Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea
About Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea
Săliștea, called Cioara until 1964, is the main village of a commune in Alba County, at the foot of the Șureanu Mountains. The village's wooden church, dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, was built in the old cemetery at the end of the 18th century; the year 1798 is written on a beam of the narthex, together with the names of the instigators, Andrei Șuvaina and Gheorghe Socaciu, and of the cantor Teodor Șuvaina. The monument appears in the List of Historic Monuments under the code AB-II-m-A-00314.
The church was raised from material salvaged from the “Afteia” hermitage at Plăișorul Cioarei, destroyed in 1757 and again in 1788, and it includes elements from the church of the vanished village of Archișul Românesc. The monastery at Plăișor was a hotbed of Orthodox Romanian resistance, and the village of Cioara is linked to the name of the monk Sofronie, leader of the 1759–1761 movement to preserve the Orthodox faith. The church is 14.50 m long and 5.40 m wide and follows the plain style of the wooden churches of the Hunedoara area: a nave, a narthex with a low bell tower, and an altar with a semicylindrical vault. The walls are of oak planks joined with dovetails, on oak sills laid over a stone foundation, and the roof is of fir shingle, with fretwork at the end of the roof frame. The last restoration mentioned in the sources dates from 1967.
What you can see
The exterior: the large shingle roof, the low tower over the narthex and the surrounding cemetery. Inside, the iconostasis, the wall paintings and fragments of friezes preserved from the former monastery: the frieze of the apostles, painted on canvas applied to wood, and royal icons from 1770, brought from Plăișor. The royal doors, with the Annunciation, were painted in 1830 by Simion the painter from Laz, and other icons, from 1860–1870, bear the signatures of Toma and Sima the painters. In the narthex stands a wayside cross carved with rosettes and rope mouldings, of the type found in the Apuseni Mountains.
Good to know
The church is part of a restoration project funded through the PNRR (Romania's recovery plan): in September 2023 the town hall launched the tender for the works (consolidation, replacing the shingles, rebuilding the foundation). The state of the works at the time of checking is not confirmed by the sources consulted. No visiting schedule is published; this is a parish church and may be locked outside services.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
- The oak-plank church, dated 1798 on a beam of the narthex.
- The frieze of the apostles and the royal icons of 1770, brought from the Plăișor monastery.
- The royal doors with the Annunciation, painted in 1830 by Simion the painter from Laz.
- The wayside cross in the narthex, carved with rosettes and rope mouldings.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Săliștea is a village in Alba County, in the Șureanu Mountains area, near Cugir. The church stands in the old cemetery, on a rise in the village, close to the town hall.
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. Photographing inside is done with the permission of the person who opens the church.
Frequently asked questions about Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea
- How long does a visit to Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea take?
- A visit to Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea takes about 30 min (exterior and cemetery).
- Can you visit Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea with kids?
- Yes, Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea is suitable for children (outdoors, on a hillside).
- How do I get to Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea?
- Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea is located at DJ705E, în cimitirul vechi din satul Săliștea (fost Cioara), Săliștea, Alba County. By car: Săliștea is a village in Alba County, in the Șureanu Mountains area, near Cugir. The church stands in the old cemetery, on a rise in the village, close to the town hall. Public transport: no regular connection to the village is confirmed; a car is the safer option.
- When is the best time to visit Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea?
- The best season for Wooden Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Săliștea: April – October (easier to reach in summer).
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