The Royal Town... it owes its reputation to the beautiful monastery of Curtea de Arges - a masterpiece of marble and stone. Built in 1517, with Persian, Armenian and Georgian architectural influences, this monastery was chosen in the 19th century as the burial place for the kings and queens of Romania. All of the four Romanian kings - Carol I (1839-1914), Ferdinand (1865-1927), Carol II (1893-1953) and Michael (1921-2017) - rest their eternal sleep at this monastery.

Associated with many legends, the town is intrinsically connected with the history of the country, particularly with the Basarab dynasty - the founders of the Principality of Wallachia.

Back in the 14th century, Curtea de Arges became the second capital of Wallachia, after Câmpulung and before Targoviste and Bucharest. Basarab I or
Basarab the Founder (1270-1352)Basarab the Founder , the first prince of the Basarab House, erected his court and the Saint Nicholas Princely Church in Curtea de Arges. The Princely Church was painted in 1364-1369 during the rule of Basarab's nephew, Vladislav (1364-1377). The paintings of Saint Nicholas Orthodox church are considered amongst the most lustrous examples of the Byzantine painting of the 14th century. On the nearby hill lie the ruins of an old church, ”San Nicoara”. According to some legends, this church was erected by the Catholic wives - many of them from Hungarian noble families - of the first Basarab princes of Wallachia.

On TRANSFAGARASAN Mountain Road to the HEART of TRANSYLVANIA - 4-day tour

Transfagarasan. Crossing “The Alps of Transylvania”