Painted churches of northern Moldavia
Ruins from Orăştie
Wooden Churches of Maramureş
The Maramureş wooden
churches in
Maramureş is one of the better-known regions of
The famous wooden churches of the region were built during the 17th and 18th centuries, on the place of older churches. They are a response to a prohibition against the erection of stone Romanian Orthodox churches. The churches are made of thick logs, are quite small and dark inside, and painted with rather "naďve" Biblical scenes. The most characteristic features are the tall tower above the entrance and the massive roof that seems to dwarf the main body of the church.
Some of them have been listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999, for their religious architecture and timber construction traditions.
In Maramureş today 42 wooden churches remain, about one third of their total two centuries ago. Besides the extant wooden churches, a major source of knowledge is still saved by a number of practicing senior carpenters with relevant knowledge and skills in traditional carpentry.
From the Middle Ages until the turn of the 18th century the skills, knowledge and experience to build ample log structures with plane and well sealed walls, as well as with flush joints, were performances out of the ordinary. The craftsmen from Maramureş who were able to reach such levels were not simple peasants but well specialised church carpenters who inherited and maintained this advanced knowledge to exclusively build houses of worship.
Since the local tradition to erect wooden churches depended on those who built and used them, it is fundamental to identify the local builders and founders. The earlier blurred distinction between them veiled their separate roles in shaping the wooden churches and hindered us from a clear understanding of the results.
The extant wooden churches from Maramureş reveal the existence during the 17th and 18th centuries of at least two main family schools of church carpenters. There are further distinguishable three main itineraries and numerous smaller ones, indicating the work of some of the most important church carpenters ever active in the region and in some cases even shifts among generations. In general, the church carpenters stood for the technical performances, the high quality of the wood work and the artistic refinement.
In a long perspective, the true creators of the local wooden churches were actually the commissioning founders. Especially the role of the noble founders of Eastern Christian rite was decisive in the formation of a regional character among the local wooden churches. The wooden churches from Maramureş closely mirror the local society of modest country landlords, manifesting themselves along several centuries in their double condition of Eastern Christians and Western nobles.
The wooden churches
from Maramureş open necessary connections with similar performances
throughout
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Churches in Transylvania
Biertan
Biertan (German: Birthälm, Romani: Biyertan,
Hungarian: Berethalom) is a commune in central Romania, in the north
of the Sibiu County, 80 km north of Sibiu and 15 km east of Mediaş.
The first documentary testimony about the
village is from 1283 in a document about the taxes paid by the
inhabitants of 7 villages. It is one of the most important Saxon
villages with fortified churches in
The whole commune has a population of about
3,000 and the
Famous people
Artur Phleps (a German Obergruppenführer in the Waffen-SS and a member of the Allgemeine SS)
The former home of Sara Römischer, in the old Kirchgasse of Biertan
Sara Römischer, a long-time resident of Biertan, who died in
2006. Although she was not famous in the traditional sense, her
story is representative of that experienced by many Transylvanian
Saxons in Biertan following the Second World War. Sara was forcibly
deported to
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Câlnic
Câlnic (German: Kelling, Hungarian: Kálnok) is
a commune in
The castle
The castle, first mentioned in 1269, is very well preserved. Built as a noble's residence, it was bought in 1430 by local peasants and fortified. It consists of a large court surrounded by walls and some buildings adjacent to the walls. In the middle of the court there is a large donjon as well as a chapel. The castle differs from most other constructions of this type in that it is not situated on a hilltop but rather in a depression, much lower than the surrounding hills. This position, clearly inconvenient in case of a siege, can be explained by the castle's first function as a residence, not meant as a defensive construction.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Dârjiu
Dârjiu is a commune in
The village is home to a 13th century fortified
Unitariansm was an official religion in
Between 80,000 and 100,000 Unitarians live in
Murals depict Apostle Paul's Conversion, the Martyrdom of the 10,000, as well as several likenesses of sanctified bishops. The most valuable paintings are those relating to King Ladislas' Legend (In the Pursuit of the Cumanian, The Wrestle, The Cumanian's Defeat and Killing, Ladislas' Rest).
Further murals in the region are to be found at Unitarian churches in Mugeni, Crăciunel, and smaller ones in Rugăneşti and Cristuru Secuiesc. Saxon murals are most significant in Mălâncrav.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Prejmer
Prejmer is a commune in
History
The Teutonic Knights constructed the fortress
Tartlau in 1212–1213 as part of their colonization of the Burzenland
region. The town of
Prejmer is noted for its fortified church, one
of the best preserved of its kind in
Source: www.wikipedia.org
The Evangelic Church of Saschiz
The Evangelic Church of Saschiz was built at
the end of the XV th century (between 1493 - 1496) by the Saxon
colonists. The monument is very impressive due to its huge
proportions and to the way that the fortifying elements have been
adapted to the shape of a church building. Above the choir there is
a fortified floor as well as a watch road above the great arches.
From the outside, the church appears to be a bulwark, but the
defensive destination of the monument is surpassed by the beauty of
its gothic elements of architecture: huge arches, massive buttress
and decorative elements made out of stone or bricks. Due to the
significant distance between the centre of the village and the hill
on which the Saxon fortress was built, over the years, the fortified
Evangelic church became the main refuge for the inhabitants of
Saschiz.
The Clock Tower
The Clock Tower from Saschiz is one of
The Saxon Fortress
The Saxon Fortress that still dominates Saschiz is another trace left by the restless times of the Middle-Ages. It was built during the XIV th century on a hill at 2 km from the centre of the village and its destination was to protect the inhabitants of Saschiz (and other six neighboring villages that helped to its building) from destructive attacks. The Saxon community was, once again, the builder of this monument and therefore, we have to notice that they used to built fortresses around the church from the centre of their settlements and not so far away, feature that makes the Saschiz fortress a special one among the other Saxon constructions.
Work started in 1347, as an inscription on the
North-Western wall clearly indicates. On the same wall (7 to 9
meters tall) there were built the four corner towers and the two
gate towers, all with a definite watch and defense purpose. The
names of those towers – the
As for its architecture, the fortress belongs to the end of the Romanic style towards the beginning of the Gothic style (it was finished in the XIV th century). But all the architectural details are over fulfilled by the ruin’s own beauty, which projects its ghostly shape over the trees that guard the access route, inviting the passers-by to set free their imagination among the walls of the medieval fortress.
Source: www.saschiz.ro
Valea Viilor
Valea Viilor (German: Wurmloch;
Hungarian: Nagybaromlak) is a commune located in
Valea Viilor was attested in 1305 under the hungarian name "Baromlaka". In 13th century when the saxons came in the village the name "Baromlaka" was changed in "Vorumloch". The name "Vorumloch" comes from the german "Wurm-Loch" which it means "snake-wood", so a wood with snakes.
In 1964 the german name Vorumloch was replaced with the romanian name Valea Viilor.
Viscri
Viscri is approximately 6 miles from Buneşti,
in the midst of splendid scenery, most beautiful in summertime when
it impresses with its prismatic range of colors. The community of
Saxons, whose ancestors founded the village more than 800 years ago,
has successfully preserved Viscri’s traditional way of life, thanks
in large part to its difficult access to the main road. Blue Saxon
houses lend an air of distinction to the already picturesque
surroundings and the beautiful white fortified church dates back to
1230. More than visiting the old houses, the old church, the mignon
handicrafts shop, tourists will enjoy true Saxon hospitality,
home-cooked meals and a trip back in time.
Unesco world heritage site
The Saxon character of Viscri has been so well
preserved that the entire village has been designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Through a common effort of residents and the Mihai
Eminescu trust, through funding from
Source: www.brasovtourism.com
Sighişoara Citadel
Founded by German craftsmen and merchants known
as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighişoara is a fine example of a
small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic
and commercial role on the fringes of central
Justification for Inscription
Sighisoara is an outstanding testimony to the
culture of the Transylvanian Saxons, a culture that is coming to a
close after 850 years and will continue to exist only through its
architectural and urban monuments. Sighisoara is an outstanding
example of a small fortified city in the border region between the
Latin-oriented culture of central Europe and the Byzantine-Orthodox
culture of south-eastern
Source: www.unesco.org
The Danube Delta
The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, shared with
The Danube Delta is home to a rich mix of Ukrainian, Russian, Lipovan, Bulgarian, Moldavan, Turkish and Gagauz people, scattered around the delta in small villages. Main economic activities in the biosphere reserve are fishing, hunting, livestock raising and subsistence agriculture, reed harvesting as well as tourism.
Source: www.unesco.org
Hurezu Monastery
Between 1678 and 1725 Romanian art underwent an
artistic and cultural revival which brought about a specific style,
called the 'Brancovan style' after the name of Romanian Prince
Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688 - 1714). This period in Romanian art
represents a last glimpse of the Post-Byzantine art synthesis and
flourishment during an age when Russian, Serbian and Greek art, as
well as that of the Principalities, was still faithful to the
Orthodox tradition.
During this period princes like Şerban Cantacuzino, Constantin Brâncoveanu, Nicolae Mavrocordat, Metropolitan Bishops like Varlaam, Theodosie, Antim Ivireanu, bishops like Ştefan Mitrofan, abbeys like archimandrite John of Hurezi, Ilarion of Cozia and scholars like the Greceanu brothers, Radu Popescu, Constantin Cantacuzino (the 'High Steward' - high official in charge of the princely meals, chief of cooks, fishers and gardeners) is the author of a vast and systematic work of updating the traditional Byzantine forms and substance. The Byzantine and Orthodox vein of Romanian art strengthened: the Byzantine Renaissance penetrated the Greek circles at the princely court, while the wall iconographic painting regained their academic Paleologue style. The plaster works, the wooden and stone carvings, the traditional Byzantine embroidery, the Oriental and Italian tissues are outstandingly sumptuous, revealing Byzantine, Oriental and Baroque motifs. But even during that Baroque century, the Classical trend in Byzantine art, conveyed to the Romanian Principalities, pervaded Romanian style prevailingly. The Oriental and Baroque stone decoration, the precious metal adornments, the stone and plaster carvings give a special picturesque flavour to the Romanian art of that age, but these features enriching the art of the epoch would not alter in any way its post-Byzantine style.
Unique in south-eastern
All the churches have been preserved in their original shape. The coherence of the programme is coupled with the unity of the architectural style: the churches, rectangular in plan, have high slender turrets whose heights equal the length of the edifice. The porches opening to the court by arched vaults within the dome are supported by ten stone piers adorned with late Renaissance motifs. The clear-cut order the thr elements of this architectural pile built towards the east-west, the symmetry of the west wing, the facades of the buildings where the flat surfaces prevail, the square towers on the princely residence and on the north wing, the arched vaults within the dome, looking the same on the ground and upper floors - all this create a pleasant atmosphere of harmony and beauty. This architectural pile has nothing in common with the 16th century Baroque spirit. The bright white of the plastered facades blurs their entire decoration, the buildings grow into monuments, as the shade of the porches and turrets holds the balance.
Monastery Plan The churches preserve 90 per cent of the original wall paintings. Painted between 1692 and 1702 by twelve painters led by masters Constantinos and John, they represent the early Brancovan style in wall painting. These two artists, who painted also the Lady's Church in Bucharest, built in 1683, were outstanding promoters of Byzantine Renaissance, both as regards icon and wall painting, encouraged by the Grecophile circles at Prince Şerban Cantacuzino's court (1678 - 1688). The wall painting of Hurezi - a post-Byzantine variant of the academic Paleologue style - is relevant for an iconographic programme widespread with the Athens and Crete painters of the 16th and 17th centuries, that penetrated also the Romanian painting: the Scale of John Climax, Jacob's Scale, The Life of the True Monk, The Ark of Christianity, The Death of Ephraim, The Annunciation, marriage hymns, The Virgin Mary. Besides, these painters, helped by renowned iconographers, for instance archmandrite John - the abbot and great scholar - included in their creations images of the local saints (Nicodemus from Tismana, Gregory from Decapolis), as well as characters from the religious novel "Varlaam and Joseph" - translated in Romanian after 1650 - and "The Life of Saint Constantin" - the patron of the builder -, and even important topics of a moralising and eschatological nature: The Day of Judgement, Parables (some of them inspired by the religious literature traslated and printed in the epoch).
The princely constructions and the churches
were endowed with carved wood furniture: pews, high back chairs,
iconostases that borrow the adornmenta of the door frames where the
foliage is in relief or flat, suggesting its connection to the
Baroque metal work. For ten years master artists, masons, stone
cutters and wood sculptors, icon and wall painters had worked
earnestly to perfect this remarkable monastic pile. The prince,
several boyars and priests made of Hurezi the main artistic centre
of the Râmnic bishopric, so that Polovraci, Mamu, Surpatele, Cozia
and Govora monasteries, as well as Feldelşoiu and Sărăcineşti
cloisters were either built or restored and painted by the same
artists who at Hurezi had developed a real stylistic school. In the
18th century, the Brancovan style had already become a model and a
national style spreading all over Wallachia and reaching
Source: www.cimc.ro
Painted churches of northern Moldavia
The painted churches of northern
Since 1993 they have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Arbore church
Luca Arbore was one of the important boyards of Stefan cel Mare, being since 1486 the gate keeper of Suceava. He have had defended bravely the Suceava Fortress in 1497 against Polish attacks.
