Romania · Bucharest and Wallachia

Lacul Căldărușani

Directions

Lake Căldărușani is a shallow river-formed lake of about 2.2 km² in Ilfov County, about 25 km north of Bucharest and south of the Ialomița valley, up to 4 m deep. Căldărușani Monastery stands on its northern side, with the water on three sides of it, and Grădiștea lies on the southern shore.

History

Prince Matei Basarab founded the monastery in 1638, on the site of an older wooden hermitage, as a fortified complex among the Vlăsia forests. A painting school opened here in 1778, and Nicolae Grigorescu studied at it in 1854–1855, painting icons for the monastery.

Nature

Fertiliser running off the farmland has enriched the water and encouraged dense water plants, which harms the fish.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The monastery is the reason to come: two churches, a treasury hall in the former throne room of Matei Basarab, and an art gallery. Restoration work has been under way, so check what is open. Anglers come for carp, bream and crucian carp; ask locally about rules.