Captivating 4K Footage of Plumbuita Monastery Colentina Bucuresti Romania 2024

Plumbuita Monastery is an Orthodox monastery of monks, dedicated to the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, located in the Colentina neighborhood of Bucharest, on a small hill on the right bank of the Colentina River.
The first foundation took place in 1560, when voivode Petru cel Tânăr (1559-1568), son of Mircea Ciobanul and Lady Chiajna, began the construction of the monastery, which would be finished by ruler Mihnea Turcitul. In 1585, he consecrated the settlement of Xiropotamu monastery, on Mount Athos. The church suffered great destruction in 1595, and in 1614 it was seriously affected by a fire. It reached its current form at the second rectification, in 1647, when the church was rebuilt from the foundations by order of ruler Matei Basarab, following the model of the foundation of Radu cel Mare from Dealu, to commemorate the victory of 1632 against the Turks. Then the Royal House is added to it and it is reinforced with large defensive walls. The bell tower was built between 1802-1806, by Abbot Dionisie from Ianina, after the monastery's bell tower had been seriously damaged by the 1802 earthquake.
The name Plumbuita was given to it by the locals, due to the fact that the church was covered with lead sheet for a long time. There are also legends surrounding this name. It is said that the name Plumbuita comes from the fact that Matei Basarab, needing the cannonballs during the battle, melted down the lead roof of the monastery to manufacture them. Another legend says that Matei Basarab's battle with Radu Iliaș, which took place under the walls of the monastery, was so fierce that the mass of cannonballs that fell on the roof of the church, melting, gave the roof a leaden sheen.
Located in a strategic position, at the exit from Bucharest, on a small hill on the bank of the Colentina river, the monastery plays an important role in the defense of the city. In 1632, an important battle took place near the monastery, between the army of Wallachia, led by Matei Basarab, and the Turkish army, led by Radu Iliaș. The latter had been sent by the sultan to remove Matei Basarab from his seat, and to install in his place a ruler appointed by the Ottoman Gate. The battle is won by Matei Basarab, who thus remains on the throne of Wallachia.


During the Revolution of 1821, Tudor Vladimirescu, arriving with his army in Bucharest, established his camp at Plumbuita and placed sentinels near the monastery, to stop the exit of those who tried to escape from the path of his troops.


During the Revolution of 1848, without the consent of the church authorities, the monastery was turned into a political prison. In October 1848, the authorities of the time arrest and incarcerate in the cellars of Plumbuita some of the leaders of the Revolution.