Hâncu Monastery

Hâncu Monastery is one of the most famous and picturesque Orthodox monasteries in Moldova, located in the Nisporeni district, about 55 km west of Chișinău, amidst the dense forests of the Codru region.

The cloister was founded in 1678 by the Moldovan boyar and high-ranking official Mihalhcu at the request of his daughter, who became a nun under the name Parascheva. Throughout its centuries-old history, the monastery was repeatedly destroyed during Tatar invasions, but was always restored. During the Soviet period, it was closed and used as a recreation camp, but in the 1990s the complex was revived and returned to the church as a functioning convent.

The architectural ensemble includes the main stone Church of St. Parascheva, built in the Pseudo-Russian style, and the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, along with well-kept monastic quarters, a refectory, and neatly tended gardens. A pure holy spring, whose water is considered healing, is also located on the grounds.

Today, Hâncu Monastery is not only an important spiritual and pilgrimage center, but also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its peaceful atmosphere and the unique natural landscapes of the Moldovan forests.