# Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Cluj County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/cluj) › [Gherla](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/gherla) > The Baroque Holy Trinity church, built by the Armenians of Armenopolis between 1748 and 1804, dominates the centre of Gherla and keeps a Descent from the Cross attributed to Rubens or his school. **At a glance:** Churches in Gherla, Cluj County. The visit takes 30 min. Information verified on 27 October 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** The church is most reliably seen during services or with the permission of the Armenian Catholic parish. - **Visit duration:** 30 min — with the painting and interior - **With kids:** Yes — quiet during services - **Parking:** Yes, paid — in the centre, on the surrounding streets - **Best season:** All year round — all year, with the parish's permission - **Address:** Piața Libertății, Gherla, Cluj County - **Coordinates:** 47.02763, 23.90711 - **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Cathedral,_Gherla - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16538416 - **Categories:** [Churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserici), [Monuments and historic sites](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/monumente-si-situri-istorice) ## About Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla Armenians who came from Moldavia settled in the 18th century on the spot where Armenopolis, today Gherla, would grow, and their Catholic church of the Armenian rite was raised in the town centre, on a square. Construction began in 1748 and the church was consecrated in 1804; it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, with Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the apostle of Armenia, as its second patron. An earlier church on the same site had been the seat of Bishop Auxențiu Vărzărescu between 1691 and 1715. When the Armenian Catholic eparchy of Gherla was re-established in 1929, the church became its cathedral. Today there is no eparchy but an ordinariate, though the name of cathedral has stayed in use. A fire that broke out in the tower in 1960 did heavy damage, and the building was rebuilt in the following years. The style is late Baroque, with white façades, a tower with a clock and a rounded apse. ### What to see From outside the church impresses with its white mass, its grey roof with a lantern and the two towers at the entrance. Inside, the nave is tall, with columns with Corinthian capitals, painted vaults, large crystal chandeliers and a gilded pulpit. The best-known object is the Descent from the Cross, attributed to Rubens or his school: Emperor Francis I let the Armenians choose a painting from the imperial galleries in Vienna, and the canvas, too small for the high altar, was placed in a side chapel, the Chapel of the Resurrection. In 1944 it was taken to Hungary, it returned to Romania in 1952 and reached Gherla only on 22 December 1999. ### Good to know This is the church of a working parish; visiting depends on services and on who opens it. ## Don't miss - The white Baroque façade, with its two towers and the clock tower, seen from Piața Libertății. - The Descent from the Cross, a painting attributed to Rubens or his school, in the Chapel of the Resurrection. - The tall nave, with Corinthian columns, painted vaults and crystal chandeliers. - The clock tower and the small cupola of the bell tower, seen from the corner of the church. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there **By car:** Gherla is ~44 km from Cluj-Napoca (~50 minutes, on the DN1C) and ~14 km from Dej (~17 minutes). The church stands in the town centre, at the edge of Piața Libertății. **Public transport:** Gherla lies on the Cluj-Napoca–Dej railway line, and the centre can be covered on foot. ### Where to park In the centre you park on the streets around the square, in the paid zone; at major services the spaces fill up quickly. ### Rules This is the church of a working parish: decent dress, shoulders and knees covered, quiet and respect for services. Ask before using a flash or a tripod. ### Facilities side chapel with the painting attributed to Rubens · toilets, cafés and restaurants in the town centre ## Details - **Construction period:** 1748–1804 - **Founder:** the Armenian community of Gherla - **Dedication:** Holy Trinity - **Denomination:** Armenian Catholic - **Architectural style:** late Baroque - **Historical period:** 18th century ## Frequently asked questions about Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla **How long does a visit to Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla take?** A visit to Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla takes about 30 min (with the painting and interior). **Can you visit Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla with kids?** Yes, Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla is suitable for children (quiet during services). **Where can I park at Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla?** There is paid parking at Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla (in the centre, on the surrounding streets). In the centre you park on the streets around the square, in the paid zone; at major services the spaces fill up quickly. **How do I get to Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla?** Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla is located at Piața Libertății, Gherla, Cluj County. By car: Gherla is ~44 km from Cluj-Napoca (~50 minutes, on the DN1C) and ~14 km from Dej (~17 minutes). The church stands in the town centre, at the edge of Piața Libertății. Public transport: Gherla lies on the Cluj-Napoca–Dej railway line, and the centre can be covered on foot. **When is the best time to visit Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla?** The best season for Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Gherla: All year round (all year, with the parish's permission). ## Nearby attractions - [Nicula Monastery](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/manastirea-nicula) — Monasteries · Nicula, CJ · ½ – 1 hours · 6 km The hilltop monastery near Gherla that keeps the icon of the Virgin painted in 1681, which wept in 1699; home to the largest pilgrimage in Transylvania, on the Feast of the Dormition. - [Ocna Dej Salt Mine](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/salina-ocna-dej) — Salt mines · Dej, CJ · 13 km A working salt mine near Dej, where salt has been dug since Roman times, with an Orthodox church carved into the salt about 80 m down. 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