Budești Josani Wooden Church
Budești, Maramureș County · Maramureș
About Budești Josani Wooden Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Budești, Maramureș County. Information verified on 7 October 2026.
Budești is a large village in the Cosău Valley with two old wooden churches. The one in the lower part of the village, Josani, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, stands on a small rise in the middle of the cemetery and overlooks the village centre. The community built it in 1643, on the site of an older church; the year was carved on the portal, and dendrochronological analysis of the beams confirmed that the oaks were felled in the winter of 1642–1643. The inscription was lost in 1923, when the entrance was widened.
The church follows the usual Maramureș plan, with a narthex, a nave and a sanctuary with a polygonal apse, all under one tall roof with double eaves that keep the rain off the walls. Above the narthex rises the bell tower, with an open gallery and a pointed spire framed by four small turrets, a detail rare in Maramureș and linked to the churches of the Lăpuș area. Since 1999 it has been one of the eight components of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Wooden Churches of Maramureș". It was restored in 2002.
The church is also known for a legend: it keeps the chain mail and helmet attributed to Pintea the Brave (1670–1703), the Maramureș outlaw who, tradition says, brought his gear to the church himself.
What you can see
The interior was painted around 1762 by Alexandru Ponehalschi in warm, bright colours, with the saints set out in rows, like a book of miniatures; on the wall between the nave and the sanctuary you can see the Crucifixion, with rows of apostles and prophets beneath it. The sanctuary has a later, Baroque painting from 1812. The church keeps icons on wood from the 17th–18th centuries and a collection of icons on glass; one of the oldest shows Saint John the Baptist, with a Slavonic inscription. Outside, the cemetery with its wooden crosses and the old roadside shrine complete the picture.
The same village also has the Budești Susani church (1760), with paintings of its own; it is not part of the UNESCO site and should not be confused with this one.
Good to know
The church has no fixed visiting hours: it is usually locked, and to see the inside you phone the parish contact person in advance, who comes and opens it.
- The chain mail and helmet attributed to the outlaw Pintea the Brave.
- The slender tower, its spire framed by four small turrets, a rare sight in Maramureș.
- Alexandru Ponehalschi's 1762 paintings, with saints set out in rows on the log walls.
- The old icons on wood and glass, among them a Saint John the Baptist with a Slavonic inscription.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Budești lies in the Cosău Valley, on the DJ186B. From Baia Mare the route crosses the Gutâi Pass and Cavnic, ~45 km (~1 hour); from Sighetu Marmației, via Ocna Șugatag, ~27 km (~35 minutes). The church is in the village centre, by the main road.
Public transport: the nearest railway station is Sighetu Marmației; we could not confirm a regular connection from there to Budești, so a taxi or a car is the safer option.
- Rules
This is a working parish church: dress modestly and keep quiet during services. Ask the person who opens it whether you may take photographs inside.
Frequently asked questions about Budești Josani Wooden Church
- How do I get to Budești Josani Wooden Church?
- Budești Josani Wooden Church is located at DJ186B, în centrul satului, Budești, Maramureș County. By car: Budești lies in the Cosău Valley, on the DJ186B. From Baia Mare the route crosses the Gutâi Pass and Cavnic, ~45 km (~1 hour); from Sighetu Marmației, via Ocna Șugatag, ~27 km (~35 minutes). The church is in the village centre, by the main road. Public transport: the nearest railway station is Sighetu Marmației; we could not confirm a regular connection from there to Budești, so a taxi or a car is the safer option.
- When is the best time to visit Budești Josani Wooden Church?
- The best season for Budești Josani Wooden Church: May – October (phone ahead).
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