Surdesti Wooden Church
Surdesti Wooden Church
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
44 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
11
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2
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Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania17,719 contributions
Sep 2020
The wooden church at Surdesti - together with it twin church in Plopis - used to be the tallest wooden church in Maramures , until the church of the Monastery Sapanta Peri was erected ... it is 72 m high ( Peri is 75 m still debatable since it is half stone and brick and half wood that 1 - so for me is not all "Wooden" !).
Built in 1721 by team of locals lead by the famous master of wooden church building Ion Macarie and painted by the not less famous church painter Stefan Zugravul - the church still preserves the decorations as those were made (it is a Greek Catholic church - and given that less candles and incense is used during the service - hence less smoke to darken the paintings ...).
Visiting will cost you 7 RON - a little over 1,5 Euro's but the custodian will give you a very detailed explanation about the history of the church.
The steep roofing - stepped - and the central tower with the 4 small towers surrounding it are the marks of the old wooden churches in Maramures.
Since 1999 this church is also on the UNESCO world heritage list (among other 7 ).
So if you are in the area it is certainly a must do - regardless if you are religious or not (and since Plopis is only 3 km away you can visit both this churches.).
It is indeed an experience.
Built in 1721 by team of locals lead by the famous master of wooden church building Ion Macarie and painted by the not less famous church painter Stefan Zugravul - the church still preserves the decorations as those were made (it is a Greek Catholic church - and given that less candles and incense is used during the service - hence less smoke to darken the paintings ...).
Visiting will cost you 7 RON - a little over 1,5 Euro's but the custodian will give you a very detailed explanation about the history of the church.
The steep roofing - stepped - and the central tower with the 4 small towers surrounding it are the marks of the old wooden churches in Maramures.
Since 1999 this church is also on the UNESCO world heritage list (among other 7 ).
So if you are in the area it is certainly a must do - regardless if you are religious or not (and since Plopis is only 3 km away you can visit both this churches.).
It is indeed an experience.
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vladimiramirela
Mississauga, Canada1,881 contributions
Jul 2019
The village of Surdesti is located in Maramures, on the road between the Cavnic ski resort and Baia Mare. This Greek Catholic wooden church is one of the tallest of its kind in Europe, and the second in Romania. Located on a hill, above the parking lot, the church stands in the middle of a small and very old cemetery, with gravestones dating over two hundred and fifty years. The really impressive fact is that its uniquely elegant, 54 meters high steeple was build completely by hand. The interior paintings are still original and not renovated and they date from 1783.
Written November 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nimrod J
europe454 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
This was the second of the perhaps dozen wooden churches we saw during our time in Maramures. The interior is well kept the church still in use. If there is no one there (early June still not season ) after you walk up from the parking lot continue on to the first house and ask there for the keeper to come open, He is charming and the church very impressive. That same day we drove to and visited churches in Polips , Sisesti and through a Rom village(Fauresti) to the church at Laschia which is much more recent but also very interesting.
Written June 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sherrycr
Rapid City, SD76 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
This church was quite difficult to find. Instead of the normal brown signs with an arrow, there was one sign NOT facing traffic, so really hard to see.
When I arrived, the church was locked and there was a crazy little pictogram indicating the key at a house 100m away. Unfortunately no direction given. I knocked on doors. no luck. Finally, a grumpy old lady appeared from somewhere with the key.....Inside was really neat once I gained entrance!
When I arrived, the church was locked and there was a crazy little pictogram indicating the key at a house 100m away. Unfortunately no direction given. I knocked on doors. no luck. Finally, a grumpy old lady appeared from somewhere with the key.....Inside was really neat once I gained entrance!
Written July 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingCat22
Tucson, AZ2,364 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
This church was closed but we managed to see an old lady who came to open the door. The interior is magnificent. Colorful painted wood, scarves, ... we wish we had a guide with us.
Written November 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
timothyjull
Tucson, Az26 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This church is fabulous and build entirely of wood, no nails, including the very high tower. The interior is also very interesting, showing the style of an Eastern-Rite church. Make sure to find the caretaker so you can go inside. It's a little off the beaten track but well worth it.
Written June 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mia0343
Toronto, Canada13 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
We attended the Christmas holy service in the small, ancient wooden church in Surdesti.The church is in the UNESCO patrimony, along with other seven wooden churches in Maramures. The priests' sermon was echoed by the angelic children songs. When the priest announced the Birth of Christ, the entire church was filled with Joy. People of all ages, in their traditional attire announced the Good News caroling door to door. The wooden church in Surdesti gave me the most authentic, true Christmas.
Written December 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Parus R
Stockport, UK86 contributions
Jun 2012 • Family
In addition to being the tallest churchmade entirely of wood in the world (no other materials were used, not even nails!), the little Surdesti church contains beautiful old frescoes (i loved the pre-Copernicus depiction of the universe all orbiting around the Earth), and gorgeous carved wood details. It is an astounding structure to see and visit.
Written May 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aaron Q
165 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
The paintings are peeling off the olds walls, but in an amazing way. Photographs were not allowed inside. The young man working spoke 5 languages, including English, and was helpful with information about the church. There was a small fee for entering when I was there, which visitors were not asked for until they were already well inside the church, which was somewhat awkward, but the fee was modest. There is also a little graveyard around the church. Off to the right of the parking lot, you could walk a path through the trees and through a clearing in a field to another nearby wooden church in the distance, but I only photographed its steeple as time was short at this point. These churches are a little off the beaten path, so be ready to drive a bit if you're venturing to the main cities in Romania.
For me, it was worth it. These are rare churches, quite spectacular, although you may find them in different places in Romania, not just in Surdesti.
For me, it was worth it. These are rare churches, quite spectacular, although you may find them in different places in Romania, not just in Surdesti.
Written March 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brent b
Arroyo Grande, CA282 contributions
Sep 2019
not worth much time but it is a real testimony for the people who build this huge wooden church in 1767 and it is well preserved. a bit of a drive but many tourists are there.
Written October 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salve. Sapete indicarmi gli orari di apertura e chiusura?
Written August 4, 2019
Are there specific days when this church is closed, like, for instance, on Mondays? Do you know if any of the wooden churches have days they are closed. Or is it just that they are closed and you have to find someone to open them?
Written July 19, 2018
I am not sure. Some of them are open. Some seemed to be closed. The active churches seemed to be closed to all but people practicing their religion. Others seemed to be open. I didn't see any hours or days listed nor any way to get them open.
Written July 20, 2018
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