Bârsana Wooden Church
Bârsana, Maramureș County · Maramureș
About Bârsana Wooden Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Bârsana, Maramureș County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 7 October 2026.
The Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple is the old wooden church of Bârsana, one of the eight wooden churches of Maramureș inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999 as the "Wooden Churches of Maramureș". The Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar dates it to 1711, as does Wikipedia; other sources give 1720. It was built by the priest Ioan Ștefanca, together with his sons and other villagers, in thanks for the village having escaped the plague, and it belongs to the story of Bârsana's old monastery, the seat of the last Orthodox bishop of Maramureș until 1739.
The church has been moved twice, each time into the middle of a cemetery: first to the Iza Valley, to the burial ground of those killed fighting the Tatars in 1717, then, towards the end of the 18th century, to Jbâr Hill, where victims of the plague had been buried. It is built of interlocking logs, with a polygonal altar apse, a pointed bell tower above the narthex and a roof with double eaves. On the west side it has a two-storey porch with arches on carved posts.
What you can see
In 1806 the painter Toader Hodor of Vișeu de Mijloc painted the interior on canvas stretched over the timber walls, with Baroque and Rococo motifs that were unusual in Maramureș. In the nave, scenes from Genesis and from the Passion are meant to be read side by side, and the vault shows the prophet Elijah rising to heaven in a chariot drawn by winged horses. The altar has the Coronation of the Virgin, and the iconostasis, with deacons' doors cut to the outlines of the archangels, belongs to the same scheme. Outside, the church stands in an orchard of old crosses, at the top of a climb up stone steps.
Good to know
Don't confuse it with Bârsana Monastery, the new complex by the DJ186 built after 1993: they are two different places, about 4 km apart. The old church has no visiting hours published by the parish and is not open all the time.
- Elijah rising to heaven in a chariot drawn by winged horses, on the nave vault.
- The scenes from Genesis and the Passion painted side by side on the nave walls by Toader Hodor in 1806.
- The Baroque iconostasis, with deacons' doors cut to the outlines of the archangels Michael and Gabriel.
- The two-storey west porch, with arches on carved posts and openwork parapets.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Bârsana lies on the DJ186 in the Iza Valley, ~20 km from Sighetu Marmației (~25 minutes). Baia Mare is ~80 km away over the Gutâi Pass (~1 hour 45 minutes). From the village centre the church is signposted, ~700 m to the north, up on the hill; the last stretch is on foot, up stone steps. Bârsana Monastery is ~4 km away, and the wooden churches of Ieud and Poienile Izei are further along the same valley.
Public transport: the nearest railway and bus stations are in Sighetu Marmației, from where minibuses run along the Iza Valley; check the timetable before you go.
- Rules
This is a place of worship: dress modestly and keep quiet in the church and the surrounding cemetery. Ask whoever opens the church for you before taking photos inside.
- Facilities
tourist information centre next to the church
Frequently asked questions about Bârsana Wooden Church
- How long does a visit to Bârsana Wooden Church take?
- A visit to Bârsana Wooden Church takes about 30 min (the church and the orchard of crosses).
- Can you visit Bârsana Wooden Church with kids?
- Yes, Bârsana Wooden Church is suitable for children (climb up stone steps).
- How do I get to Bârsana Wooden Church?
- Bârsana Wooden Church is located at Strada Susani, on Jbâr Hill, north of the village centre, Bârsana, Maramureș County. By car: Bârsana lies on the DJ186 in the Iza Valley, ~20 km from Sighetu Marmației (~25 minutes). Baia Mare is ~80 km away over the Gutâi Pass (~1 hour 45 minutes). From the village centre the church is signposted, ~700 m to the north, up on the hill; the last stretch is on foot, up stone steps. Bârsana Monastery is ~4 km away, and the wooden churches of Ieud and Poienile Izei are further along the same valley. Public transport: the nearest railway and bus stations are in Sighetu Marmației, from where minibuses run along the Iza Valley; check the timetable before you go.
- When is the best time to visit Bârsana Wooden Church?
- The best season for Bârsana Wooden Church: May – October (the orchard is green in summer).
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