The church holds the tombstone of Count Laurentius from the year 1300, the oldest medieval inscription in Wallachia and the first written mention of Câmpulung.
About the place
The first church was built in the second half of the 13th century and served by Dominican, then Franciscan friars. Today's building is the Gothic choir, rebuilt in the 15th century and given its present form in 1760; the foundations of the lost nave can be seen in the yard. The Latin inscription on the slab says that 'comes Laurencius de Longo-Campo' was buried here in the year 1300.
The Bărăția tower dates from 1730, but its base and first two levels are medieval: they were the entrance tower of the old church. The clock storey and the pointed roof were added at the end of the 19th century. The ensemble, including the 17th-century parish house, was restored in the early 1960s by the architect Ștefan Balș, after excavations led by Dinu V. Rosetti.
Good to know
- The church is usually open for services; at other times you can see the yard, the nave foundations and the tower.
- The clock tower is the easiest meeting point in the centre: Restaurant Piatra Craiului is right next to it.
- The painter Theodor Aman painted this church in the 19th century; you can compare his picture with what you see today.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.