20 minutes from the cabin · half a day or a full day · all year round
Gura Humorului is the closest town to Stulpicani and the starting point of almost every weekend in Bucovina. In a single morning you can see Voroneț Monastery and Humor Monastery, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, and if you stay all day, add the Museum of Folk Customs, the Escalada Park adventure park in Ariniș Park and a good meal in the centre.
A small town with doors onto all of Bucovina
The town sits quietly where the Humor river meets the Moldova, surrounded by wooded hills. It is the nearest town, with cash machines, pharmacies, supermarkets and a few restaurants, and on the way, in Frasin, you will also find a petrol station and shops.
From the cabin gate it is twenty minutes on a tarmacked road, through Frasin, and Voroneț is right on the edge of town.
Morning: two painted monasteries
Voroneț Monastery can be your first stop. Built in 1488 on the orders of Stephen the Great, the church is famous for its Voroneț blue and for the “Last Judgement” fresco on its west façade. Allow about an hour to look at the paintings and walk around the grounds. Before you leave, you can stop by the stalls selling painted eggs next to the monastery. The visiting fee is usually paid in cash only, so bring small change; you will find the opening hours on the monastery’s website.
Humor Monastery, a few kilometres from Voroneț in the village of Mănăstirea Humorului, is its quieter sister. Smaller, less crowded and, for many, more moving. The church, built in 1530, stands out for its exterior frescoes, dominated by shades of red. It is worth climbing the bell tower, from where the village looks like a postcard.
Then the town centre awaits with a coffee and, on Saturday mornings, the market, where you will find cheeses, honey and vegetables from local people.
If you stay all day
The Museum of Folk Customs of Bucovina brings together costumes, tools and objects linked to the festivals of the year. It is a lovely stop on a rainy day and a beautiful introduction to everything you will see later in the villages.
Escalada Park, in Ariniș Park in Gura Humorului, has rope courses for children high up among the trees, plus zip lines: just the thing for a bit of fun after the monasteries. The Șoimul chairlift, at the Șoimul ski slope, also offers a panoramic ride in the warm season, on the days when it is running.
If you would like a little adrenaline too, Gura Humorului has an alpine coaster: you ride a sled down a track built on the hillside, among the trees. Opening times vary with the season and the weather, so check them before you set off.
How to fit the day in with the rest of the area
Because Gura Humorului is only twenty minutes away, you don’t have to see everything at once. A good plan: the monasteries on Saturday morning, then back to the hot tub in the afternoon. On Sunday morning, before you leave, you can plan a short walk through the Slătioara old-growth forest, a quarter of an hour away in the opposite direction.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Voroneț and Humor take?
About two and a half hours, including the drive between them, if there is no queue. On summer weekends, add another half hour.
Can we take photos inside the churches?
The rules on photography can differ from one church to another. Follow the signs at the entrance and ask before taking photos inside.
Where can we eat in Gura Humorului?
In the centre you will find a few restaurants and cake shops. If you would rather eat close to the house, Popasul Caprei is five minutes from the cabin, and someone from the village can cook for the whole group right at the cabin.
Come back in the evening to your own house in Stulpicani
A whole house just for your group, hot tub included, from 900 lei a night. After a day among frescoes, you come back to warm water, the fire in the fireplace and the long table.
