Barsana Monastery
Barsana Monastery
4.5
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4.5
338 reviews
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73
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PC_UK2014
UK25 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
We went twice - once on a rainy sunday morning to enjoy the experience of the open air church service (yes, in the rain!) - and another time in the sunshine to look more into the buildings.
It's hard to credit that these are modern buildings built in traditional style. The Romanian Government has been behind a massive church building programme in recent years - and some my find this uncomfortable. The BBC News, Romania reported "Romania is in the middle of a church-building boom, with some 10 new places of worship completed every month" - and this at a time when clearly money for other things is in short supply.
Sunday was an experience - as many worshippers had dressed in local costume. Need I remind travellers that cameras and religious services may not mix!!
If you go by car - there is plenty of car parking on site. You'll probably need at least an hour if you are to sit in the beautiful gardens and soak up the atmosphere - let alone see inside the churches and monastery buildings.
Don't forget the dress code for visiting churches!
It's hard to credit that these are modern buildings built in traditional style. The Romanian Government has been behind a massive church building programme in recent years - and some my find this uncomfortable. The BBC News, Romania reported "Romania is in the middle of a church-building boom, with some 10 new places of worship completed every month" - and this at a time when clearly money for other things is in short supply.
Sunday was an experience - as many worshippers had dressed in local costume. Need I remind travellers that cameras and religious services may not mix!!
If you go by car - there is plenty of car parking on site. You'll probably need at least an hour if you are to sit in the beautiful gardens and soak up the atmosphere - let alone see inside the churches and monastery buildings.
Don't forget the dress code for visiting churches!
Written 18 September 2024
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.
Fragson75
Paris, France451 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The Saint Nicolas church from the 18th century and moved to this location in the early 19th century dominates its tall wooden spire and reveals a very beautiful architecture. The paintings from the early 19th century cover almost all of the interior walls and are of great beauty. A whole monastic complex was built around it and gives a leisure park feel! Only the church has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Written 26 August 2023
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.
Monia B
Genoa, Italy475 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A monastery that already existed towards the end of the 14th century and was razed to the ground during an invasion of the Tartars in 1717. The few monks who still resided there were forced to flee and its buildings were destroyed again. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and the fall of Communism, the conditions were finally created for the reconstruction of the Bârsana Monastery, which only began in 1993. So what we see now is a recent reconstruction of the Monastery.
The entire area today appears as a large, very well-kept garden, within which there are flowerbeds, small ponds and wooden gazebos connected by pretty paths.
There are many buildings that make up the complex, all built following the traditional woodworking that has made Maramures famous. Among them, the New Church stands out
It is a recent construction, like the entire complex, with a spire 57 meters high, it represents one of the tallest wooden buildings in Europe.
Other buildings that make up the monastery are the monks' homes, the artists' house, the summer altar and a small souvenir shop. The entrance portal to the site is very beautiful to look at: a large arch surmounted by a wooden tower, which also acts as a bell tower.
The monastery is accessible for free, as is the parking located in front of it. Near the rest area you will also find toilets and an ATM.
It's a must see!!
The entire area today appears as a large, very well-kept garden, within which there are flowerbeds, small ponds and wooden gazebos connected by pretty paths.
There are many buildings that make up the complex, all built following the traditional woodworking that has made Maramures famous. Among them, the New Church stands out
It is a recent construction, like the entire complex, with a spire 57 meters high, it represents one of the tallest wooden buildings in Europe.
Other buildings that make up the monastery are the monks' homes, the artists' house, the summer altar and a small souvenir shop. The entrance portal to the site is very beautiful to look at: a large arch surmounted by a wooden tower, which also acts as a bell tower.
The monastery is accessible for free, as is the parking located in front of it. Near the rest area you will also find toilets and an ATM.
It's a must see!!
Written 19 August 2023
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.
Millie M
Englewood, FL94 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This church is so unique and a must see. The wooded setting is also gorgeous. Note that they only allow 8 people in at a time. So if you coming with 3 buses it is going to take some time, but the waiting area is o pretty and shaded, might be very cold in the winter. UNESCO sites!
Written 3 October 2024
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.
Catalin C
Targu Neamt, Romania152 contributions
Feb 2020
Barsana Monastery is a must see objective in Maramures. If you want to have a nice experience try to avoid crowd periods. January ,february are very good months to visit Maramures. The roads are still a problem .
Written 16 February 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.
Marius Mihet
Sibiu, Romania37 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Don't believe anything until you see ... no matter how many pictures and videos you've seen with this place, until you get there you don't realize what this place means. From the entrance you will be amazed by the incredible beauty, peace and serenity of this place. No matter how many places like this you have seen, the Barsana monastery will conquer you irretrievably.
Written 24 July 2021
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.
Zolike78
New Westminster, Canada313 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
Can't describe how beautiful this place is. The traditional wood structures from Maramureș are unique and in a religious setting they look even more impressive. Beautiful churches, towers, even the nuns quarters are built in the same style.
Easily accessible, well-deserved to be a UNESCO site
Easily accessible, well-deserved to be a UNESCO site
Written 28 March 2022
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.
CMI
Timisoara, Romania69 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
I tried to find the best word for this place and I will go for "destination". The destination is stunning! Great location, clean air, quite atmosphere, beautiful buildings and gardens, very well managed and maintained!
Bârsana is beautiful but quite comercial.
Do not expect that monastery aura, do not expect the feelings one might search when visiting a monastery.
Bârsana is beautiful but quite comercial.
Do not expect that monastery aura, do not expect the feelings one might search when visiting a monastery.
Written 11 September 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.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania17,327 contributions
Sept 2020
Near the village of Barsana you will find this monastery ... a place of serenity and prayer open for visitors ... a place that somehow has a positive vibe to it.
Overall an excellent place to visit , free for visiting and with free parking .... go visiting on a weekday , during the weekend there is a crowd gathering - some for the service , some just to see this place.
Remember , tread lightly you are on holy grounds - so regardless if you are religious or not it is very interesting to see.
For those of you interested in wood carving, architecture and arts in general for sure it is worth seeing.
Historical values is almost nonexistent since is a fairly newly established monastery ... however it is definitely a must see when you are in the area.
Of Course there are souvenir and religious items shops - since visiting is free of charge this a source of income - but also donations are welcome.
If you are in the area, definitely stop here - it is a place of tranquility and serenity ...
Overall an excellent place to visit , free for visiting and with free parking .... go visiting on a weekday , during the weekend there is a crowd gathering - some for the service , some just to see this place.
Remember , tread lightly you are on holy grounds - so regardless if you are religious or not it is very interesting to see.
For those of you interested in wood carving, architecture and arts in general for sure it is worth seeing.
Historical values is almost nonexistent since is a fairly newly established monastery ... however it is definitely a must see when you are in the area.
Of Course there are souvenir and religious items shops - since visiting is free of charge this a source of income - but also donations are welcome.
If you are in the area, definitely stop here - it is a place of tranquility and serenity ...
Written 16 September 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.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania17,327 contributions
Jun 2023
Been here in 2020 ... a very strange time for travelling - now I have returned in 2023
The place was much more vivid, maybe also due to the fact that it was in the period of Pentecost - very important church holiday.
What I've done supplemental to the previous visit here - I went and visited the small museum of the monastery , very interesting , structured on 3 levels - 1st level dedicated to divers items from different churches in the area of Maramures, 2nd level is an ethnographic section and on the 3rd there is an exhibit of the craftmanship of the nuns of the monastery, where divers items can be purchased - very interesting and the entrance fee is symbolic - 1 Ron.
Now the monastery is beautiful , probably the most beautiful I've seen from all the monasteries I've been in Romania - yet ... scenery , buildings ...a truly serene place.
Visiting is free of charge ...parking on the premises is free of charge .... so when you are in the area I recommend you stop here ...it is definitely worth a visit.
The place was much more vivid, maybe also due to the fact that it was in the period of Pentecost - very important church holiday.
What I've done supplemental to the previous visit here - I went and visited the small museum of the monastery , very interesting , structured on 3 levels - 1st level dedicated to divers items from different churches in the area of Maramures, 2nd level is an ethnographic section and on the 3rd there is an exhibit of the craftmanship of the nuns of the monastery, where divers items can be purchased - very interesting and the entrance fee is symbolic - 1 Ron.
Now the monastery is beautiful , probably the most beautiful I've seen from all the monasteries I've been in Romania - yet ... scenery , buildings ...a truly serene place.
Visiting is free of charge ...parking on the premises is free of charge .... so when you are in the area I recommend you stop here ...it is definitely worth a visit.
Written 12 June 2023
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.
For sure in the Easter Eve, during the night - between 27-28th of April 2019, after midnight, will be the Easter ceremonies. On 28th of April, during the day, I suppose, around noon the monastery will be open, because it is the time for a new religious ceremony.
Written 3 March 2019
Bonjour ! Comment fait-on pour dormir sur place ? Il faut réserver ?
Written 30 April 2018
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