The cave churches of the Mănăstirea Rupestră Șinca Veche monastery complex are among the oldest Romanian feudal monuments. Presumably established by the Dacians around 500 BC, the temple caves were later used by Christian monks of the Orthodox Church. After 1900, the churches were abandoned and fell into a state of advanced decay. The fragile rock into which they were carved favored collapses and sedimentation. After their rediscovery in 2005, the nine preserved cave chambers were extensively explored and restored. Sunlight floods the cave through the 13-meter-high dome of light in the main chamber, formed by rain and meltwater. The rock garden surrounding the caves is lovingly maintained.