Cotmeana Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Argeș County, Romania
Cotmeana Monastery is a religious complex in Argeș County featuring thick stone walls decorated with colored ceramic discs beneath a serrated cornice in Byzantine-Balkanic architectural style. The structure combines fortified design with decorative elements characteristic of the region's medieval religious buildings.
Founded in 1292, it stands as the oldest religious complex in Wallachia. Initial wooden structures were later replaced by brick construction that has endured to the present day.
Frescoes painted on the interior walls depict religious scenes and portraits of figures important to Romanian history across different eras. As you walk through the spaces, you can see how the artistic style evolved and changed over the centuries.
The site sits about 5 kilometers away from the main road connecting Pitesti and Ramnicu Valcea. Plan for the distance when visiting, and keep in mind that a small group of monks maintains the grounds and buildings.
A wooden tower houses the oldest surviving bell in Wallachia, cast in 1383. This bell was spared from the melting campaigns that took place during the First World War.
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