Șinca Veche Monastery

The rock-hewn monastery at Șinca Veche is an Orthodox monastic complex carved entirely into the sandstone of Dealul Pleșu, on its western slope, on the outskirts of the village of Șinca Veche, comuna Șinca, Brașov County, at an altitude of approximately 700 m. The complex comprises two symmetrical rock-hewn churches, each with its own altar and an ancillary room, connected by a shared narthex 13 m in length — an unusual layout that has fuelled numerous controversies regarding the origin and original function of the site. A distinctive architectural feature is the spiral opening of approximately 10 m in height carved into the ceiling of the first altar, which functions as a natural chimney allowing air and light to enter. The first official document attesting to the existence of two monasteries in the area of the village dates from 1748, a period during which the Habsburg imperial authorities were seeking to eliminate Orthodox monastic life in Transilvania. The complex escaped the destruction ordered by General Buccow in 1761, most likely due to its difficult-to-reach location. Subsequently abandoned, the site was desecrated, and non-Orthodox inscriptions appeared on its walls — among them the Star of David and other symbols — giving rise to theories about Dacian, Templar or extraterrestrial origins, all of which have been contested by archaeological research. Excavations carried out in 2005 confirmed the Orthodox Christian character of the complex and established that the two churches were carved in successive periods. The village of Șinca Veche is also the birthplace of the family of historian and philologist Gheorghe Șincai. The complex was declared a historical monument of national interest in 2004.