and Moldoviţa; the villages that fascinate with their architecture such as Ciocăneşti and Marginea; or the winter and pascal holidays with their special charm, are sure to impress visitors travelling to these parts of the country.

Bukovina’s cultural richness and its stunning scenery can be admired throughout the year, but the busiest time of year is during religious holidays. So make sure you take a few days off to discover this fairy-tale land.

We recommend

Visit the International Museum of Painted Eggs “Lucia Condrea”.

Discover the secrets of black ceramics by Marginea in a local workshop.

Buy souvenirs directly from local craftsmen (wooden items, coats, embroidered tablecloths, carpets, etc.).

Take a tour of the Princely Fortress of Suceava and the Princely Inn.

Discover the Land of Hutuli in Lucina.

Try the famous dumplings, homemade cheese pies, or the “rădăuţeană” borscht.

Taste the local drink called afinata.  

Good to know

The tourist info centre in Suceava is located at 4 Mitropoliei St.

You will find an information point in the parking lot of the Suceviţa Monastery.

If you practice extreme sports make sure you consult guides and people who know the area.

How to get here

Bukovina is relatively easy to get to by plane, train or by car due to its proximity to Central Europe.

Air access

There is an international airport in Suceava  or in Iasi where you can get to Suceava by car, bus or train in 2-3 hours.

Railway access

There are international trains connecting important cities in Europe with Bucharest or the cities of Transylvania, from where you can connect  to Bukovina.

Road Access

Most people who visit Bukovina rent a car at the Suceava airport.

Have a nice trip!

Discover

Bukovina or Ţara Fagilor mainly belongs to Suceava county and is actually the southern half of a historic Bukovina that, 150 years ago was part of the Habsburg Empire. Its northern half is now part of Ukraine.

Bukovina now is known by tourists especially for its many religious (Orthodox) sites that date back to the 15th-16th century. These places are linked to rulers such as Stephen the Great and Petru Rareș.

From the numerous monasteries and churches found here, eight of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage and stand out through unique colours that decorate their exterior walls with depictions of scenes from the Bible or from the history of those times.

Thus is the Voroneţ Monastery also called the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, famous for its blue colour called “Voroneţ blue”. Other similar architectural jewels are Humor, Moldoviţa, Suceviţa, Probota and St John the New Monastery in Suceava. Next to these you will find  two other beautiful churches: Pătrăuţi şi Arbore.

In Bukovina, traditions and craftsmanship have remained untouched by the passage of time. Here you will find crafts such as black ceramic pottery from Marginea, woven carpets, specific to this area and traditions such as painting eggs during Easter.  

Anytime you choose to visit you’ll have the chance to participate in many folk festivals and events where you’ll be able to admire traditional costumes and dances from Bukovina. This is a region known for its strong spirituality so the Orthodox Easter and Christmas celebrations are particularly special in this region.

For those of you who are more active there are many ways to spend time in Bukovina. Visit the salt mine in Cacica, where you can take a walk in the Bistriţa Gorge or go hiking in the Rarău Mountains where you can admire the karst formations or take a stroll in Slătioarei forest where you can admire the virgin forests. During winter you can go skiing and sleigh riding in the Dornelor Valley and afterwards relax in the Vatra Dornei resort.

If you arrive in Suceava, the capital of the region and a city with a  strong historical background, make sure you visit the Bukovina Village Museum, the History Museum and the ruins of the Princely Fortress of Suceava.

Bukovina is famous for its food so don't be shy and try some of the local dishes. People are very friendly in this area and in many agro-touristic guest houses you have the chance to taste  local food while enjoying traditional decor.

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Gastronomy

Bucovina is recognized and appreciated not only for its distinctive cultural and natural attractions, but also for its remarkable culinary tradition. Bucovina cuisine delights the senses with its products prepared with natural ingredients cooked long and slow and always accompanied by cream, the ingredient found in almost all Bucovinian dishes.

Whether it's the special desserts, the nourishing meat or sour vegetable soup, traditional “sarmale” (minced meat with rice, wrapped in either pickled cabbage leaves or vine leaves), “tochitura”(stew made from pan-fried cubed pork), boletus or trout dishes, all these culinary products are prepared and served with cream, the universal binder of Bucovina cuisine.

So, in order to convince you of the special flavor of the dishes here, try some of these culinary specialties: “ciorba rădăuţeană” (chicken soup), “borşul de hribi” (boletus sour soup), beef salad, mushroom pickles, pies with minced beef, smoked trout, potato with caraway, spinach pie with poppy seed, “pasca” (traditional sweet pie for Easter), cheese, pumpkin or cabbage pie, or the famous Bucovina “cozonac” cake (sweet bread).

To serve Bucovina's cuisine, traditional fruit-based drinks such as cherry brandy, bilberry brandy, raspberry brand, as well as the famous Moldovan wines: Grasa de Cotnari, Busuioaca de Bohotin or Băbeasca Neagră will complete your gourmet feast.

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Attractions

Itineraries

Where to Stay