# Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Oltenia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/oltenia) › [Dolj County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/dolj) › [Craiova](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/craiova) > Craiova's Princely Church, rebuilt from its foundations in 1889–1933 on the site of Matei Basarab's foundation, has been the cathedral of the Metropolis of Oltenia since 1939. **At a glance:** Churches in Craiova, Dolj County. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 20 min. Information verified on 7 November 2026. ## Key facts - **Opening hours:** The cathedral is a working church: services follow the liturgical schedule announced by the Metropolis of Oltenia on mitropoliaolteniei.ro, with a special schedule during Holy Week and on feast days. The patron saint's day is celebrated on 26 October, with Vespers and a procession with the holy relics on the eve. The relics of Saint Nifon are venerated on 11 August, those of Saints Sergius and Bacchus on 7 October and those of Saint Tatiana on 12 January. - **Ticket:** Free - **Visit duration:** 20 min — exterior and interior - **With kids:** Yes — quiet during services - **Parking:** Yes, paid — on the street, in the centre - **Best season:** All year round — patron saint's day: 26 October - **Address:** Strada Matei Basarab nr. 14, Craiova, Dolj County - **Coordinates:** 44.31516, 23.79193 - **Website:** https://mitropoliaolteniei.ro/ - **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Saint_Demetrius,_Craiova - **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5052352 - **Categories:** [Churches](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/churches) ## About Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Demetrius the Great Martyr, the Myrrh-Streaming, known in Craiova as the Princely Church or “Băneasa”, is the main church of the Metropolis of Oltenia and is dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of the city. It stands on Strada Matei Basarab, opposite [Casa Băniei](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/casa-baniei), in the old core of the city where the houses of the bans of Craiova once stood. An older church stood on the spot, which Matei Basarab rebuilt in 1651. The 1838 earthquake and the decay that followed left it unusable, and it was closed in 1849. Today's building was raised from the foundations between 1889 and 1933, to plans by the French architect André Lecomte du Nouÿ, with the support of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, and was consecrated on 26 October 1933. Since 1939 it has been the metropolitan cathedral of Oltenia, and the metropolitans of Oltenia have been enthroned in it. After the 1977 earthquake it was reinforced and reconsecrated in 1978. The Metropolis of Oltenia comprises the Archdiocese of Craiova, the Archdiocese of Râmnic and the dioceses of Severin and Slatina. ### What to see The church has a Greek-cross plan, with exposed brickwork alternating with courses of stone, blind arcades and three domes with copper roofing: two smaller ones above the narthex and a larger one above the nave. The open porch, with stone pillars, keeps the inscription from the time of Matei Basarab next to the door. Inside, the mural painting, done with a lot of gold, is the work of French painters, and the iconostasis was painted in 1933 by Iosif Keber. On either side of the nave are the tombs of Metropolitans Firmilian and Nestor. The cathedral houses the relics of Saint Nifon, Patriarch of Constantinople, of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and of Saint Tatiana the Martyr. ### Good to know It is a working church: visit outside services or with respect for them. The patron saint's day is celebrated on 26 October, and on the eve a procession with the holy relics goes through the streets of the centre. ## Don't miss - The exposed-brick façade, with alternating courses of stone, and the three domes with copper roofing. - The open porch, with stone pillars and the inscription from the time of Matei Basarab next to the door. - The mural painting, rich in gold, by French painters, and the iconostasis painted by Iosif Keber in 1933. - The relics of Saint Nifon, of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and of Saint Tatiana inside. - The tombs of Metropolitans Firmilian and Nestor, on either side of the nave. ## Good to know before you go ### Getting there **By car:** the cathedral is in the centre of Craiova, on Strada Matei Basarab, opposite Casa Băniei. From Bucharest it is ~230 km (~2 hours 40 minutes, on the A1 as far as Pitești and then on the expressway to Craiova), and from Drobeta-Turnu Severin ~110 km (~2 hours 10 minutes, on the DN6). **On foot:** it is ~600 m (~8 minutes) from Piața Mihai Viteazul and ~3.2 km (~45 minutes) from Craiova railway station. ### Where to park Park on the surrounding streets, in the paid zone of the centre of Craiova. ### Fees & discounts Entry to the cathedral is free. ### Rules It is a working church: modest dress (shoulders and knees covered, men bare-headed), quiet during services, no food or drink. Photography inside is done respectfully, outside services. ## Details - **Construction period:** 1889–1933 - **Founder:** Matei Basarab - **Dedication:** Saint Demetrius - **Denomination:** Orthodox - **Architectural style:** Neo-Byzantine ## Frequently asked questions about Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral **How much is a ticket to Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral?