Suceava, one of Romania's 41 counties, is located in the northern part of the state, contributing to the national borders with Ukraine. It lies surrounded by other Romanian counties, namely Botosani to the east; Iasi to the southeast; Neamt, Harghita, and Mures to the south; and Bistrita-Nasaud and Maramures to the west.[2] Suceava's capital city, also called Suceava, has been inhabited since ancient times. Today, the city showcases an array of historical and cultural landmarks tourists can visit.[6] However, in terms of cultural heritage, the county is presumably best known for the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, a UNESCO-protected group of eight churches known for the Byzantine murals on both the inside and outside walls of these churches.[7] Regarding natural protected areas, the Calimani National Park stretches across the county's borders to Nasaud, Harghita, and Mures.[4] Apart from protecting volcanic landscapes and local animal and plant species, the park also offers outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, and paragliding, to name a few.[8] Presumably, the best time to visit Suceava County regarding local weather is during summer, namely June, July, and August, when the average temperatures are the highest. However, these months also receive the most amount of precipitation.[5]
Suceava, the capital city of Suceava County, showcases a range of historical and cultural landmarks. For instance, Saint George's Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the local sights of historical significance. Suceava is also home to the Bucovina Ethnography Museum, which houses a collection of folk costumes, traditional tools, and historical remnants from the Suceava Princely Court.
In addition to these, visitors can explore the 14th-century Mirauti Church, Zamca Monastery, and the Bucovina Village Museum, dedicated to the region's woodcraft, ethnography, history, and folk art.
The Bucovina History Museum offers insights into medieval armor, coins, weaponry, tools, and ancient documents. Another local attraction is the Suceava Princely Inn, known for its thick stone walls and vaulted ceilings, serving as a meeting place for Moldavian princes and noblemen.
The town also hosts the Saint George Church, which dates back to 1552 and features exterior frescoes. Nearby, the Zamca Monastic Complex, founded by Armenian exiles, is another architectural monument. Suceava is also home to several museums, including the Bucovina Ethnography Museum, Bucovina History Museum, and Bucovina Village Museum, each offering insights into the region's culture, history, and traditions.[6]
Beyond its capital city, Suceava is known for the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of eight Romanian Orthodox monasteries in the Moldovia and Bucovina regions. These monasteries were mainly built during the 15th and 16th centuries and were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. What reportedly sets these monasteries apart is their intricate paintings on not only the interior of the buildings but the exterior as well. These murals, predominantly done in a Byzantine style, have endured over the centuries and can be seen today. They serve not only as decorative elements but also as educational tools, conveying historical religious teachings. One of these Painted Monasteries is the Voronet Monastery, built in 1488 by Stephen the Great of Moldavia and nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel of the East." Another notable monastery, Sucevita Monastery, features a Resurrection Church within its fortified compound. The church, constructed in 1583, showcases an array of Old and New Testament imagery and defensive walls, emphasizing the region's historical vulnerability.
Suceava and Iasi are the two major cities within the closest proximity to the painted monasteries that have international airports, facilitating access to this cultural heritage.[7]
Outdoor enthusiasts can venture to Calimani National Park, which offers an array of outdoor activities in its volcanic landscape. Visitors can partake in hiking, mountain biking, equestrian tours, cross-country skiing, bird watching, photography, backpacking, and paragliding. The park is home to the Pietrosu Peak, the highest volcanic chain in Romania, along with other peaks exceeding 2,000 meters. Local volcanic karst formations such as the 12 Apostles, Red Stones, and Nefertiti can be explored when visiting. Other notable natural attractions include Iezerul Calimani Natural Reservation with its Iezer Lake, the Tihu Waterfall, and Retitis Peak, offering panoramic views of the Ceahlau and Fagaras Mountains.[8]
Suceava County's geographical landscape is diverse, encompassing both the Eastern Carpathians and the Suceava Plateau. This terrain gradually descends from west to east, characterized by strip-like patterns running parallel from north to south.
