Discover Moldova with #MOLDPRES // Wooden church in Palanca, heritage symbol of Călărași for over two centuries

The wooden church „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului” in Palanca, Călărași district, a religious heritage monument with a history of over two centuries, still preserves authentic elements of traditional Moldovan architecture and remains a representative example of wooden churches in the Republic of Moldova. 

According to museographer Mariana Iurcu from the Museum of History and Ethnography in Călărași, the church was founded by the local community together with the monastic community of Hârjauca Monastery, during a period when the construction of churches was usually initiated by communities of believers.


"The wooden church in Palanca dates back to the years 1819–1826. The founding of the church is attributed to the local community together with the brotherhood of Hârjauca Monastery, given that, at that time, the construction of churches usually started at the initiative of the communities of believers. As villages developed and the population grew, a natural need arose to have a place of worship for baptisms, funerals, and other religious services," explained the museographer. "At that time, most churches in Codrii Moldovei area were built of wood, a more accessible and cheaper material. The timber was taken from local forests, which explains the frequency of such buildings in rural areas," said Mariana Iurcu.


From an architectural point of view, the church was built of beams hewn on four sides, joined using the traditional "dovetail joint" technique.


"This construction method ensured strength and stability without the use of metal nails. Initially, the church had a different location and a different appearance from the current one, but later, following several interventions and relocations, it preserved its essential structural elements and historical value," mentioned the museographer.




At the beginning of the 2000s, the wooden church in Palanca stood next to the Brâncovenesque stone church, and the water running off the latter’s roof gradually damaged it. To save the monument, a process of relocation and conservation was initiated, involving the community, the authorities, and architect Eugen Bâzgu.


"Over time, the proximity of the two churches led to the deterioration of the wooden one. Rainwater running off the roof of the stone church affected the wooden structure, contributing to its gradual degradation. There was a risk of losing this heritage asset. Specialists decided to move and reassemble the building on a separate site. Each wooden element was inventoried and numbered to allow the most faithful possible reconstruction of the original shape. Some damaged beams could no longer be recovered, which led to minor structural changes," the museographer noted.




The authenticity of the monument is ensured by the protection regime applied to heritage sites.


"All wooden churches in the Republic of Moldova included in the Register of Monuments are protected by law, and local authorities are obliged to preserve them. Any intervention must respect the original form and construction techniques," Iurcu pointed out.


The Republic of Moldova has approximately 60 wooden churches, most of them in Călărași district, one of the areas with the richest heritage of this kind. The oldest wooden church in the country is located in Horodiște and dates back to 1750, while representative churches are also found in Palanca, Mândra, Hoginești, and Sipoteni, included in the "Wooden Churches Route", which also has a cross-border component.