He remains in history also by the famous churh
from the villages that has his name. In 1502 was raises one of the
important monuments of
The balance of the construction proportions, as
the exterior painting, gives to the
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Humor Monastery
Humor Monastery located about 5 km north of the
town of
Frescoes
Humor was one of the first of
The subjects of the
frescoes at Humor include the Siege of Constantinople and the Last
Judgment, common on the exterior of the painted monasteries of
Source: www.wikipedia.org
The Moldoviţa Monastery
The Moldoviţa Monastery (Romanian: Mânăstirea
Moldoviţa) is a Romanian Orthodox monastery situated in the town of
History
Stephen the Great, the King of Romania from
1457 until his death in 1504, fought 36 battles against the
The best preserved are the monasteries in the towns of Suceviţa, Moldoviţa, Voroneţ, Humor, Suceava, Pătrăuţi, and Probota. Seven of them -including the Monastery of Moldoviţa- were placed on UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993.
Frescoes
Moldoviţa's frescoes are filled with yellow accents and are well preserved. The predominantly yellow-and-blue frescoed paintings on its exterior (right, the apses' Prayer of All Saints", a recurring theme in Christian Orthodox art) were done in 1537.
This monastery, built by Voivode Petru Rareş,
is one of the five monasteries in
Moldoviţa Monastery is the second (after Humor Monastery) and the last church with open porch, hidden place above the burial-vault, with Gothic-style windows and doors. The interior and exterior paintings of the walls represent scenes from the 16th century of Moldovian daily life.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Pătrăuţi Monastery
Pătrăuţi Monastery
is located in the northeastern part of
The church in Patrauti was erected in 1487. It
is the smallest among the monasteries in
Its architecture represents a valuable model of a Moldavian medieval era, being the edifice of a three-concha plan, with the tower over the nave, Gothic window frames and portals, as well as facades symmetrically decorated under the cornice with ceramic friezes.
Source: www.marvaoguide.com
The Probota Monastery
The Probota Monastery was built nearly 500
years ago, as the burial place of the ruling prince of
As the book describing the five-year UNESCO
restoration project, The Restoration of the Probota Monastery , has
already run out of print, Metaneira is preparing a second, improved,
edition. Whereas the first edition described the achievements of the
whole restoration project, the second edition will concentrate on
that, which makes the
The monastery is situated in the middle of the
small
Source: www.metaneira.com
Suceviţa Monastery
Suceviţa Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox
convent situated in the Noth-Eastern part of
The architecture ot the church contains both
Byzantine and gothic elements, and some elements typical to other
painted churches of northern
The interior court of the monastic ensemble is almost square (100 by 104 meters) and is surrounded by high (6 m), wide (3 m) walls. There are several other defensive structures within the ensemble, including four towers (one in each corner).
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Voroneţ monastery
Voroneţ is a monastery in
Church
The katholikon (main church) of Saint George at
Voroneţ Monastery is possibly the most famous church in
The small windows, their rectangular frames of crossed rods and the receding pointed or shouldered arches of the interior doorframes are Gothic. The south and north doors of the exonarthex of 1547 have rectangular frames, which indicate a transition period from Gothic to Renaissance. But, above them, on each wall is a tall window with a flamboyant Gothic arch. The whole west façade is without any openings, which indicates that the intention of the Metropolitan Roşca was from the beginning to reserve it for frescoes.
On the north façade is still visible the original decoration of the church, the rows of ceramic enamelled discs in yellow, brown and green, decorated in relief. These include heraldic motifs, such as the rampant lion and the aurochs' head of the Moldavian coat of arms, and creatures inspired by Western European mediaeval literature, such as two-tailed mermaids. The tower is decorated with sixteen tall niches, in four of which are windows. A row of small niches encircles the tower above them. The fragmented roof probably follows the shape of the original roof, which doubtless was made with shingles.
The tomb of the monastery's first abbot, Saint Daniil the Hermit, is found at the monastery.
The church is one of the Painted churches of
northern
Source: www.wikipedia.org
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