# Batiștei Church

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Muntenia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/muntenia) › [București](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/bucuresti)

> A masonry church built in 1763–1764, with an open porch, painted medallions on its façades and an octagonal tower, tucked between apartment blocks in the University area, next to the National Theatre.

**At a glance:** Churches in București. The visit takes 20 min. Information verified on 26 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** The church is open around the services. Usually, on Saturdays the Divine Liturgy is at 8:00 and vespers at 17:00; on Sundays matins and the Liturgy are held in the morning, between 8:30 and 12:00. On Monday and Thursday mornings there are confession hours. The liturgical schedule changes from week to week and is published on the parish website.
- **Visit duration:** 20 min — façade, porch and interior
- **With kids:** Yes — quiet place, no play area
- **Parking:** Yes, paid — central area, paid zone
- **Best season:** All year round — visit between services
- **Address:** 21 Batiștei Street, București
- **Coordinates:** 44.43906, 26.10463
- **Website:** https://bisericabatistei.ro/
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bati%C8%99tei_Church
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23128204
- **Categories:** [Churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserici), [Monuments and historic sites](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/monumente-si-situri-istorice)

## About Batiștei Church

Batiștei Church stands on Batiștei Street, in the University area, a few minutes from the National Theatre. The present masonry church was built in 1763–1764 by the overseer Manciu, his wife Ilinca and the merchants of the market, replacing an older wooden church mentioned in documents from 1660. Its dedication is the Dormition of Saint Anne, together with Saint Parascheva.

The name comes from the Batiștei neighbourhood. According to the theory supported by documents, "batiște" was the enclosure where cattle brought for slaughter were kept; another theory links it to the 17th-century boyar Baptista Velleli. The style is late Brâncoveanu: balanced proportions, an open porch, carved door and window frames and Byzantine-inspired mural painting. The last major restoration was in 1993, and the church is a listed historic monument (LMI code B-II-m-A-18095).

### What you can see

The porch opens onto the yard through three pointed arches, and above them the façade carries panels and medallions with painted icons. A row of medallions with saints also runs along the side façades, under the eaves, above a carved stone belt course. The octagonal tower has tall arcading. Inside, the iconostasis is of carved wood and the walls are painted in the Byzantine manner, with ornaments from the Phanariote period; the icon of the patron saint, from 1833, shows Saint Anne in the centre. Manciu, who died in 1766, was buried in the vestibule, in the place reserved for founders.

### Good to know

The church is in active use, with services every week; visits are made between services, in decent dress. The façade and the porch can also be seen from the street, through the iron fence.

## Don't miss

- The open porch, with three pointed arches, and the painted medallions on the façade.
- The row of medallions with saints on the side façades, under the eaves.
- The octagonal tower, with tall arcading.
- The Byzantine-inspired mural painting inside.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the church is on Batiștei Street, in central Bucharest, in the University area, where traffic is heavy; the simplest is to leave the car in a nearby car park and walk.

**Public transport:** the nearest metro station is Universitate (M2), ~500 m on foot; Piața Romană (M2) is ~1 km away.

### Where to park

The church has no car park of its own for visitors. On the surrounding streets you park in the paid zones (parking meter or app), where spaces fill up quickly.

### Rules

This is a working Orthodox church: modest dress (shoulders and knees covered, men bareheaded in the church), quiet, no food or drink. Do not use a flash and do not take photos during services; ask if you are unsure.

### Facilities

open porch · cafés and restaurants nearby · good mobile signal

## Details

- **Construction period:** 1763–1764
- **Founder:** the overseer Manciu and his wife Ilinca
- **Dedication:** the Dormition of Saint Anne
- **Denomination:** Orthodox
- **Architectural style:** late Brâncoveanu
- **Historical period:** Phanariote

## Frequently asked questions about Batiștei Church

**How long does a visit to Batiștei Church take?**

A visit to Batiștei Church takes about 20 min (façade, porch and interior).

**Can you visit Batiștei Church with kids?**

Yes, Batiștei Church is suitable for children (quiet place, no play area).

**Where can I park at Batiștei Church?**

There is paid parking at Batiștei Church (central area, paid zone). The church has no car park of its own for visitors. On the surrounding streets you park in the paid zones (parking meter or app), where spaces fill up quickly.

**How do I get to Batiștei Church?**

Batiștei Church is located at 21 Batiștei Street, București. By car: the church is on Batiștei Street, in central Bucharest, in the University area, where traffic is heavy; the simplest is to leave the car in a nearby car park and walk. Public transport: the nearest metro station is Universitate (M2), ~500 m on foot; Piața Romană (M2) is ~1 km away.

**When is the best time to visit Batiștei Church?**

The best season for Batiștei Church: All year round (visit between services).

## Nearby attractions

- [I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/teatrul-national-bucuresti) — Monuments and historic sites · București · 25 lei · 2 – 2½ hours · 0 km
  The building on Piața Universității, opened in 1973 and rehabilitated in 2014, with a foyer with a spiral staircase and a main hall of 940 seats; seen at performances and on the guided tours backstage.
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  The historic seat of the University of Bucharest, built in 1857–1869 to plans by Alexandru Orăscu: a neoclassical façade, four Muses added in 1929 and a pediment crowned again in 2026 with a bronze eagle and griffins.
- [Bucharest Municipality Museum – Suțu Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/muzeul-municipiului-bucuresti) — Museums and memorial houses · București · 20 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · 1 km
  The 1833–1835 palace near University Square, one of Bucharest's oldest aristocratic residences, houses the permanent exhibition “Time of the City”, on the history of the capital.
- [Carol I Central University Library](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biblioteca-centrala-universitara-bucuresti) — Monuments and historic sites · București · 50 lei · ½ – 1 hours · 1 km
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- [Russian Church (Saint Nicholas)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-rusa-bucuresti) — Churches · București · 20 min · 1 km
  A church built in 1905–1909 by the Russian embassy, with seven Russian-style towers, brick façades with glazed ceramic, a gilded iconostasis and interior painting with icons by Viktor Vasnetsov.

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Last updated: 26 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania