Romania - Wooden Churches of Maramureş

Ieud, Romania - Wooden Churches of Maramureş

Sent by Raluca, a WiP partner from Romania.

The Maramureş churches are outstanding examples of vernacular religious wooden architecture resulting from the interchange of Orthodox religious traditions with Gothic influences in a specific vernacular interpretation of timber construction traditions, showing a high level of artistic maturity and craft skills.

The region of Maramureş, situated in the north of Transylvania, was formed over time by the fusion of very old geographical and socio-political entities called 'countries'. These 'countries' are united by their geographical environment, composed of mountains once covered by forests and numerous rivers, but also by their history and spiritual life. In the Middle Ages, the rural social structures were founded on community-type villages grouped in each valley, under the general leadership of the Voivodship of Maramureş. The churches of the region were placed under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox monastery of Peri.

The eight churches of Maramureş are monuments based on traditional timber architecture, and stand on bases of stone blocks and pebble fillings. They are:

The Church of the Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple (Bârsana), built in 1720, became a parish church in 1806. A two-level portico, connected by a staircase, was added to the western facade. Because of its plan, the church belongs to the tradition of the Maramureş region, but differs in its smaller size.

The Church of Saint Nicholas (Budeşti) was built in 1643 on the site of a 15th-century church. It is also distinguished by its size and the four pinnacles at the base of the spire, which indicates a link with the neighbouring region of Lapus.

The Church of the Holy Paraskeva, built in 1770, reflects the artistic maturity of its builders. The external architectural elements are highlighted by decorative motifs incised or cut in the wood to create a homogeneous and valuable ensemble.

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin replaced the one destroyed by the Tatars in 1717. The structure of the inner space, especially the vaults over the naos and narthex, reveals the ingenuity of the builders. The wooden churches of Maramureş usually formed a complex with a cemetery.

The Church of the Holy Archangels (Plopiş) situated in the 'country' of Chioar, shows certain analogies with the church in Şurdeşti, such as the flat roof slightly lowered over the sanctuary, the slender bell tower with four corner pinnacles, and certain elements of the sculpted decor outside. The decoration, painted in 1811 by Stefan, a native of the village, is preserved on the vaults.

The Church of the Holy Parasceve (Poienile Izei) is one of the oldest of the wooden churches of Maramureş (1604), and reveals two phases in the development of such buildings. The first can be seen in the lower part of the walls with a sanctuary based on a square plan, a typical feature of the oldest wooden buildings. In the 18th century, the walls were raised, the naos was covered by a semi-circular vault, and the interior was decorated with paintings. The portico was added during the first half of the 19th century.

The Church of the Holy Archangels (Rogoz), built in 1663, was moved from Suciu in Sus to Rogoz in 1883. It is characterized by a recessed heptagonal sanctuary, a polygonal pronaos, a southern entrance, and a large asymmetrical roof. It is also distinctive for its profusion of decorative sculpture.

The Church of the Holy Archangels (Şurdeşti), built in 1767, synthesises all the features of the wooden churches of Maramureş at the height of their development with, in particular, a double canopy and superposed windows. The two-level portico and its tall bell tower date to the 19th century. In 1783, three shared the task of decorating the inside of the church. (Source)

Romania - Churches of Moldavia (2)

ROMANIA

Mănăstirea Humor or Humor Monastery, a part of Churches of Moldavia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sent by Marius, a postcrosser from Romania.

Romania - Bucharest - Village Museum

 

Bucureşti - Muzeul Satului.


Sent by Carla from Bucharest, Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului in Romanian) is an open-air ethnographic museum located in the Herăstrău Park (Bucharest,Romania), showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum extends to over 100,000 m², and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania.

It was created in 1936 by Dimitrie Gusti, Victor Ion Popa, and Henri H. Stahl.

There are other "village museums" throughout Romania, including ASTRA National Museum Complex in Sibiu, and those of Cluj-Napoca, Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Timişoara, a.s.o.

 

Romania - St. Ana Monastery

St. Ana Monastery in Orsova, Romania.

Sent by Adrian, a postcrosser from Romania.

"The St. Ana Monastery placed on the Danube Gorge, one of the most beautiful parts of nature in our country. The Danube Gorge is full of Christ elements: trinity’s, churches, monasteries (Vodita, Mraconia, St Ana. The settlement is a convent of nuns monastic life in common with, located in Orsova, Mehedinti county, and who has the dedication feast of St. Anna, commemorated on 25 iulie. St. Ana Monastery is located on the crest of the hill Mosul, which dominates the town of Orsova. This monastery has a special history, being founded by the famous journalist Pamfil Seicaru, who fought in the area as a young lieutenant. What caused him to rise a monastery is a random spent during the war, which deeply chance. In autumn 1916, on the hill, the journalist was covered with earth, along with his fellow, Petre Gavanescu, by an artillery shell at very short distance from them. (Source)"

Romania - Bucharest - The Kretzulescu Palace - Enescu House

Romania - Bucharest - The Kretzulescu Palace - Enescu House.

Sent by Raluca, a WiP partner from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : Creţulescu Palace (Palatul Creţulescu in Romanian, alternative spelling "Kretzulescu") is a historic building near the Cişmigiu Gardens on the Ştirbei Vodă street nr. 39 in Bucharest, Romania. It has been built for the Creţulescu family at the beginning of the 20th century, by Romanian architect Petre Antonescu (1873-1965).

Since 1972, it houses the headquarters of UNESCO's European Centre for Higher Education UNESCO-CEPES (known as CEPES after its French name, Centre Europeén pour l'enseignement supérieur).

Romania - Bucharest - The Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral

Romania - Bucharest - The Patriarchy.

Sent by Raluca, a WiP partner from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : The Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral is located near the palace of the Patriarchate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on Dealul Mitropoliei, in Bucharest, Romania.

Romania - Children In Folk Costumes

ROMANIA - Children in folk costume.

Sent by Andreea, a postcrosser from Bucharest, Romania.

Romania - Constanţa

Cazinoul or the Casino in Constanţa.

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : Constanţa (Romanian pronunciation: [konˈstant͡sa]; historical names: Tomis, Greek: Κωνστάντια or Konstantia, Turkish: Köstence, Bulgarian: Кюстенджа or Kyustendzha) is the oldest living city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanţa County and the largest city in the region.

The city of Constanța is one of the most important in Romania, one of four roughly equal-size cities which rank after Bucharest. The Constanţa metropolitan area was founded in 2007 and comprises 14 localities located at a maximum distance of 30 km (19 mi) from the city and with 446,595 inhabitants. It has the second largest metropolitan area in Romania, after Bucharest.

The Port of Constanţa has an area of 39.26 km2 (15.16 sq mi) and a length of about 30 km (19 mi). It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe.

Romania - Maramureş

Romania - Maramureş - Rural traditions in Hoteni.

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : Maramureş (in Romanian; Rusyn: Марамуреш / Maramuresh; Hungarian: Máramaros; Latin: Marmatia; Ukrainian: Мармарощина / Marmaroshchyna, Мараморщина / Maramorshchyna)) is a geographical, historical and ethno-cultural region in northeastern Carpathians, along the upper Tisza River; it covers the Maramureş Depression and the surrounding Carpathian mountains.

Before the Treaty of Trianon, the whole territory belonged to Hungary, and formed Máramaros County. The borders then divided the region between Romania and Czechoslovakia. The southern section is now part of Maramureş County in northern Romania; the northern section is part of Zakarpattia Oblast of western Ukraine.

Alternatively, the name Maramureş is used for the Maramureş County of Romania, which contains the southern section of the former historical region and also small parts of the interbellic Satu Mare County and Sălaj County (former pre-World War I Szatmár and Szilágy counties).

Maramureş is a valley totally enclosed by mountains, Oaş, Gutâi, Ţibleş and Rodnei to the west and south, Maramureş Mountains and Ukrainian Carpathians (Wooded Carpathians) to the east and north, with a thin opening at Khust, with several dozen small mountain rivers and creeks flowing into the river Tisza (Tisa). It is forested and not easily accessible.

The limits of the region is between the parallels of 47o33' N and 40o02' N and the meridians of 23o15' E and 25o03' E. Maramureş represents one of the largest depressions in the Carpathians, covering an area of about 10000 km².

Its length from Khust to Prislop Pass is about 150 km and the width from North to South is up to 80 km.

The main mountain passes linking Maramureş with the neighboring regions are high and in the past were hardly accessible in the winter. Prislop Pass is 1414m high to the East towards Moldavia, Dealul Ştefăniţei, 1254m in the south towards Transylvania, Pintea Pass 987 m towards Baia Mare and Fărgău 587 in the west towards Oaş Country. In the north Frasini Pass (Yasinia) is 931 m high, linking the region to Galicia.

The mountains surrounding this region occupy more than a half of area, and reach 2000 m by several peaks like Pietrosul 2303m in Rodnei Mountains to the south and Hovîrla 2061 in Muntele Negru (Cernahora) to the north.

The heavy forested mountains sustain many protected species of plants like yew (Taxus baccata), larch (Larix decidua), Swiss pine (Pinus cembra), edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum); and animals like lynx (Lynx lynx), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), alpine marmot (Marmota marmota), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).

Here lived the last Romanian wisent, hunted to extinction in 1852. Lostriţa, a local variety of salmon, still live in the mountain rivers.

On this ground protected areas have been created here, Rodnei Mountains National Park in 1930, Maramureş Mountains Natural Park in 2004. Many other caves, gorges, cliff formations and lakes are officially protected areas.

Romania - Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania

Biertan. Winterlandscape with the fortified church.

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

The Transylvanian villages with fortified churches provide a vivid picture of the cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. They are characterized by the specific land-use system, settlement pattern, and organization of the family farmstead units preserved since the late Middle Ages, dominated by their fortified churches, which illustrate building periods from the 13th to 16th centuries.

In the 13th century the kings of Hungary encouraged the colonization of the sub-Carpathian region of Transylvania (Erdely) by a German-speaking population of artisans, farmers and merchants, mainly from the Rhineland. Known as the Transylvanian Saxons, they enjoyed special privileges granted by the Hungarian Crown, especially in the period preceding the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Despite living in a country where the majority of the population was ethnic Hungarians or Romanians, the Transylvanian Saxons were able to preserve their language and their customs intact throughout the centuries. Their ethnic solidarity is vividly illustrated by their settlements, which remained resistant to external influences

Their geographical location in the foothills of the Carpathians exposed the Transylvanian Saxon communities to danger when the Ottoman Empire began to menace the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their reaction was to build defensive works within which they could take shelter from the invaders. Lacking the resources of the European nobility and rich merchants, who were able to fortify entire towns, the Transylvanian Saxons chose to create fortresses round their churches, enclosing storehouses within the enceintes to enable them to withstand long sieges. The first documentary reference to Biertan dates from 1283. In 1397 it was raised to the status of Oppidum (fortified town) and twenty years later the Hungarian King granted it droit de l'épée (jus gladii ), i.e. the right to bear arms. From 1572 to 1867 Biertan was the See of the Evangelical (Lutheran) Bishop of Transylvania, and as such played a major role in the cultural and religious life of the considerable German population of the region.

The seven churches are:

Biertan: Late Gothic hall-type building, completed around 1522-23, on a low hill, with two lines of walls, at the foot of the hill, built at the same time as the church.

Câlnic: Based on a mid-13th-century dwelling tower, a chapel and an oval enceinte; presented in 1430 to the village community, which raised the walls fitted with two towers and transformed the dwelling tower into one for defensive purposes.

Prejmer: Early Gothic Church of the Holy Cross, in the shape of a cross; walled in the 15th century.

Viscri: Romanesque chapel enlarged in the early 16th century to form a single-nave church, with a fortified storey resting on semicircular arches supported by massive buttresses; walls strengthened in the 17th century.

Dârjiu: Late Gothic church fortified towards 1520, decorated with murals going back to 1419; rectangular enceinte restructured in the 17th century.

Saschiz: Romanesque church and its enceinte replaced by a late Gothic church (1493-1525); defensive storey gives the church the appearance of a high bastion.

Valea Viilor: Church transformed into late Gothic style and fortified in the early 16th century; defensive storeys built above the choir, nave and tower, communicating with each other; porches of the northern and southern entrances protected by small towers with portcullises. (Sources)

Romania - Bicaz's Gorge

ROMANIA - Harghita - Bicaz's Gorge (The Bicaz Canyon).

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : The Bicaz Canyon (Cheile Bicazului -- literally The Keys of Bicaz in Romanian, Békás-szoros in Hungarian) is one of the most spectacular places in Romania, located in the north-east part of the country, in Neamţ and Harghita counties. The canyon was dug by the waters of Bicaz River and it serves as a passageway between the Romanian provinces of Moldova and Transylvania. It is a noted location to see the wallcreeper, an uncommon cliff-dwelling bird. The road along the 8 kilometres of ravines, often in serpentines with rock on one side and a sheer drop on the other, is one of the most spectacular drives in the country. Also within the Chei is Lacul Roşu (the Red Lake), with its traditional cabins, hotels, and its famous lake (situated at 980m altitude) caused by a landslide in the 19th century.

Romania - Castelul Peleş

Romania - Sinaia - The Peleş Castle (Castelul Peleş).

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : Peleş Castle (Romanian: Castelul Peleş [kasˈtelul ˈpeleʃ]) is a Neo-Renaissance castle placed in an idyllic setting in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914; its inauguration was held in 1883.

Romania - Dâmboviţa River

Romania - Bucharest - Dâmboviţa River along the Independentei Quay.

Sent by Tatiana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : The Dâmbovița River is a river in Romania. It starts at the junction of headwaters Valea Vladului and Boarcășu, having its source in the Făgăraș Mountains, and flowing southward. It passes through Bucharest and flows into the Argeș River 286 kilometres from its source, near Budești, in Călărași County. Dâmbovița County is named after the river.

Romania - Churches of Moldavia (1)

Monasteries in Bukovina, Romania; Humor, Suceviţa, Moldoviţa, Putna, and Voroneţ.

Sent by Mircea from Romania.

In the European art of the period, the exterior mural painting of the northern Moldavian churches is a unique phenomenon in Byzantine art and a masterpiece of mural art. In terms of the art of Romania, this group of churches constitutes a specific phenomenon, from the point of view of architecture as well as painting. Their exterior painted walls constitute an exceptional aesthetic value, forming a perfect symbiosis between colour, architecture, and surrounding landscape.

Moldavia became an independent state in the 14th century, achieving its apogee during the anti-Ottoman crusades of princes Stephen the Great and Peter Rares. This also produced a cultural flowering, and the most remarkable series of churches. A general Christian tradition of decorating the exteriors of churches was adopted and extended in Moldavia. This had its own specific iconography, dominated by certain obligatory themes: the Church Hierarchy, the Last Judgement, and the Tree of Jesse. These monuments form a compact and coherent group in chronological terms, all being built in the 1530s and 1540s, during the reign of Peter Rares. They are all within a 60 km radius of Suceava, the residence of the Moldavian princes.

The Church of the Holy Rood, Patrauti, built in 1487 by Stephen the Great, was pillaged in 1653 and 1684 and restored by Prince Nicolas Mavrocordat in the early 18th century. It is a small three-apsed building consisting of a sanctuary, a naos crowned with a high drum, and a narthex. The monumental interior mural painting represents the Passion Cycle.

At the Church of St George of the former Voronet Monastery, also founded by Stephen the Great, the naos and sanctuary were painted between 1488 and 1496 and the narthex in 1552. It is a three-apse structure, with an exonarthex added in 1546. The interior murals represent the Passion Cycle. The walls and the vault of the exonarthex are covered by the 365 scenes of the Calendar of Saints. The exterior murals depict traditional scenes, and the famous Last Judgement, on the western wall.

The Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist was built as the residence of the Governor of Suceava, Luca Arbore. It was decorated at the order of his granddaughter in 1541 and became the village church when the family died out. The Arbore family is represented in a votive tablet on the wall of the naos and by funerary portraits in the narthex. The high quality of the interior paintings continues on the exterior.

The three-apsed Church of St George, formerly the Metropolitan Church of Moldavia until the late 17th century, is now the catholicon of the Monastery of St John of Suceava. The interior paintings, although somewhat darkened, have exceptional plastic qualities. The exterior paintings of 1534 only survive on the west and south facades, and depict the four traditional themes. They are exceptional by virtue of their monumental composition, elegant silhouettes, harmonious colours and perfect Cyrillic inscriptions.

The Church of St Nicholas and the Catholicon of the Monastery of Probota was built by Prince Peter Rares in 1531 as a family mausoleum. All the paintings are contemporary with the church with the exception of those in the sanctuary, repainted in the 19th century. The exterior mural paintings, in poor condition, show evidence of the hand of a master in their outstanding composition and remarkable use of colours.

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin of the former Monastery of Humor dates back to before 1415, but the present structure was built in 1530 by the great Logothete Theodore Bulberg and the wife, Anastasia, of Peter Rares. It exhibits certain architectural variations from the traditional three-apsed monastery church, such as the lack of a drum over the narthex.

The Church of the Annunciation of the Monastery of Moldovita was rebuilt by Alexander the Good, but the present structure is earlier. It is very similar in form and decoration to the Humor church, and is believed that the same master may have been responsible for both churches. (Source)

Castelul Peleş

Sinaia - Judetul Prahova - Romania
The Museum Castle Peleş

Sent by Diana from Romania.

This is from Wikipedia : Today a historical monument, Peleş Castle (Romanian: Castelul Peleş [kasˈtelul ˈpeleʃ]) is a Neo-Renaissance castle placed in an idyllic setting in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1914; its inauguration was held in 1883.

Bucureşti

Romania - Bucharest - The Civic Centre & Palace of Parliament.

Sent by Tatiana from Bucharest in Romania.

Bucuresti

The first postcard from Romania sent by Tatiana, a postcrosser who did a direct swap with me. This postcard shows Muzeul Geologic (Geological Museum), Muzeul Satului (Village Museum), Muzeul de Istorie (History Museum), and Muzeul Ţăranului Român (Romanian Peasant's Museum).