Located in the heart of the forests, Căpriana Monastery is one of the oldest monastic settlements in the country. The unique architecture, the lifestyle of the monks, the exceptional cuisine and the unmistakable landscape place it among the most visited tourist attractions. In 1429, the monastery became a royal foundation, under the care of the viceroys Alexander the Good, Stephen the Great, Peter Rares and Alexander Lapusneanu. At first the monastery was built entirely of wood, and later, in 1545, the summer church "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary" was built of stone. In 1840 the second church "St. George" was built and in 1903 the third winter church "St. Nicholas". During the Soviet period, the Căpriana monastery, like all places of worship in Moldova, suffered a lot. In 1962 it was closed and devastated. A sanatorium for children suffering from tuberculosis was opened in the chapels, the village club was organised in the church of St Nicholas and the church of St George was turned into a warehouse. It was only in 1989, with the national revival, that the monastery reopened its doors to parishioners.