GEOGRAPHY The Austrians gave the name "Die Buchenland", "The Land of Beech Woods" to the area. Historical Bucovina was about twice its present size, but the northern part now belongs to the Ukraine as a result of the Soviet-German Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact of August 1940. What remains, forms partly the modern administrative county of Suceava. The county of Suceava is bound in the north by the Ukraine, and in the west by the Romanian region of Transylvania, with its counties Bistriţa-Năsăud and Maramureş along the ridges of the Carpathians. On the eastern and southern sides are Moldavian counties: Botoşani and Iaşi in the east, Neamţ, Harghita and Mureş in the south.    HISTORY Moldavia, one of the historical provinces of Romania, is famous for its brave princes and the churches they built for the greater glory of God. The most beautiful religious edifices are concentrated in what is known since 1775 as Bucovina. The politically troubled Middle Ages were culturally and artistically a great, flourishing period. The churches and monasteries have defied the passing centuries, and today acquaint modern visitors with the spirituality of days long gone - but still alive.    LIFE AND STYLE Life in the rural environment is simple and complex at the same time: people still follow strict rules of behaviour and maintain ancient traditions, but modern life brings conflicting values even to the remotest villages. A land harmoniously inhabited by various nationalities, Bucovina has withstood the most radical transformations of time and fashion, and has preserved its unforgettable way of life.   ART, ARCHITECTURE AND RELIGION Bucovina, even more than the rest of Moldavia, is a showcase of the Moldavian style, which was at its height from the second half of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century. Contrary to the wealth of churches dating from that period, only very few monuments built during the 14th century, and the first half of the 15th century, are still standing. From the time of Prince Alexander the Kind (1400-1432) no buildings remain to this day. From the 14th century, apart from the ruins of the Throne Citadel of Suceava and the Neamţ Citadel, dating from the time of Prince Petru I (1375-1391), only two important churches are still standing: the Princely Church of St. Nicholas in Rădăuţi and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Siret.   THE CHURCHES OF BUCOVINA The chapter describes the 18 most interesting monasteries and churches in the Bucovina area: Probota, St. John the New in Suceava, St. Demetrius in Suceava, St. Elijah in Suceava, Dragomirna, Pătrăuţi, Părhăuţi, Slatina, Râşca, Baia, Dolhestii Mari, Suceviţa, Arbore, Putna, Bălineşti, Humor, Voroneţ and Moldoviţa. Most of these churches have frescoes covering both their façades and their interior walls, and several of them have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Besides texts and photographs, there are explanatory line drawings and aquarelles for the most important ones.   THE CHURCHES OF NEAMT Six famous monasteries from the nearby region of Neamt have been included in the guidebook. These are Bistriţa, Neamţ, Secu, Sihăstria, Agapia and Văratec. None of the churches of these monasteries have exterior frescoes, but the interiors are beautifully painted. Also the monastery complexes are interesting, with their tall walls, monastic buildings, and side chapels.   PRACTICALITIES The last part of the book offers all the necessary travel and practical information, such as when to visit Bucovina; when shops, banks and post offices are open; useful telephone numbers; sites to visit town by town and village by village; where to stay; what to eat; and what to buy. In addition, there is a short Romanian language phrasebook.