Lainici Monastery

Lainici Monastery is an Orthodox monastery built of stone and brick in Defileul Jiului National Park near Bumbești-Jiu in Romania. Dense forests surround the complex along the Jiu Valley, and several buildings with towers are grouped around a courtyard.

The complex was built between 1812 and 1817 under Prince Ioan Caragea and developed into a significant site of monastic life in the mountains. Heavy destruction came during World War I when German troops occupied and damaged the building.

The architecture combines stone walls and brick towers with simple white facades typical of religious buildings in this region. Pilgrims stop here on their way through the mountains and attend services celebrated according to the Eastern rite.

The monastery is located about 32 kilometers from Târgu Jiu and can be reached by a road that runs through the national park. A visit to the complex and its religious buildings usually takes about an hour.

German soldiers and officers left inscriptions on the altar walls during their occupation in World War I. These traces of the occupation period remain visible to this day.

Location: Bumbești-Jiu

GPS coordinates: 45.26410,23.39247

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28