Southern Bucovina

Introducing Southern Bucovina

Southern Bucovina rivals Maramureş as a rural paradise, with the added perk of its plentiful Unesco-recognised painted churches, considered among the greatest artistic monuments of Europe. Wondrous religious art and fantastic churches notwithstanding, Southern Bucovina is bursting with folklore, picturesque villages and endless bucolic scenery.

Southern Bucovina embraces the northwestern region of present-day Moldavia; Northern Bucovina is in Ukraine. In 1775 the region was annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and remained in Habsburg hands until 1918, when Bucovina was returned to Romania. Northern Bucovina was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and incorporated into Ukraine, splitting families apart.

While coordinating transport between the remote villages can be challenging, there are plenty of alternatives to allow you to get the most out of your visit, including hitchhiking, biking, car hire or arranging a private tour.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009