In the mountainous zone, there are various peaks, mountain groups, and individual mountains separated by valleys and depressions. Among these are the Suhard and Calimani Mountains, known for their volcanic origins and featuring Pietrosu Peak, which reaches an elevation of 2,102 meters. Other notable mountainous and hilly areas include Obcina Mestecanis, Giumalau-Rarau Mountains, Obcina Feredeului, Obcina Mare, and the Vatra Dornei-Câmpulung Moldovenesc-Gura Humorului depression. The plateau region, on the other hand, comprises plateaus with valleys, depressions, and piedmont hills. These features are spread across areas such as Marginea, Radauti Depression, Suceava-Falticeni Plateau, Dragomirna Plateau, Liteni Depression, Baia Piedmont Plain, and the Siret Valley.
The hydrographic network in Suceava County is extensive, with prominent rivers including Bistrita, Dorna, Moldova, Siret, Somesul Mare, and Suceava. Additionally, Suceava County holds mineral and mineralized water resources, boasting sparkling and sulfated, sulfured, and chlorinated springs.[2]
Calimani National Park lies situated on the northern side of the Eastern Carpathians, spanning across Bistrita – Nasaud, Harghita, Mures, and Suceava counties. This park is known for its eruptive rocks and the remnants of ancient volcanoes amidst its varying landscapes. It's home to diverse natural ecosystems where Swiss stone pine and juniper trees can be spotted. Notably, Calimani harbors Europe's most extensive inactive caldera, stretching about six miles in diameter. In terms of local flora, the park features 774 plant species, including endangered ones such as alpine leek, narcissus anemone, and mountains soldanella. The cedar and juniper forests on Calimani's western slope provide a habitat for the elusive black grouse.
Endangered animal species such as bears, elks, wolves, and lynxes also inhabit local lands. Visitors to the park can indulge in activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, and wildlife and bird watching.[4]
In terms of weather conditions, Suceava County is located in the continental climate area.[2] The warmest time of the year in Suceava tends to be the summer when the temperatures exceed 20°C. July, in particular, is the month with the highest temperature on average. However, June receives the most precipitation.[5]
The history of the city of Suceava is marked by its diverse ethnic influences. In ancient times, the city area was inhabited by Dacian tribes, Celts, and Germanic Bastarnae. Later, during the Middle Ages, Suceava served as the capital of the Principality of Moldavia and was a royal residence. The town was home to German settlers under the Magdeburg law, becoming a hub for trade with Central European towns.
In the late 18th century, Suceava came under Habsburg rule, remaining part of their domains until 1918, when it joined the Kingdom of Romania. The town reportedly prospered during the interwar period and underwent industrialization, although historical buildings were demolished for communist-era construction.[1]
Considering the history of Suceava as a whole, the county's region was historically referred to as "the upper land" or "the beech land." Archaeological evidence reveals that the area has been inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic period. Settlements from the hunter-gatherer and early farming communities have been discovered in places such as Baia, Dolhasca, Udesti, Suceava, and Bogdanesti, dating back to ancient times.[2] Suceava County served as the heart of Moldavia's principality during the mid-14th century. It became the principality's center, with Suceava city as its capital since 1388. Moldavia's rulers, such as Voivode Stefan the Great, constructed several monasteries in the region, which are today known for their preserved frescoes both inside and outside. Monasteries such as Moldovita, Humor, Sucevita, and others are historical landmarks of modern Romania.
Over four centuries, the territory of Suceava was part of the Moldavian Voivodeship under Ottoman suzerainty. It faced numerous foreign invasions, including Turks, Cossacks, Poles, Russians, and Austrians. Austria occupied the region from 1775 to 1918, after which Romania claimed it at the end of World War I. Territorial changes occurred under communist rule, with Suceava County abolished in 1952 and reinstated and expanded in 1968. Anti-communist resistance continued in Suceava until 1954, and democratic institutions were restored after the fall of the dictatorship in 1989.[3]
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