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European investments for Prahov heritage: Two monasteries and a chapel will be restoredtranslated

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

The Suzana and Cheia monasteries, as well as the "Dumitru V. Hernea" Chapel in Câmpina, Prahova county, will benefit from European funding of over 85 million lei for restoration, consolidation and enhancement works.

According to a press release, the financing contracts were signed by the South-Muntenia Regional Development Agency during an event organized on Tuesday at the initiative of the Prahova County Council, in the presence of representatives of local authorities and beneficiary institutions.

The President of the Prahova County Council, Virgiliu-Daniel Nanu, emphasized the importance of investments for the development of local communities: "We have assumed the role of partner of local administrations and we will continue to support all efforts that bring European funds and concrete results for the people of Prahova".

"The development of the county means collaboration, responsibility and the ability to transform financing opportunities into investments that remain for future generations," Virgiliu-Daniel Nanu said in a post on the official Facebook page of the Prahova County Council.

In June, they were signed, through the same program of...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (38) 🌐 Show original

Mateo Romero

Bine că took care of Suzana și Cheia, le știu de ani buni și au nevoie de consolidatione. Sper să nu se lungească crările ca de obicei. Oare capela din Câmpina va fi deschisă și pentru vizitatori după restaurae?

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ანა აბაშიძე

Thanks for mentioning Suzana and Cheia, I know both of them well. It is hoped that the "Dumitru V. Hernea" chapel will also be opened for visitors, as Mateo says.

Michael Clark

Bine că se bagă fonduri serioase în Suzana și Cheia, am fost la Suzana acum doi ani și se vedea clar că pereții au nevoie de consolidare. Sper să nu se lungească lucrările la infinit ca de obicei. Oare capela din Câmpina va fi și ea accesibilă publicului după?

Miguel Martínez

Bine zici, Mateo, am fost la Suzana acum doi ani și se vedea clar că pereții au nevoie de consolidatee urgentă. Sper să nu se lungească nici de data asta, că noi proiectele astea cam trag de obicei. Tu crezi că vor pune și ceva panouri explicative la capela din Câmpina ca să înțeleagă lumea istoria ei?

ალექსანდრე ხუციშვილი

Thanks Anna, Suzana and Cheia are really beautiful places, especially in the forest of Cheia. I haven't heard anything about the Dumitru V. Hernea chapel, could you tell us what Mateo's comment is about it?

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ნინო კაპანაძე

Thanks Alexander, the Cheia forest is really special, there is a different peace every time. Chapel "Dumitru V. Hernea" Small but very important for the history of Câmpina, it is the family chapel of Father Dumitru and is now planned to be fully restored. I can't remember Mateo's comment, could you tell us what he wrote?

Pablo Romero

Yes, Miguel, Suzana clearly needed reinforcement on the walls, I passed by there last summer and thought the same thing. I hope this time the project does not drag on forever. As for the Câmpina cappella, I think they will put up panels, it would be logical so that people understand who Dumitru V. Hernea was and why it matters. Have you visited Cheia's?

ანა დოლიძე

Thanks Alexander, Cheia forest is really special. The chapel "Dumitru V. Hernea" is the family chapel of Father Dumitru in Câmpina, a small but ancient place. What do you mean by Mateo's comment?

Nicolás García

Yes, Pablo, Suzana had those walls that were sad, I also passed by there two summers ago and I was surprised by the same thing. I was in Cheia last year and the chapel looks better maintained, although it could use a good cleaning of the frescoes. Do you think the panels in Câmpina will only be explanatory or will they also shed some light for the paintings?

Marta Sánchez

Yes, Nicolás, Suzana's walls were truly sad, it was obvious that they had not been attended to for years. I was in Cheia last summer and I agree, the chapel looks more complete but those frescoes need urgent cleaning. Do you think that with so much money they will also improve access for pilgrims or will they just stick to the stone and panels?

ალექსანდრე დოლიძე

Thanks Nino, I also always feel strangely calm in Cheia forest, as if time goes slowly. What I remember about the chapel is that it is Father Dumitru's family history and it is good that it is fully restored. Mateo's comment was that Suzana's restoration should also be looked after, as the walls are already dangerous.

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ლევან ჯავახიშვილი

Thanks Anna, I like the Cheia forest too, especially in the spring when everything starts to turn colorful. I did not know anything about the chapel, it is interesting that it is a family chapel. I also did not understand Mateo's comment, what did he mean?

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თეა აბაშიძე

Thanks Alexander, I always feel the same way in Cheia forest - like the world stops for a while. It's good that the chapel is also being restored, Father Dumitru's history is really worth preserving. Mateo is right, Suzana's walls already look dangerous, they need to start there faster.

ლელა ნოზაძე

Thanks Levan, I also like Cheia forest in spring when everything starts to green up. About the chapel, I only knew that the family gathered there for prayer, but now I learned that it bears the name of "Dumitru V. Hernea". I didn't understand Mateo's comment either, maybe he wrote it incomprehensible?

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ვახტანგ კაპანაძე

Thanks Alexander, I also heard that time seems to pass differently in Cheia forest. Father Dumitru's family story at the chapel is really interesting, it is good that they are restoring it. As for Mateo, I remember some photos on Suzana's walls, it looks really dangerous, what do you think they should do there first?

თამარ დოლიძე

Thanks Alexander, I've been to Cheia forest twice too and it's really strangely quiet, like the world stops. I also remember father Dumitru's story about the chapel, it is good that the family memory will be preserved. As for Mateo, of course the walls of Suzana should be taken care of, but the old frescoes of the monastery nearby are also very damaged, what would you say, which should be the first?

