The ensemble of the "Ascension of the Lord" Wooden Church in Arieșeni, Alba

In the Apuseni Natural Park, you encounter a perfect blend of folk craftsmanship and splendid natural surroundings. With a charming panorama of the surrounding hills, the Wooden Church dedicated to the "Ascension of the Lord" in Arieșeni faithfully illustrates this integration into the landscape.

From afar, you'll spot its slender silhouette, highlighted by the bell tower with a gallery and a broken spire. Here you'll find the only example of rural decoration made in plaster. Crosses, suns with human faces, rosettes, and flowers embellish the facades of the building.

The church hosts valuable pieces. The feast day icon from the women's church, the cross donated by the son of the tribune Corcheș, and the 17th-century icons are just a few examples.

An original construction is the House of the Toacs, where on some beams you can distinguish 18th-century paintings.

And the new church next door is also happy to welcome guests!

The construction of this holy place began in 1791, being completed 23 years later, in 1814, with the painting of the church directly on wood by the painter Mihai from Abrud being finished by 1829.

The interior paintings of the church were concealed in 1877-1878 when it was plastered. Decades later, in 1959, the balcony was added, intended for the church choir, and the shingle roof covering was replaced with metal sheeting. In 1971, the church was consecrated.

Currently, the side walls are beautifully painted with oil paint in blue, but it is not known exactly if they were originally painted or not.

In the narthex, you can observe the Myrrhbearers, painted skillfully in the arches and in the sanctuary. On the vault of the nave, the specific iconography of the region can be seen. The axis of the vault preserves large circles, where the basic, canonical faces are highlighted. Following is the register depicting the Passion of Christ and the frieze of the martyrs. The Byzantine style is also noticeable in the painting of the iconostasis, where we find the Crucifixion, the Apostles, and the Prophets.

The appearance resembling a peasant throne, with spiral shapes, of Caiaphas' seat also stands out immediately.

Superb landscapes and unforgettable experiences surround you at every step in this area abundant in spectacular natural attractions.

The Ponor Citadel, the Vârciorog Waterfall, the Rusty Pit, the Scărișoara Glacier Cave, over 10,000 years old, or the one at Vârtop, where there are traces of Neanderthal man, will surely impress you with their beauty.