Coțul Chiliilor Hermitage

St. Nicholas Church, founded by the ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu, is the oldest place of worship in Fagaras. More than three centuries separated us from the beginnings of this Brâncovian jewel, built in 1697-1698. Above the entrance door to the narthex there is a inscription, with words dug in stone and the coat of arms of Wallachia, which tells us that the one who founded this church dedicated to St. Nicholas is Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu and the church was built in 1698, the tenth reighn year of the prince. The architect is not known, but it is very likely that he was one of the artists trained in the so complex atmosphere of the Hurezi School. The church as a whole marks the presence of the brâncoveane Renaissance style. The facades reveal two girdles characteristic to this style, as well as cornice under the eaves, made in apparent brick. The open porch is surrounded by ten octagonal columns. And the bell has an octagonal shape and is situated above the nave. There are three domes, of brick and hemispherical form. Characteristic of the Brâncoven style are the seven windows with sculpted stone frames as well as the door frame, preserved in its original shape. And the iconostasis of the church "St. Nicholas "is the original one, carved with a special craftsmanship in oak wood, in the same brâncovenesc style, glazed with gold leaf. His painting was made, as evidenced by the inscriptions, by the painter Preda of Câmpulung. The decoration of the altar and nave was executed in the fresco technique, closely following the Byzantine iconography and style, by the two sons of Preda, Preda and Theodosius. The painting of the narthex was made later and is the work of an unknown painter of much lower value. Text and photo sources: https://bisericabrancoveanu.wordpress.com/; https://www.facebook.com/BisericaBrancoveneascaFagaras/

Visiting Schedule Winter- Piatra Craiului National Park Visiting Center: Monday: Closed Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00-16:00 Friday - 10:00-14:00 Saturday: 11:00- 15:00 Sunday: 11:00- 13:00   More details on: https://www.pcrai.ro/program Rates:  Adults - 5 lei                 Teens (under 18 years old) - Free                 National Park access fee payers - Free *If you come with a group, it's recommended to tell the park administration in advance! *The ticket for the museum can be bought only from the Visiting Center of the Piatra Craiului National Park. More info on presentation (pcrai.ro) Opened in 2016, the Visitor Center is an exhibition space that combines information trails in the park, based on interactive techniques, three-dimensional layouts, and exhibits related to the area's biodiversity. With touch screens, visitors can see the landscapes of Piatra Craiului and find out all the necessary information about the flora and wild animals that live here, but also about the rocks that are combined in the massif. Visitors can also take a virtual tour of the tourist trails, everything with a simple hand movement.  An artificial stall has been set up in the visitor's center to allow visitors to see what they look like on the inside, but also an artificial cave where bats and other insects are living in this environment.  The wild animals can be admired on the route that runs through the visitor center. These can not only be seen but also heard, which brings a spectacular element and is certainly a great attraction for the little ones.  The interior of the center is designed to simulate the idea of rocks as much as possible, so visitors will feel right on the mountain. In addition, the special effects of thunder, lightning, or chirping of the birds will bring the visitor even closer to the beauty of the Piatra Craiului Mountains. The center also has a Piatra Craiului 3D layout and a walkway that tourists can climb to admire from above as if they were on a mountain at heigh. Also on the walkway can be projected pictures from Piatra Craiului, geological information, and habitat, but also tourist routes. Everything is with a touch screen command. Practically the visitor can design what map he wants to see and they can virtually admire the entire Piatra Craiului massif.

Carved into spectacular rock walls over a length of approximately 2 km, the Gorges of Zărneştilor is characterized by a monumental due to vertical walls or even bend over whites, with heights exceeding 200 m in some places. In this area, the temperature drops a few degrees because the sun hardly ever penetrates the gorges, only a few hours per day, which provides opportunity to relax and rest in the cool weather offered the gorges in the summer. The access is from the town Zărnești and Peștera. The cabin Curmătura is located near the gorge, an important starting point shifts to Piatra Craiului Massif. Those who come here will be impressed by the sights of the Cave (The Great Cave chasms, The Small Cave chasms) and several springs, like the Fountain of Botorog and the Gentlemen Fountain. The walls bordering the valley have a height ranging between 100 and 200 meters. The route through the Gorges of Zărneşti impresses with its spectacular rock walls where there were built numerous alpine routes. The view can be admired from afar, from Zărnești and Peștera. Covering the gorges you reach the place called "La Table" one of climbing spots on the Piatra Craiului peak. Accessibility: • National Road (DN) 73A to Zărnești and here County Road (DJ) 112G, to the Fountain of Botorog, then after 100 meters the road splits, one before the gorges and the other to the village of Măgura. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

