Roman Catholic Area

Let's take them one by one. The first building you see on your left is the former Roman Catholic Confessional School (locally known as the "White House") It is part of the Roman Catholic confessional historical center. The building is located on an elevated terrace framed by the traditional "maurii" - those dry stone walls. The elevated position makes it stand out, emphasizing its particular architecture, which is why the locals call it the "White House." This building was likely  built in the late 19th century. It is characterized by the simplicity of the plan, an elegant architectural expression, inspired by neoclassical style, similar to that of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Above the White House, following the path among the old graves, is the Roman Catholic Church of St. Ladislaus. Its dedication is given by the canonized Hungarian emperor, Ladislaus I of Hungary 1077-1095, whose tomb is in the cathedral of Oradea.

Located at the top of the locality, on the crest of a hill, the current building of the Roman Catholic Church is the most recent of the historic churches in Roșia Montană, built in 1860 on the site of a first stone church built in 1783 and destroyed during the Revolution of 1848. It was also set on fire during the uprising of Horea, Cloșca, and Crișan in 1784.

The church's neoclassical architecture is characterized by symmetrical composition, arched openings, pediments, and detailed decoration. Inside, the space is divided into three bays with painted sail vaults and adorned with 19th-century architectural elements like altars, pulpit, and choir stalls. The altar table is supported by Corinthian columns, with sculptures of funeral pine cones flanking it. St. Barbara's sculpture, the miners' patron saint, is also present. The clock mechanism in the tower, crafted in 1885, is from the Tower Clock Factory of the Royal Court of Bavaria, similar to those in the Black Church in Brașov and Peleș Castle.

In front of the church, we have the statue of Saint John Nepomuk, a popular canonical figure during the Habsburg period. In those times, the miner was not spared from unforeseen troubles such as explosions or falls into mine shafts. In this context, miners were dedicated to prayer and did not enter the mines without praying and asking for protection beforehand.

The small chapel in the Roman Catholic Cemetery - located right in front of the church is a special construction due to its placement above a vaulted crypt and its particular function, being used in the past as a space for the activities of the confessional school. Its neoclassical architecture places it in the same architectural atmosphere of the ensemble, strongly marked by the large construction of the nearby Roman Catholic Church. 

The testimony of miners' lives can be followed through the prism of tombstones that keep the memory of these families who contributed to the rich life of Roșia Montană. Funerary monuments with special decorations, most with names or inscriptions in Hungarian but also with the miners' emblem at the head.

You have listened to the content dedicated to Rosia Montana’s  Roman Catholic area

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.