It is one of the largest convents in Romania, and the poet Veronica Micle is buried here.
About the place
Mother Olimpiada (Bălașa Herescu) and the confessor Iosif built a wooden church here in 1785. The stone Church of the Dormition went up between 1808 and 1812; the Church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist was rebuilt in stone in 1844, and the Church of the Transfiguration dates from 1845–1847. By the south wall of St John's church lies the grave of Veronica Micle, who withdrew to Văratec after Eminescu's death and died here in August 1889.
The museum collection, set up in 1960–1961 in the former “Regina Maria” workshop, holds icons from the 15th–17th centuries, manuscripts, church objects, carpets and embroidery. The Văratec nuns Nazaria, Olimpiada and Elisabeta (Safta Brâncoveanu) have been declared saints, and their proclamation at the monastery took place on 16 August 2026.
Good to know
- Services are at 5:30 am and 4 pm on weekdays, and the Sunday Liturgy starts at 7:30 am. The main feast day is 15 August.
- Dress modestly and keep quiet in the precinct; ask the nuns before taking photos in the churches or the museum. The museum opens 9 am–5 pm, according to cIMeC.
- The monastery offers pilgrims a place to stay; call ahead. The Veronica Micle memorial house, open as a museum, is in Târgu Neamț, about 13 km by road.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.