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The Wood Churches in Maramures

Along the ages, people turned the church domes into points of observation, while the high roofs and the pointed towers determined the specialists to discuss about “a Gothic culture in Maramures”, and to try to guess the criteria of selecting the places where such impressive sites were built, criteria that would offer them practical and at the same time philosophical answers. Generally erected on massive and artistically carved wood foundations, with no stone at the basis, the wood churches are a proof of the influences exercised by the Roman and the Gothic art. They enchant through the intended eaves, the roofs made of strainer or shingles that look like fish scales, the high domes, the wooden pillars of the porches adorned with numerous geometrical, floral or zoomorphic symbolic images. The paintings that are used to decorate the interior of these churches are generally realized on canvas and then placed on the wood walls. They illustrate both religious scenes and aspects of the local life or images of the traditional folk costume. These wooden jewels created by anonymous artisans have been on the list of the UNESCO world heritage starting from 1999.

Barsana (17 km from Sighetu Marmatiei and 55 km from Baia Mare). The site dedicated to “The Virgin’s Entry in the Church” was built in 1720 and is was moved several times from one location to another until 1806, the year since when the present construction dates. The church is unique due to the portico on two levels, an architectural detail that is relatively rare in the Romanian edifices of this type. The original paintings that were created by renowned popular painters can still be seen in the nave and in the sanctuary. Among all the churches in Maramures, this is the most coherent decorative ensemble structured according the laws of the Baroque art. An impressive monachal centre, obviously made of wood, was also built in Barsana in the recent years.

Budesti (26 km from Sighetu Marmatiei and 44 km from Baia Mare). “The St. Nicholas” church was built in 1643 and it impresses through its exceptional size: it is 18 m long and 8 m wide. The building is remarkable not only because of its monumental and robust appearance, but also because of its interior and exterior decorations, of its glass and wood icons included in its patrimony some of them painted on both sides and called “prasnicare” in Romanian. Erected above the pronaos, the spire guards the church together with the four small turrets on its corners.

Desesti (31 km from Baia Mare and 25 km from Sighetu Marmatiei). Built in 1770 and painted by Radu Munteanu (painter of frescoes and an important representative of the religious post-Byzantine painting), the church of St. Paraschiva distinguishes itself from other churches due to the harmony of its combined elements and of its carved decorations, to the proportion of its spire, its watch tower and its ridge to the roof. It is a pile that amazes through a remarkable simplicity and elegance.

Ieud (35 km from the resort of Borsa). Built in 1364, the church, dedicated to “The Birth of the Virgin”, is the most ancient religious wood edifice in Maramures. The building amazes through its interior atmosphere that is remarkably created both at the artistic and technical level, with sculptures and paintings that cover the walls entirely. There is a rich collection of glass and wood icons in the church.

Plopis (located in the parish of Sisesti, 15 km from Baia Mare). The church of the “St. Archangels” was built between 1796-1798 and painted in 1811. Located in the Chioarului region, in southern Maramures, the construction combines elements of architecture both from Maramures and from Transylvania. The distinctive architectural elements in this church are represented by the high walls endowed with two ranges of windows to increase the illumination of the interior. This is the only church in Maramures with a vaulted roof.

Poienile Izei (The Clearings of Iza) (50 km from Sighetu Marmatiei). The church of St. Paraschiva was built in 1604. It has distinct, clearly defined forms, as well as interesting architectonic and plastic elements designed according to the popular style in 1794. Along its existence, the church was enlarged by adding a portico and a platform in the nave, changes which were made at the request of the parishioners in order to respect the model of the churches in Maramures, with a double-ridged roof and a Gothic spire.

Rogoz (52 km from Baia Mare). Built in 1600 and painted in 1785, the church of the “St. Archangels” captivates due to the multitude of decorative elements. Unlike the typical churches in Maramures, the church from Rogoz has much smaller interior spaces, with walls no higher than 3 m.

Surdesti (18 km from Baia Mare). This is one of the highest wood churches in Europe. It has rich wood carved decorations, as well as interior paintings done in tempera on canvas and then glued onto the wooden walls. Erected on a stone footing, the church was built between 1721-1724 by using common oak beams; it is provided with a 16 m long church porch supported by indented archways and with a 54 m high spire surrounded by four small turrets. A particular element in the architecture of this church whose patrons are the St. Archangels is represented by the double roof, the only one of this type in Maramures.

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Barsana Monastery