Attraction
Murfatlar Rupestrian Complex
The Murfatlar Rupestrian Complex, also known as Basarabi, is considered the oldest Christian monastic complex discovered on the territory of Romania. It was carved into the chalk hill near the town of Murfatlar, Constanța County, and dates to the 9th–10th centuries. It comprises six rupestrian chapels, galleries, cells and Christian tombs, with walls covered by more than 300 inscriptions and engravings in Cyrillic, Glagolitic, Greek and runic characters — testament to a place of pilgrimage frequented by diverse populations from the Black Sea region.
The Murfatlar Rupestrian Complex, officially named Basarabi-Murfatlar, is the oldest Christian monastic ensemble discovered to date on the territory of Romania. It was carved into the Tibisirul chalk hill, in the immediate vicinity of the Dunăre–Marea Neagră Canal, within the boundaries of the town of Murfatlar, Constanța County. The complex was discovered in 1957 during limestone quarrying works and comprises six rupestrian chapels (B1–B4 and E3–E5), galleries, cells and Christian tombs, all hewn from soft chalk at different levels. The dating is based on an inscription in the nave of chapel B4 bearing the year 6500, corresponding to 992 AD. The largest space is chapel B4, measuring 7×3.5 m, with three pillars in the narthex. The walls of the galleries and chapels preserve more than 300 inscriptions and engravings in Cyrillic, Glagolitic, Greek and runic characters — a unique combination indicating the presence of multiethnic monastic communities and pilgrims from different cultural backgrounds. Among the notable representations are a large dove carved on a pillar in the narthex of B4, intertwined dragons, figures of orants (persons in prayer with raised arms), Maltese crosses, and a silhouette that has been interpreted as a drawing of a Viking ship — a controversial element, but one noted in scholarly research. The temperature inside the galleries remains constant at approximately 12°C. The complex is administered by the Muzeul de Istorie Națională și Arheologie Constanța and is in an advanced state of deterioration: the inscriptions are actively flaking due to moisture and insufficient ventilation, and protective works cover only part of the ensemble. It is worth visiting for its uniqueness within the Romanian archaeological landscape and for the exceptional density of its multi-script inscriptions, which place it in a category of its own at the European level. The complex is closed to the public indefinitely due to its fragile state of conservation. The Consiliul Județean Constanța launched a restoration project in 2021 valued at 15 million euros, which also provides for the creation of a visitor circuit with walkways and a visitor reception centre. The site has been on the UNESCO Tentative List since 1991.
Murfatlar judetul Constanta