A fascinating land, Maramureş represents a very old region of Romania, a place where customs, traditions and natural beauty have endured the challenges of time. Situated in the northernmost part of the country, close to the border with Ucraine, this beautiful land can be compared to a huge natural amphitheatre, crossed by mountains and rivers, and enriched with mineral springs.
In this heavenly scenery, the faith in God has raised towards the skies the sharp high spires of some wooden churches, among whom some being invaluable, belong to the international UNESCO heritage.

Unique for its shape and ornaments specific to the Romanian style, these graceful edifices impress by the vertical, distinct and determined lines, splendid wood and glass paintings, wooden pillars, and porches decorated with numerous floral, geometrical and zoomorphic motifs. Built in the middle of clearings with tall grass and full of flowers, the dark wood and the sharp, high clapboard roofs have been calling to believers since the 17th century.

Dedicated to “Virgin Mary’s Entrance into the Church” The Bârsana Monastery was built in 1720, and moved several times until 1806 when it was placed where it is situated now. The church is unique due to the 2 floors porch, a very rare architectural detail for this type of Romanian edifices. Among all churches from Maramureş, this is the most coherent decorative ensemble, structured according to the rules of Baroque art. More recently, around this wooden jewel there was built an impressive monastic centre of wooden construction, which piously preserves the original style of the church.

Another example of architectural mastery is represented by “Saint Nicholas” Church, built in Budeşti in 1643. Its outstanding dimensions (18m long and 8m wide) and the robust silhouette, in spite of the monumentality, are not the only reasons for which this construction is remarkable. Splendid decorations adorn the interior and exterior walls. Mural folk paintings have been preserved since 1762. Wood and glass icons, some of them painted on both sides, and known as “feast items”, make up a priceless patrimony. Risen above the pronaos, the tower watches over the church with four corner turrets.

The church from Deseşti, dating since 1360 but built in its final shape in 1770 and painted 10 years later by master Radu Munteanu, is an important representative of religious post-Byzantine painting. “The Pious Parascheva” festival distinguishes itself by its simplicity and elegance, as well as the harmony of carved decorations.

Ieud, built in 1364 and hosting the festival of “Virgin Mary’s Birth,” is the oldest religious edifice in Maramureş. The remarkable interior atmosphere is due to the sculptures and paintings that cover entirely the walls, as well as the rich collection of wood and glass icons.

Situated in the Siseşti parish, Plopiş village’s “Saint Archangels” Church was built between 1796 and 1798, and painted in 1811. Due to its positioning in the South of Maramureş, the Plopiş church harmoniously combines architectural elements from Maramureş and Transylvania. Its representative elements are the high walls with two rows of windows that light the interior, its extremely high bell tower, and its arcades roof.

Poienile Izei (The Clearings of Iza) hosts the festival of “The Pious Parascheva.” Built in 1604 in a distinctive shape, and featuring interesting architectural and plastic elements from 1794 depicted in folk style, “The Hell and The Last Judgement Day” turn this religious settlement into a tourist attraction. Somewhat smaller than the other churches, but with an equally beautiful and impressive multitude of decorative elements, the church from Târgu Lăpuş in Rogoz village was set on fire by the Tartars, and remade in 1717. Its 3m high chambers are decorated with mural paintings made by several masters between the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 19th century.

One of the tallest wooden churches in Europe is to be found in Surdeşti village. It dates from 1767. Built on a stone foundation, and made of common oak beams, the church has a 16m long porch supported by arches and a 54m high tower with turrets in the corners. A particular element in the architecture of this religious edifice is the double roof, the only one of this type in Maramureş. Rich decorations carved in wood harmoniously mingle themselves with tempera paintings made on canvas, and then stuck on the wooden walls.

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