Peştera mănăstire de la Sinca Veche

Templul Ursitelor


Useful Information

Location: South of Sinca Veche, follow 104E to parking lot, signposted.
(45.755281, 25.168071)
Open: No restrictions.
[2020]
Fee: free.
[2020]
Classification: SubterraneaCave Church SpeleologySandstone Cave
Light: natural
Dimension:  
Guided tours: self guided
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Peştera mănăstire de la Sinca Veche.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

7,000 BP begin of the digging of caves.
1742 monastery built.
2004 inscribed in the list of historical monuments.

Description

Şinca Veche is a series of seven artificial caves located in the Făgăraş Mountains, between the cities of Braşov and Făgăraş. Actually Şinca Veche is the name of the village, the site is called Templul Ursitelor (Temple of the Bears). It is located on the grounds of the Mănăstire de la Şinca Veche (Monastery of Şinca Veche) but it is far older. The seven caves are considered to be of Dacian origin, which means Bronze Age before and during the Roman occupation. Some estimate it is up to 7,000 years old, which is the late Neolithic, but there is no archaeological evidence for this. The monastery on the other hand is from the late Middle Ages. The place is actually known under several names like Mănăstirea Săpată în Piatră (Monastery Carved in Stone), Templul de la Şinca Veche (Temple of Şinca Veche), or Templul Dorinţelor (Temple of Wishes).

The site is obviously an archaeological site. To some it is a place where paranormal phenomena take place, to others a place of worship. And it is a place where wishes become true, if you have a pure heart.