St Nicholas Cathedral


Chernivtsi's cathedral is nicknamed the 'drunken church', because of the four twisted turrets surrounding its cupola – painted blue with golden stars, these turrets create an optical illusion. The cathedral is a 1930s copy of a 14th-century royal church in Curtea de Arges (Romania).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Former Armenian Cathedral

0.27 MILES

In addition to Chernivtsi's fabulous university building, Josef Hlavka was also the architect responsible for the Former Armenian Cathedral.

2. Vul Kobylyanskoyi

0.35 MILES

When you’ve had enough of Chernivtsi’s barmy traffic, head for the tranquillity of vul Kobylyanskoyi, a pedestrianised street running between vuls Holovna…

3. Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

0.4 MILES

Painted a garish Disney-princess pink, the huge, mid-19th-century Orthodox cathedral that straddles gated parkland between vuls Holovna and Kobylyanskoyi…

4. Former Synagogue

0.54 MILES

Chernivtsi’s former synagogue was once famous for its exotic African/Middle Eastern style, but was turned into a cinema in 1954.

5. Museum of Bukovinian Jews

0.58 MILES

This museum brings to life the now virtually extinct Jewish culture of Bukovyna, focusing on the period between 1774 and 1941.

6. Kobylyanska Theatre

0.59 MILES

Set on the exquisitely central European pl Teatralna, Chernivtsi's main drama and music theatre is a beautiful art nouveau confection that wouldn't look…

7. Former Jewish Cemetery

0.73 MILES

The Former Jewish Cemetery is a melancholic jumble of leaning, overgrown headstones to the west of the city.

8. Chernivtsi University

0.99 MILES

University buildings are often called 'dreaming spires', but Chernivtsi's is more like an acid trip. This fantastic, Unesco-listed red-brick ensemble,…