After six years of hard work, the project of “reviving” one of the most prestigious establishments of Voivode Stephen the Great, in Tazlău commune, finally came to completion. The project amounted a total value of approximately five million euros, and involved the restoration, consolidation, and protection of all five historic buildings (“Nativity of Mary” Church, the Princely House, the Bell Tower, the Guard Tower, and the Enclosing Wall) with a total area of ​​1510 square meters, as well as the landscaping of green spaces, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks, and architectural lighting.

The “Nativity of Mary” Church in Tazlău, one of the most renowned foundations of Stephen the Great, is also the main cultural objective restored within this project. Being one of the most imposing foundations of the voivode, it is also one of the tallest churches built by the Moldavian ruler.

Within the project, the structural resistance of the church was consolidated, the exteriors were restored, the roof and part of the interior painting of the church were partially restored, and the original decorations from the time of Stephen the Great were highlighted. Additionally, a drainage system was built around the church to remove and to prevent water infiltration at the foundation level.

Previously in an advanced state of degradation, the Princely House was largely destroyed by a powerful fire in the second half of the 19th century, and had not been restored since. The main consolidation works aimed to rebuild the collapsed areas with similar materials and mass injection of stone masonry, as well as the organization of exhibition spaces. These spaces present the archaeological discoveries from the restoration period which, from a historical, documentary, and scientific perspective, are truly surprising, and change the monument’s history compared to what was known until then, as Mr. Constantin Preoteasa, a scientific researcher at the National Museum Complex of Neamț, declared for a local publication, two years ago.

The Princely House and the Bell Tower were consolidated only with workforce from Tazlău, totaling 68 workers. Only hydraulic lime, stone powder, and traditional mortar without cement were used for the entire restoration project. Dozens of samples were made for each plaster until the ideal formula was found.

The project aiming at the restoration and tourist valorization of Tazlău Monastery Ensemble was carried out from November 7, 2017, to December 31, 2023, under the Regional Operational Programme (ROP 2014-2020), Priority axis 5: Sustainable development and promotion of tourism, 5.1. Key area of intervention: Sustainable restoration and valuing of the cultural heritage.

The church of Tazlău Monastery Church, having as dedication day the “Nativity of Mary” was erected by Stephen the Great in 1497, on the site of an old wooden church dating form the rule of his grandfather, Alexander the Blessed.

The Tazlău area has been renowned for its hermitages since the 14th century. Traces of hermit’s cells can still be found in the area, as written by Archimandrite Ioanichie Bălan in the Romanian Patericon. It is said that all hermits from those times were worthy of the gift of miracles and foresight.

In the 19th century, the church became a parish church until 1990 when the monastery was reestablished.

Photo credit and information source:  https://basilica.ro/manastirea-tazlau-ctitorita-de-sf-stefan-cel-mare-a-fost-renovata-cu-fonduri-europene/