Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565. Once the capital of Moldova (from 1388 until 1565), Suceava is an excellent starting point for trips to the many historical, cultural and natural attractions travelers can enjoy in the Bucovina region. Suceava is also the gateway to visiting the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina.

The easiest way to visit the Painted Monasteries is by car; a 30-minute drive (or less) separates one from another. Excursions and day trips are also available from Suceava and Gura Humorului.

Dimitrie Cantemir in his famous work Descriptio Moldavie gives the origin of the name as Hungarian: Szűcsvár, meaning city of furriers. For nearly 200 years the city of Suceava was the capital of the Moldavian state and main residence of the Moldavian princes (between 1388 and 1565). The city was the capital of the lands of Stephen the Great, one of the pivotal figures in Romanian history, who died in Suceava in 1504. He built a church every time he defeated an enemy army. During the rule of Alexandru Lăpuşneanu, the seat was moved to Iaşi in 1565. Michael the Brave captured the city in 1600 during the Moldavian Magnate Wars in attempt to unite Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania, but he was defeated the same year and Suceava failed to become the capital again. Together with the rest of Bukovina, Suceava was under the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy (later Austria-Hungary) from 1775 to 1918; the border of Habsburg domains passed just south-east of the city. At the end of World War I, it became part of Greater Romania.

The town has some noteworthy attractions of its own, including Saint George’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Bucovina Ethnographic Museum, with its valuable folk costumes collection and traditional items exhibits, and Suceava’s main tourist site, the remains of the Princely Court.

Other sights in Suceava include the 14th century Mirauti Church, the Zamca Monastery and the Bucovina Village Museum, dedicated to the woodcraft, ethnography, history and folk art of the region. The Bucovina History Museum displays medieval armor, coins, weaponry, tools and ancient documents. Visit these archeological and historic gems before heading to the painted monasteries area.

Mirauti Church (Biserica Mirauti)
The oldest church in Suceava, Mirauti Church was founded by Petru I Musat in 1375. Until 1522 it served as the Moldavian coronation church. It was here where Stephen the Great was crowned Prince of Moldavia in 1457 after receiving the bishop’s blessing. The church was restored between 1898 and 1901, preserving the original design.

Princely Court (Cetatea de Scaun)
Built by Petru Musat at the end of the 14th century, the fortress was later enlarged and strengthened by Alexandru cel Bun to hold off invading Ottoman Turks. Stephan the Great (1457 – 1504) added the moat, 105-foot-tall defensive walls, and defensive towers that enabled it to withstand the artillery of Mehmmed II, conqueror of Constantinople. The fortress was finally blown up by the Turks in 1675. Today, visitors can tour the remains of the impressive fortifications and take in a great view of the city.

Princely Inn (Hanul Domnesc)
One of the oldest buildings in Suceava, featuring thick stonewalls and vaulted ceilings, the inn served for a long time a favorite meeting point for the noble court as they returned from hunting in the thick forests of Suceava; hence its name, the Princely Inn. The ground floor dates from the beginning of the 17th century, while the second floor dates from the 19th century when it served as a hunting lodge during the period of Hapsburg rule. Today, the Princely Inn is home to the Bucovina Ethnographic Museum.

Cotnari Vineyards (Podgorile Iasi)
Moldova is the largest wine-producing region in Romania. Located in the small village of Cotnari, the Cotnari vineyards are famous for their delicious sweet white wines made of grapes rich in sugar and harvested in late autumn following the first frost. The quality of these wines relies on a combination of rich soil, the late harvest and the presence of a special mold (Botritis cinerea). The winery’s most popular wines include Francusa (dry), Catalina (semisweet) and the sweet, golden Grasa and Tamaioasa dessert wines. The most popular brand, “Grasa de Cotnari,” is an excellent white wine often referred to as the “golden nectar.” Apart from wine tasting, visitors can tour Cotnari’s other attractions, such as cellars dating back to the time of Stephen the Great (1457-1504), where over 6 million liters of wine are aged in oaken barrels. The winemaking plant produces 4 to 6 million bottles a year and boasts a collection of more than 800,000 bottles. Cotnari winery offers wine-tasting sessions and tours of the cellars and factory. Every year on September 14, wine connoisseurs celebrate the harvest here. Prince Stephen the Great commissioned bridges and paved roads for the transportation of wine from the Cotnari vineyards. Grasa de Cotnari was awarded the gold medal at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris.

One of the earliest sites of Jewish settlement in the region, Suceava was already home to an established community at the beginning of the 16th century. Some 18 synagogues and small Hasidic prayer rooms were in use before World War II, the majority of them taken down during the 1950s’ communist ‘urban renewal’ period. Only one synagogue still stands today, beautifully preserved, along with two Jewish cemeteries.

Impressive tombs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be seen in the newer Jewish Cemetery (located at Str. Parcului 6). The Old Jewish Cemetery (located on Str. Stefan Tomsa) with its elaborately carved tombs bearing traditional Jewish symbols, dates back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest in Moldavia.

Suceava is easily accessible from Bucharest (Bucuresti) by plane (1 hour), train (approximately 6 hours) and car (6 ½ to 8 ½ hours depending on traffic conditions). Suceava is served by the Suceava "Ştefan cel Mare" Airport (SCV), located 12 km (7.5 mi) east of the city centre, it is also called "The Salcea Airport".

Airlines with service to Suceava:

Carpat Air
Direct flights from/to: Timisoara (TSR)
Connecting international flights from/to: Germany (Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart); Greece (Athens); Italy (Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Florence, Milan, Rome, Turin, Venice, Verona), Ukraine (Lvov).