Gothic portals open the journey through time to medieval Transylvanian monasticism, evoking the legendary monks of the “monastery in the reeds,” silent and humble in the Benedictine law of uninterrupted prayer. Remarkable ecologists of the Middle Ages, bound by the vows of poverty, chastity, and asceticism, the Cistercians once drained swamps and inhabited desolate valleys, building flourishing villages and communities. It is said that the ancient monks still care for their church today, hidden within the walls and the concealed alcoves of the fortified abbey. The easternmost point reached by the French monks’ order, the monastery is a unique place in Romania and Eastern Europe. The gate is still open. The heart – even more so!
The Cistercian Monastery of Cârţa is the only Cistercian monastery in Romania. It is located about 16 km from Albota and has become a valued tourist attraction over time. The Cârţa Monastery was built by Cistercian monks from FR-Citeaux (Burgundy).
Inside the abbey, you can admire the baroque altar, the baroque organ, and the vaulted ceiling with the image of the Virgin Mary, the protector. In the courtyard, remnants of the past can be seen, including the ruins of the library and the dormitories, while the parish house stands on the site of the old kitchen, supplied with fresh water from the canal, the oldest inhabited house in Transylvania. In the garden, the tombstone of Franz Pindur – a Saxon painter and graphic artist – stands proudly.
