Tucked in the village of Lăzarea, at the foot of the Gurghiu and Hăşmaş mountains, stands a modest but historically remarkable Roman Catholic church, blending traces of Romanesque origins with later Gothic craftsmanship. It's the kind of place where centuries of history are literally carved into stone, waiting to be discovered.

The church is enclosed by a tall, oval defensive wall typical of Transylvanian fortified churches, with the village's old cemetery spreading around it. The scene is striking in every season – snow softening the stone walls in winter, green hills framing the tower in summer. It's a peaceful, reflective stop for anyone exploring the Gyergyó (Giurgeu) region on foot.

How to get there

• Lăzarea village center – short walk from the main crossroads, easy access
• From Gheorgheni – about 10 km by local road, a convenient starting point for further hikes into the surrounding mountains

Practical information

• The tower dates from 1488, with the year carved into the stone
• Two pointed-arch Gothic doorways survive beneath the tower, along with remnants of ribbed vaulting in the sanctuary
• A 13th-century sandstone baptismal font fragment from the church is now displayed in the History Museum in Bucharest
• The crypt beneath the church holds members of the Lázár family
• Valuable stone crosses stand in front of the church, the oldest dating back to the 1660s

In 1941, a Dutch scholar specializing in Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine architecture uncovered decorative details proving the church's original Romanesque roots, making it a fascinating puzzle for architectural historians ever since.