Wooden Church of Poienile Izei
Poienile Izei, Maramureș County · Maramureș
About Wooden Church of Poienile Izei
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Poienile Izei, Maramureș County. Information verified on 7 October 2026.
The Church of Saint Paraskeva stands in the hillside cemetery of Poienile Izei, in a side valley of the Iza. It was built by the village community in the early 17th century, although the exact year is uncertain: parish histories give 1602 or 1604, while an antimension with a Slavonic inscription, found beneath the altar table, points to a consecration in 1632. The square sanctuary, set back from the nave, and the old log joints preserve the shape of churches from before the 18th century, when the walls were raised and given the double-tiered roof. The porch was added in the 19th century.
The church is famous for its paintings, made in 1793–1794 by a local artist named in an inscription discovered in 2020 as Gheorghe of Dragomirești. The style blends Maramureș tradition with Western influences, with figures dressed in the costumes of the day. Since 1999 the church has been one of the eight components of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Wooden Churches of Maramureș".
What you can see
In the narthex, the Last Judgement covers almost every wall, and Hell spreads across the north wall up to the reptilian head of the Leviathan, breathing fire. The punishments are painted with dark humour and with the sins of village life: the liar hanged by his tongue, the woman who stole "the cows' blessing" (their milk), devils playing the fiddle. Beside them are the four winds of the Apocalypse, the resurrection of the dead and crowds of sinners dressed as Turks, Tatars and "Moors". In the nave, the walls are devoted to the Passion, with unusually brutal scenes, and the Crucifixion includes a pelican feeding its chicks with its own blood. The royal doors are carved from lime wood, with grapevines and the Tree of Jesse. Outside, below the cross on the tower, there is a metal crescent which, according to legend, protected the church from the Tatars in 1717.
Good to know
The church has no electricity, so the paintings can only be seen by the daylight coming through the small windows. The parish does not publish visiting hours; ask in the village or at the parish before you go.
- Hell on the north wall of the narthex, ending in the fire-breathing jaws of the Leviathan.
- The scenes of village sins: the liar hanged by his tongue and the woman who stole "the cows' blessing".
- The pelican feeding its chicks with its own blood, painted in the Crucifixion scene in the nave.
- The royal doors carved from lime wood, with grapevines and the Tree of Jesse.
- The metal crescent below the cross on the tower, linked to the legend of the 1717 Tatar raid.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Sighetu Marmației is ~38 km away (~1 hour): take the DN18 to Vadu Izei, then follow the Iza valley on the DJ186 and county roads to the village. Baia Mare is ~80 km away (~1 hour 40 minutes), over the Gutâi Pass. The church is in the hillside cemetery of the village.
Public transport: the nearest railway station is in Sighetu Marmației; we found no confirmed regular connection to Poienile Izei, so the easiest way to cover the rest of the journey is by car or taxi.
- Rules
The church is an active Orthodox place of worship: dress modestly and keep quiet during services. The paintings are fragile, so do not touch the walls.
- Facilities
no electricity in the church
Frequently asked questions about Wooden Church of Poienile Izei
- How do I get to Wooden Church of Poienile Izei?
- Wooden Church of Poienile Izei is located at no. 210, in the village cemetery, Poienile Izei, Maramureș County. By car: Sighetu Marmației is ~38 km away (~1 hour): take the DN18 to Vadu Izei, then follow the Iza valley on the DJ186 and county roads to the village. Baia Mare is ~80 km away (~1 hour 40 minutes), over the Gutâi Pass. The church is in the hillside cemetery of the village. Public transport: the nearest railway station is in Sighetu Marmației; we found no confirmed regular connection to Poienile Izei, so the easiest way to cover the rest of the journey is by car or taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Wooden Church of Poienile Izei?
- The best season for Wooden Church of Poienile Izei: May – October (the interior relies on daylight).
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