Hugging the south bank of the Moldova River, Câmpulung Moldovenesc lies in the mountainous region of Obcinele Bucovinei in Romania’s north-east. It has existed since at least the early 15th century and was under Habsburg rule from 1775 to 1918 before serving as the capital of Câmpulung County in the Kingdom of Romania.
Things to do in Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Occupying a house once owned by Ion Țugui is the Wooden Spoons Museum, which boasts the world’s largest collection of wooden spoons. It showcases thousands of objects that the historic professor studied and catalogued from all corners of Romania. There are also wooden spoons from as far afield as Japan, Madagascar and Pakistan on display, together with ceramic objects and coins.
A short drive north of Câmpulung Moldovenesc is the Moldovița Monastery, which was constructed in 1532 by Voivode Petru Rareș to guard against Ottoman invaders. It is one of several monasteries in Northern Moldavia with external walls that are adorned with frescoes. Step inside to admire the Gothic-style windows and “The Last Judgment” on the west wall. Also UNESCO World Heritage-listed is the nearby Sucevița Monastery.
If you drive in the other direction from Câmpulung Moldovenesc, you’ll arrive at the Pietrele Doamnei-Rarău Natural Reserve. In addition to being rich in fossils, it is home to unique rock formations linked to local legends. It’s a popular rock climbing and hiking destination and offers magnificent views across the Rarau Mountains from its 1,651-metre-high peak.
Getting around Câmpulung Moldovenesc
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is just under three hours’ drive from Iași International Airport and 3.5 hours from Cluj "Avram Iancu" International Airport, both of which have flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Câmpulung Moldovenesc railway station and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.