Thematic Route: The Cultural Heritage Route

Name of the Touristic Attraction: “Gura Motrului” Monastery

Location: in Butoiești Commune, Mehedinți County, at 63 km from Drobeta Turnu Severin. Butoieşti village can be reached from Drobeta Turnu Severin, on DN66 towards Filiaşi.

Legend / Story / Impressions / Recommendations: Considered the oldest monastery in Oltenia, Gura Motrului Monastery dates back in the 16th century, being built, according to a document from 1519, during the reign of Neagoe Basarab, by his closest counselor, Harvat. It was built a place of worship with a defense purpose. A wall of defense was set around it, which allowed the sheltering of the Greek Boyars, being chased by Tudor Vladimirescu in 1821. After the Revolution was annihilated, the monastery of Gura Motru was robbed by the Ottoman army. In 1864, along with the secularization of the monastic fortunes, the monastery ends its activity as monastery of Greek monks and it is shortly abandoned. The monastery reopens in 1943 and functions as a nunnery, but in 1990 it got back to being a monastery of monks, as it originally was. Gura Motrului Monastery is, together with Vodița, the oldest settlement in Mehedinţi County.

Information and Contact:

The church is administered by the Episcopate of Severin and Strehaia:

phone: +4 0252 333 048, +4 0252 333 039,

e-mail: secretariat@episcopiaseverinului.ro ,

website: www.episcopiaseverinului.ro

Route close to other Thematic Route:

In the area you can also visit:

1. The Mansion of Răduţeşti, home of the great philosopher and playwright Constantin Rădulescu Motru, descendant of the Butoi family.
2. Saint Paraschiva Church in Butoiești
3. The Wooden Church in Butoiești

GPS Coordinates: lat, long: 44.55155, 23.44467, elevation: 120 m