Perhaps the nicest wooden church in Maramures, with the most vivid frescoes
As in so many villages, there is an upper church and a lower church in Ieud. The UNESCO-listed one is the upper church, extensively decorated with frescoes. Dates are contested, but likely to be 17th Century, one of the earlier ones, as there had been a church here for much longer.
The church in Ieud is perhaps the most vividly decorated of all the churches we have seen – or perhaps this is just the perception, as it was also the first one we visited. Frescoes everywhere, walls and ceilings, not a single space left empty, and quite varied in colour setting. Impressive if you see this for the first time, even after so many weeks Romania, and so many weeks orthodox churches and painted monasteries.
The other Maramures churches covered are Poienile Izei, Botiza, Desesti and Budesti.
