Last updated on December 21, 2023.

Unlike the hidden churches in Nicolae Ceaușescu’s horrible urban redevelopment project, the churches in the Old Town of Bucharest remain in the open and easy to find. There are five of note that I visited.

 

Church of St. Anthony

The oldest church in Old Town is the princely church, Church of St. Anthony (Biserica Sfântul Anton), located next to the Old Princely Court. It was built in 1559 by Mircea Ciobanul, a three time Voivode of Wallachia. He’s buried inside the church.

Biserica Sfântul Anton in Bucharest, Romania
Church of St. Anthony
Biserica Sfântul Anton in Bucharest, Romania
Church of St. Anthony

 

Stavropoleos Church

The most impressive building I found in the Old Town is the Stavropoleos Church. It’s an Orthodox church built in 1724 under the rule of Nicholas Mavrocordato, a Phanariot of Chian descent. This tiny church is part of a monastery that contains over 8,000 books on theology, Byzantine music, art, and history.

Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Frescoes on the Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Stavropoleos Church

It’s the most beautiful church in Bucharest and has many well-preserved icons and frescoes inside and out.

Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Frescoes on the Stavropoleos Church
Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest, Romania
Frescoes on the Stavropoleos Church

 

St. Dimitri Church

Behind the National History Museum and a block south of the Stavropoleos Church is another old church, St. Dimitri Church (Biserica Sfântul Dumitru). The current church was built in 1819 but can trace its history back to the 14th century.

Biserica Sfântul Dumitru in Bucharest, Romania
St. Dimitri Church

 

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church

An interesting church in the north part of the Old Town is St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, which was commissioned in 1909 by Tsar Nicholas II. It’s known as the Student’s Church.

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bucharest, Romania
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bucharest, Romania
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Bucharest, Romania
Inside St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church

 

St. Nicholas Church

Nearby is the St. Nicholas Church (Biserica Sfântul Nicolae), dating back to the 17th century.

Biserica Sfântul Nicolae in Bucharest, Romania
St. Nicholas Church
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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