Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele
About Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele
The wooden church of Saint George stands in the grounds of Dragoslavele Hermitage, on a hill north of the village, beside the road between Câmpulung and Brașov. It is one of the "travelling churches" of Argeș: built in Transylvania or Maramureș, it was moved in the 1930s to Predeal, to the "Straja Țării" youth camp, and then, in 1949, to Dragoslavele, through the care of Patriarch Justinian Marina. It was reconsecrated on 21 August 1949, and a hermitage grew up around it. Its main dedication is to Saint George the Great Martyr.
The sources do not agree on where the church comes from. Some place it at Luna de Sus, in Florești commune (Cluj County), and date it to around 1717, with the painting attributed to the painter Nistor of Feleac; others link it to the parishioners of Borșa, in Maramureș, and to the late 17th century. As both versions are in circulation, the construction period is approximate. The monument has the LMI code AG-II-m-A-13679.
The building is made of timber logs on a high stone plinth, with a rectangular plan, a polygonal altar apse, a porch on the south side and a shingle roof with wide eaves. Above the pronaos rises a square tower with an openwork gallery and a tall pyramidal spire, which serves as the bell tower.
What you can see
The slender tower and broad shingle roof are visible from all over the grounds, which are ringed by conifers and meadow. Carved motifs mark the doorframe: twisted-rope bands, rosettes and the tree of life. Inside, tempera painting survives on the walls and vault in a naive, peasant style, and the painted dedicatory inscription sits above the entrance to the nave. The engineer Dimitrie G. Dima, a bridge builder in Pitești and the surrounding area, is buried in the grounds.
Good to know
The hermitage is inhabited by monks and the church is in use: services are held on Sundays and feast days. No official visiting schedule was found, so the interior may be closed outside services.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The tall bell-tower spire, with its openwork gallery and pyramidal roof above the shingles.
- The wood carving at the entrance: twisted-rope bands, rosettes and the tree of life.
- The folk-style painting inside, partly preserved, and the inscription above the nave entrance.
- The view of the mountains around Dragoslavele from the porch and the grounds.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Dragoslavele lies on the Pitești–Brașov road (DN73), about 18 km from Câmpulung and close to Rucăr. The hermitage is north of the village, on the hill, about 700 m from the road, after a bridge over the river; the last stretch is a gravel mountain track.
Public transport: from Câmpulung, buses running towards Brașov reach the entrance of Dragoslavele, and the rest is on foot to the hermitage.
- Rules
This is a working church and hermitage: dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and keep quiet, especially during services. Ask the monks for permission before photographing inside.
Frequently asked questions about Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele
- How long does a visit to Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele take?
- A visit to Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele takes about 45 min (estimate: church and grounds).
- Can you visit Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele with kids?
- Yes, Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele is suitable for children (large grounds with grass).
- How do I get to Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele?
- Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele is located at Schitul Dragoslavele, strada Maidan, Dragoslavele, Argeș County. By car: Dragoslavele lies on the Pitești–Brașov road (DN73), about 18 km from Câmpulung and close to Rucăr. The hermitage is north of the village, on the hill, about 700 m from the road, after a bridge over the river; the last stretch is a gravel mountain track. Public transport: from Câmpulung, buses running towards Brașov reach the entrance of Dragoslavele, and the rest is on foot to the hermitage.
- When is the best time to visit Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele?
- The best season for Saint George Wooden Church in Dragoslavele: May – October (summer, for the road and the grounds).
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