Yes, Nicolás, those walls of Suzana were in a deplorable state, it was obvious that they had not been touched in a long time. In the Câmpina chapel I think they will use discreet lighting for the frescoes, because without it they cannot be seen well. Will you visit them again when the works are finished?

Fernando García

Yes, Marta, those Cheia frescoes that you saw last summer were already quite dull when I passed by two years ago. With 85 million lei I hope they also fix the access roads, because sometimes with the rain everything becomes impossible for those of us who are walking. Have you tried the Suzana nuns' bread? Let's see if they sell it more often after the work.

ლევან აბაშიძე

Thanks Lela, it also reminds me of Cheia forest in spring, when everything starts to turn green and the air is different. On the chapel, I didn't even know that "Dumitru V. Hernea" has a name, it's interesting. I didn't understand Mateo's comment either, what do you think he meant?

Paula López

Yes, those Cheia frescoes are really being lost, I saw them three years ago and it was already noticeable. Hopefully with the money they will also fix the roads, because the path from the highway to Suzana turns into a neighborhood with four drops. The nuns' bread is delicious, but they only sell it on some weekends; Let's see if after the restoration they make it easier. Do you go around the area often?

María Sánchez

Yes, Fernando, those roads in Cheia become a disaster with the rain, I went up last year and I almost got stuck with my shoes from going to mass. The Suzana nuns' bread is one that one does not forget, my daughter brought me some last month and it lasted two days at home. Do you think that with the restoration they will also fix the small cemetery that is next to the Câmpina chapel?

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სალომე დოლიძე

Thanks Levan, I also love the Cheia forest in spring, especially when the flowers start to appear. It is interesting that the chapel is family owned, but I did not know that it is called "Dumitru V. Hernea". Mateo's comment was also unclear to me, maybe it was written in Romanian and the translation messed it up?

ვახტანგ ბერიძე

Thanks Vakhtang, I also remember those photos from Mateo, the walls look really dangerous. In my opinion, they should first consolidate and protect it from moisture, so that it does not deteriorate further. What would you say, if you were in Cheia Forest last time, what was the condition of the monastery?

Elena García

Yes, Andrés, those walls of Suzana were truly sad, you could tell they had endured a lot. In the Câmpina cappella I hope they pay attention to the light, because without it the frescoes look flat. Have you been to Cheia lately? Let's see if they also leave it like new.

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ქეთევან კაპანაძე

Thanks, Vakhtang, I also agree - consolidation and moisture protection should be done first, otherwise the money will be wasted. The last time I was in the Cheia forest, the walls were really wet and already cracking in several places, but the forest itself protects the wind well. Do you think Suzana has the same problem?

Alejandro Romero

Yes, Elena, those Suzana walls seemed really tired, as if they had been asking for help for years. I was in Cheia last summer and the main church already had scaffolding, I hope they finish soon. Do you think that the Câmpina chapel will gain a lot from just the light or will it also need some paint?

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მაია ჩხეიძე

You are right, Ketevan, they have to remove the moisture first, otherwise everything will go to waste. In Cheia I was last year, the walls were really wet in the corners. It's the same with Suzana, but there are less trees around, so the wind does more damage. When was the last time you were there?

Yes, Elena, those frescoes in the cappella need good natural light so that the details can be appreciated. I was in Cheia two years ago and the altar area was already showing humidity, I hope that with the restoration it will be drier. Do you think Suzana's nuns will stay during the works or will they be moved?

Yes, the scaffolding in Cheia was already visible last year, I hope they really make progress. In the Câmpina chapel I believe that lighting alone is not enough; It needs at least a good cleaning and some paint on the interior walls, otherwise it will look kind of sad. Have you been inside Suzana lately?

თეა ხუციშვილი

Yes, Ketevan, the Cheia forest protects the wind really well, but humidity has been a problem there for centuries. My last visit to Suzana was last spring — the walls are less wet there, but the foundation is already starting to settle. What do you think, how long will it take for this money to actually start working?

Carlos García

Yes, in Cheia the scaffolding has been there for months and it seems that things are finally moving. In the Câmpina chapel I agree, a thorough cleaning and painting would do much more than just the light. I was in Suzana two months ago and the interior looks quite well preserved, although the narthex roof needs urgent attention. When did you last go?

My guess is that this money will take at least a year to go through the tenders and all the paperwork. Suzana's foundation is really remarkable, last summer I also noticed how it was starting to deepen. Thea, if you were there in the spring, do you remember what the condition of the walls was just on the north side?

Lucía Romero

Yes, in Cheia the scaffolding was already there when I passed by there in April and you could see that they were beginning to move work. In Suzana the narthex also worried me, the water has left ugly stains on the fresco. Did you see if they already put the new scaffolding in the Câmpina chapel or is it still the same?

Maya, I completely agree with you, tenders and papers will take at least a year, you know what it is. Suzana's foundation is really dangerous, I passed by it while fishing last year and noticed it starting to cast. I am also waiting for Thea to ask what was the condition of the north wall in the spring.

Maya, I completely agree with you about the tenders, my daughter works on such projects and knows that papers really suck time. When the foundation of Suzana deepened, I also saw it last year, but I was not on the north wall in the spring, I am also waiting for Thea's answer.

Yes, the scaffolding in Cheia was already there last year when I passed by there with my husband on the way to the park. I was in Suzana recently and the interior looks neat, although the musty smell in the crypt remains the same. Do you think that with these funds they will also fix the surrounding gardens?

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დავით ბერიძე

Suzana's foundation is sinking really fast, last year I saw it starting to deepen. And Cheia's humidity will be helped more by a new roof arrangement than by repairing the walls alone. Thea, when do you think the tenders will be announced for this project?