Chiajna Monastery: A mysterious cursed monastery on the outskirts of Bucharest (14 photos)

On the outskirts of Bucharest lies a picturesque ruin that locals believe to be haunted. This is the Chiajna Monastery.





Its construction began during the reign of Prince Alexander Ypsilanti and lasted from 1774 to 1790.



The monastery was consecrated in 1794. A massive structure for its time, 43 meters long and 18 meters high, with walls up to two meters thick, it was designed in the neoclassical style and was conceived as an important spiritual center.





However, its fate was tragic. The Ottoman authorities viewed the construction with suspicion, seeing the thick walls as a potential military threat. Shortly after completion, the monastery was severely damaged by a fire, attributed to the Ottomans. This blow, compounded by the plague that ravaged Wallachia at the time, prevented the monastery from achieving its greatness.



Today, Chiajna Monastery is shrouded in legends, making it one of the most famous paranormal sites in Romania. Locals believe the ruins are cursed, and after dark, shadows can be seen gliding across the ancient walls.



The monastery's dark reputation was further cemented by a real-life tragedy: in 1995, two teenagers disappeared without a trace. This unsolved mystery formed the basis for the documentary film "The Curse of Chiajna Monastery," released in 2008, which further cemented the ruins' sinister aura.



Some legends say that the monastery's first abbot died of the plague, which is why the church was never properly consecrated, bringing a curse upon it. Others tell of the noblewoman Kyazhna, who, according to rumors, killed her own daughter for daring to marry for love rather than her parents' wishes.



The most poetic legend tells how local residents, trying to hide the monastery from invaders, removed the bell and drowned it in the waters of the Dâmboviţa River. It is said that on moonless nights, its muffled, mournful ringing can be heard from beneath the water. Although the veracity of these stories cannot be verified, Chiajna Monastery remains not only an architectural monument but also a place where the past comes alive, giving rise to fascinating, if not entirely untrue, tales.







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