Wooden Churches of Maramureş

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Wooden Churches of Maramureş**¹
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	Romania
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iv
Identification	#904
Region²	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1999 23rd WH Committee Session
WH link:	http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/904
1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List 2 As classified officially by UNESCO

The Maramureş wooden churches in Northern Transylvania are a selection of eight examples of different architectural solutions from different periods and areas. They are Orthodox Churches. They are narrow but high timber constructions with characteristic tall, slim clock towers at the western end of the building. They are a particular vernacular expression of the cultural landscape of this mountainous area of northern Romania.

Maramureş is perhaps one of the better-known regions of Romania - but still not much travelled. Its well-preserved wooden villages and churches, its traditional lifestyle, and the local colourful dresses still in use make Maramureş as near to a living museum as can be found in Europe. The beautiful gentle landscape of fields and meadows, dotted with farms and villages, and its inhabitants, welcome visitors with wide-open arms.

The famous wooden churches of the region were built during the 18th and 19th centuries, on the place of older churches that no longer exist. The churches are made of thick logs, are quite small and dark inside, and painted with rather “naïve” Biblical scenes. The most characteristic features are the tall tower above the entrance and the massive roof that seems to dwarf the main body of the church.

They have been listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1999, for their religious architecture and timber construction traditions.