# Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Oltenia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/oltenia) › [Gorj County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/gorj) › [Glodeni](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/glodeni) > A wooden church from around 1728, with an ornamented porch and a bell tower added in the 19th century, in a hill village of Bălănești commune. **At a glance:** Monasteries and churches in Glodeni, Gorj County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 20 October 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** No official visiting schedule was found. This is a parish church; to see the interior, ask at the local parish. - **Visit duration:** 30 min — exterior, porch and graveyard - **With kids:** Yes — open grassy grounds - **Parking:** Yes, free — by the village roadside - **Best season:** May – October — summer, for the road and the grounds - **Address:** DC15, în satul Glodeni (comuna Bălănești), Glodeni, Gorj County - **Coordinates:** 45.0814, 23.46175 - **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_de_lemn_din_Glodeni,_Gorj - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18540517 - **Categories:** [Monasteries and churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastiri-si-biserici) ## About Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni Glodeni is a village in Bălănești commune, Gorj County, and its wooden church, dedicated to Saint Paraskeva (Cuvioasa Paraschiva), was built around 1728. The inscription on the porch lintel, preserved only in fragments, places it in the time of Austrian rule over Oltenia, “in the days of the most exalted Emperor Charles”, that is 1727–1728. A second inscription, painted on the iconostasis, mentions a renovation in the reign of Prince Mihai Constantin Șuțu, in 1791–1792. The church was founded by the neighbouring villagers themselves and has been a historic monument since 1955, LMI code GJ-II-m-A-09305, having been saved from disappearing at the last moment. In the 19th century a bell tower was added over the porch, and the shingle roof was altered on the west side. The building stands on a plinth of river stone, and the altar apse projects only in its lower register, with skilfully worked brackets under the niches of the proskomidia and diaconicon. ### What you can see The most interesting part is the porch on the west side, with carved posts, ornate capitals and a decorated lintel, as well as the doorframe, with a zigzag profile and twisted rope on the beam above. On the sides you can see the joints of the beams and the brackets under the eaves. The church stands in a village graveyard beside a country road, with hills in the background. ### Good to know No visiting schedule and no ongoing restoration work were found. This is a parish church and may be locked outside services. ## Don't miss - The wooden church of around 1728, built during Austrian rule in Oltenia. - The west-side porch, with carved posts and ornate capitals. - The doorframe, with a zigzag profile and twisted rope. - The brackets and beam joints at the altar, on a river-stone plinth. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there **By car:** the village of Glodeni belongs to Bălănești commune, in Gorj County; the church stands by the DC15 country road, in a graveyard. **Public transport:** no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option. ### Rules This is a working parish church: dress modestly and keep quiet during services. Before photographing inside, ask the person who opens it for permission. The surrounding graveyard is in use: please respect the graves. ## Details - **Construction period:** 1728 - **Founder:** the neighbouring villagers - **Dedication:** Saint Paraskeva - **Denomination:** Orthodox - **Architectural style:** traditional Romanian ## Frequently asked questions about Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni **How long does a visit to Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni take?** A visit to Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni takes about 30 min (exterior, porch and graveyard). **Can you visit Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni with kids?** Yes, Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni is suitable for children (open grassy grounds). **Where can I park at Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni?** There is free parking at Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni (by the village roadside). **How do I get to Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni?** Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni is located at DC15, în satul Glodeni (comuna Bălănești), Glodeni, Gorj County. By car: the village of Glodeni belongs to Bălănești commune, in Gorj County; the church stands by the DC15 country road, in a graveyard. Public transport: no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option. **When is the best time to visit Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni?** The best season for Cuvioasa Paraschiva Wooden Church in Glodeni: May – October (summer, for the road and the grounds). ## Nearby attractions - [Cartianu Kula](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cula-cartianu) — Fortresses and fortifications · Turcinești, GJ · 45 min · 16 km Fortified boyar house in Cartiu, near Târgu Jiu, built around 1760 on the core of a kula and wrapped in timber porches; it now houses a museum of Gorj folk costume. - [Endless Column](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/coloana-infinitului) — Monuments and historic sites · Târgu Jiu, GJ · Free · UNESCO World Heritage · Top 20 · 19 km The 29.35 m column of brass-coated cast-iron modules raised by Constantin Brâncuși in 1938 in Târgu Jiu for the heroes of 1916: the eastern end of the “Heroes' Avenue” ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - [The Gate of the Kiss](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/poarta-sarutului) — Monuments and historic sites · Târgu Jiu, GJ · Free · 20 min · UNESCO World Heritage · Top 100 · 21 km The travertine gate carved by Constantin Brâncuși in 1937–1938 at the entrance to Târgu Jiu's Central Park, part of the “Heroes' Way” ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - [The Table of Silence](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/masa-tacerii) — Monuments and historic sites · Târgu Jiu, GJ · Free · UNESCO World Heritage · Top 100 · 21 km Constantin Brâncuși's round stone table with 12 hourglass seats, in the park on the banks of the Jiu: the western end of the Heroes' Way ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - [Jiu Gorge](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/defileul-jiului) — Scenic roads · Gorj County · Free · Top 100 · 27 km The 33 km gorge by which the Jiu crosses the Carpathians between Bumbești-Jiu and Livezeni: the DN66 follows the river through Defileul Jiului National Park, past Lainici Monastery. - [Women's Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-muierilor) — Caves · Baia de Fier, GJ · 20 lei · 40 min · Top 100 · 34 km A four-level cave in the Galbenul Gorge at the foot of the Parâng Mountains, with 860 m of lit galleries, cave bear bones and some of the oldest modern human remains in Europe. --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-de-lemn-glodeni-gorj Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/biserica-de-lemn-glodeni-gorj.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/biserica-de-lemn-glodeni-gorj.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/biserica-de-lemn-glodeni-gorj.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/biserica-de-lemn-glodeni-gorj.md Last updated: 20 October 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania