Romania · Bucharest and Wallachia

Lacul Cernica

Directions

Lake Cernica is a man-made lake of about 3.6 km² on the Colentina, about 14 km east of Bucharest in Ilfov County, and only about 3 m deep at most. It is part of the chain of lakes along the river, with Cernica and Căldăraru on its shore. Cernica Monastery stands on islands in the lake, linked to each other and to the land.

History

The monastery was founded before 1608 by Cernica Știrbei, a high official of Michael the Brave, and his wife Chiajna, and it became an important school of monastic life. The main church of St Nicholas was repaired in 1809–1815 after the earthquake of 1802, and the church of St George was rebuilt in the 1960s.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The monastery is at Șoseaua Cernica 16, in Pantelimon. Its island cemetery holds many well-known Romanians, among them the painter Ion Țuculescu, the theologian Dumitru Stăniloae, the writer Gala Galaction and the actress Stela Popescu. The Cernica forest lies nearby. The feast of St Calinic, on 11 April, brings pilgrims.