This fortified late Renaissance-style monastery is guarded by thick walls and the 30m-high Golia tower. The 17th-century church is notable for its vibrant Byzantine frescoes and intricately carved doorways, and features wall bastions from 1667. After repeated fires and closure from 1900 to 1947, the monastery was rejuvenated in 1992 and renovations continue. The complex also contains a house museum dedicated to writer and one-time resident Ion Creangă (1837–89), renowned for his Moldavian folklore-inspired short stories.