The Holes in Zăplaz are considered gateways to another dimension. The ruptures in the rock may be encountered coming up from the Spirlea Refugeto “La Lanțuri” trail in The Piatra Craiului Massif. The Mountains of petrified shells dating back to the dinosaurs’ times turned into the holes that are currently at Zăplaz. Cutting the sky, the Holes in Zăplaz means, actually, "fence boards" and are often likened to the work of Gaudi. Apart from and grandeur of the mountain holes, which scientists have no clear explanation, the windows carved into limestone are considered possible portal to another dimension. The water, the wind, the years have worked hard on arches, columns, galleries, to create the phenomena displayed today. The holes at Zăplaz is one of the most important sights of Piatra Craiului Massif, an objective which should not be missed it if you are nearby. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

The church "Saint Nicholas" is the oldest church in the city, the old medieval art monument inscribed in the heritage of the Romanian Academy. The great historian Nicolae Iorga believed that the church, which was built on the site in 1515 and then was repaired in 1810, comes from ancient times, from a Romanian ruler. It seems that the original church was quite of small dimensions. As the number of residents was increased by approximately five times, the size of the church was unfit for its purpose. In the late seventeenth century the church was finished, being stuck in the narthex of the chapel. In the oral reports, the elders of the village said that after the Battle of 1690 at Zărnești, the Tatars burned the village, and here it did not stand after that scorching fire than the new church, whose brick and stone walls left in their place. It is believed that the rise of this place would have been helped by a prince of Wallachia, respectively the predecessor of Constantin Brâncoveanu, Şerban Cantacuzino. Text source: https://www.visitzarnesti.ro/

The Evangelical Church of St. Matthias is a national class A monument (National Historical Monuments List: BV-II-a-A-11763). In 1394 the documents mention Stefan, as plebian of the church "St. Mathias" in Rasnov and Dean of Brasov. The only church of the Christian community of Râşnov Saxons, preserved to date, dates from the beginning of the 14th century. The Catholic Church worshiped Virgin Mary and, after the Reformation, became the evangelical Saxon prayer site. With the religious Reformation, the Saxons covered the frescoes of the church. But on the north side of the church choir an old painting was discovered, dated to 1500. In 1682, a new altar was installed in the evangelical church. In 1781 the 113-year old pipe organ was replaced with one made by the silesian Johann Frill. After the fires of 1587, 1623 and 1718, the place of worship was greatly damaged. The current appearance of the evangelical church dates from 1774-1775, when a new roof and walls of the church were built.Because in the fire of 1718 the three bells melted, in 1720 a new bell was cast. After 200 years, at the end of the First World War, two large bells, sanctified in 1927, were purchased from Apold. The earthquake of October 26th, 1802, caused great destruction of the Evangelical Church and its tower. The tower that was rebuilt until 1804 was 13 meters high and had a gilded globe and a star on top of it.

The oldest Orthodox church in Southeastern Transylvania is to be found in Rasnov: the Romanian Orthodox church dedicated to "Saint Nicholas". The monument was raised in several stages. As a result of the archaeological researches, it was concluded that the place was built in the 18th century. This architectural phase are to be noticed in the altar and small ship. In 1384 the restoration of the place was supported by the ruler of Wallachia, Radu I. The church was elongated and enlarged. From now on, it seems that the Gothic impression originates from the architecture of the Rasnov church. In 1773 the church was enlarged by the contribution of the Brasov merchants Ionita and Radu Boghici. The present form dates from the third decade of the 19th century. The Byzantine interior painting seems to have been made in the 17th century. Over the centuries, the church has received numerous donations from the rulers and boyars of Wallachia. The Old Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas is a national monument A (National Historic Monuments List BV-II-m-A-11762).

* CURMATURA CHALET IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR ACCOMMODATION, but you can dine in the restaurant or you can use the tent camping facilities / ecological toilets / showers/ spring water. Chalet Details:  - 46 places (in the cottage and annex)  - Cottage: rooms with 2, 3, 11, 12 places  - Annex: 2 rooms with 4 seats, 1 room with 10 seats  - Buffet and restaurant (slow food, NU fast food)  - Spring water, electricity (generator)  - Dining room program: 07.00 - 23.00 (after 23.00 dining room closes!) Prices: Prices may change, so it's good to call back to the cottage!  - 50 lei / room in the rooms with 12-14 beds in the room  - 100 lei / room with 2 beds in the room  - 150 lei/ room with 3 beds  - 10 lei / tent - In the Winter, tourists must book beds for the weekend and in summer for any period! Slipping in the dining room is not allowed!

St. Nicholas Church, documented in 1292 and mentioned in the Papal Bula from 1399, was built of stone from 1495 onwards with the contribution of the voivodes from ever the mountains (Vlad Calugar, Neagoe Basarab, Mihai Viteazul, Petru Cercel, Aron Vodă, Gheorghe Ştefan). The church's design includes Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, being in fact a synthesis of these styles under Byzantine cast. Here, the tomb of Nicolae Titulescu (1882-1941), former Foreign Minister of Romania, is to be found. Photo source: https://www.crestinortodox.ro/biserici-manastiri/biserica-sfantul-nicolae-scheii-brasovului-67902.html