** Admission to Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral is free. More under “Fees & discounts”. **How long does a visit to Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral take?** A visit to Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral takes about 20 min (exterior and interior). **Can you visit Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral with kids?** Yes, Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral is suitable for children (quiet during services). **Where can I park at Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral?** There is paid parking at Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral (on the street, in the centre). More under “Where to park”. **How do I get to Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral?** Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral is located at Strada Matei Basarab nr. 14, Craiova, Dolj County. More under “Getting there”. **When is the best time to visit Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral?** The best season for Saint Demetrius Metropolitan Cathedral: All year round (patron saint's day: 26 October). ## Nearby attractions - [Casa Băniei](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/casa-baniei) — Museums and memorial houses · Craiova, DJ · 12 lei · 45 min · 0 km The oldest civil building in Craiova, rebuilt by Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1699, is home to the Ethnography Section of the Oltenia Museum. - [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mihai-viteazul-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Craiova, DJ · Free · 30 min · 1 km The central square of Craiova, pedestrianised, with the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave and a fountain, between the Administrative Palace of the Prefecture and the former Palace Hotel; in winter, the main site of the Christmas market. - [Craiova Art Museum](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/craiova-art-museum) — Museums and memorial houses · Craiova, DJ · 30 lei · 1 – 1½ hours · 1 km The museum in the Jean Mihail Palace, built in 1898–1907 to plans by Paul Gottereau, holds six works by Brâncuși, including “The Kiss”, as well as Romanian and European art. - [Marin Sorescu National Theatre](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/marin-sorescu-national-theatre) — Monuments and historic sites · Craiova, DJ · 2 – 2½ hours · 1 km The modernist building of the Craiova National Theatre, inaugurated in 1973 to designs by the architect Alexandru Iotzu: a broad foyer, monumental steps and the Amza Pellea hall, in an institution founded in 1850. - [“Alexandru Buia” Botanical Garden, Craiova](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/alexandru-buia-botanical-garden-craiova) — Parks and gardens · Craiova, DJ · 1 – 1½ hours · 1 km A botanical garden of almost 13 hectares in the middle of Craiova, with lakes, a collection of more than 3,000 taxa, walking paths and a new tropical greenhouse under construction. - [Craiova Zoo](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/craiova-zoo) — Zoos and aquariums · Craiova, DJ · Free · 1 – 1½ hours · 2 km One of the oldest zoos in the country, opened in 1906 in Nicolae Romanescu Park, with its lions, tigers and bears, and free admission. ## Featured in the guides - [Things to do in Craiova: what to see in one day, in the centre and in the parks](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/things-to-do-in-craiova) — Mihai Viteazul Square, the Art Museum with Brâncuși (30 lei), Casa Băniei, St Demetrius Cathedral, Romanescu Park with a free zoo. In winter, with kids. - [Craiova Christmas Market: opening hours, dates and what to find in 2026](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/christmas-market-craiova) — Craiova Christmas Market 2026: 13 November – 3 January 2027 in Mihai Viteazul Square, free entry. “Land of the Elves” theme, attractions, parking, kids. --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/saint-demetrius-metropolitan-cathedral Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/catedrala-sfantul-dumitru-craiova.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/metropolitankathedrale-des-heiligen-dumitru-in-craiova.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/cattedrale-metropolitana-di-san-dumitru-a-craiova.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/cathedrale-metropolitaine-saint-dumitru-de-craiova.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/catedral-metropolitana-de-san-dumitru-de-craiova.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/craiovai-szent-demeter-metropolita-szekesegyhaz.md Last updated: 7 November 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania