Laz: Icon painting, Cetatea de lemn and Transalpina

Culture and craftsmanship

Laz in the Sebeș Valley is known for an uninterrupted tradition of icon painting that is more than 200 years old. The Casa memorială „Maria Poenariu“ houses a village museum collection dedicated to painting icons on glass. Casa Poienarilor preserves glass and wood paintings as well as folk textiles belonging to the Poenaru family. Casa Poienarilor is regarded as the place where a Romanian folk tradition originated in the 18th century.

The family’s work today is also part of this cultural context. The frames of Florin Nicolae Poenariu’s icons are decorated with hand-carved traditional Romanian motifs. Since 2007, Florin Nicolae Poenariu has worked in an icon-painting workshop set up in his home in Laz. Florin Poenariu continues this icon-painting tradition. Thus, in Laz, historical heritage, a family collection and the ongoing work of an icon painter exist side by side.

The combination of glass painting, wood painting, textiles and carved frames demonstrates various forms of expression within local folk art. The names Casa memorială „Maria Poenariu“ and Casa Poienarilor remain associated with different parts of this heritage: the former is a village museum collection dedicated to painting icons on glass, while the latter comprises the Poenaru family collection and is regarded as the place of origin of a Romanian folk tradition.

History

Near Laz, the fortification known as „Cetatea de lemn“ is located on Gherghelău Hill above the village. It lies on the right bank of the Sebeș River and has the form of an elliptical earthwork. The fortification is classified as an earth-and-timber fortification. It measures approximately 40 metres in one direction and 28 to 30 metres in the other.

The fortification is attributed to the Early Middle Ages, more precisely to the 10th or 11th century. However, this dating is not certain. Thus, both the name „Cetatea de lemn“ and the cautious chronological classification are part of the information handed down about the site.

Around 1879, a hoard was discovered in Laz. It included a ring bearing an Agnus Dei. Based on this ring, the find is interpreted as part of a medieval Saxon woman’s ceremonial garment. This garment was worn by the elite of the Sebeș area. Another historical point of reference in the village is the Laz fulling mill, which was described as still functioning.

Connection via Laz

The national road DN67C, the Transalpina, runs through Laz. Anyone wishing to stay overnight in Laz can look for a holiday apartment in the village as accommodation for their stay and use the place name as a clear destination indication, so that the decision to stay overnight remains specifically related to staying in Laz itself.

Other destinations

Other destinations in the wider region include Câlnic, Ţelna, Sohodol, Pianu De Sus, Sălciua de Jos, Gârda De Sus, Mătișești and Ohaba.

To the overview of destinations in the wider region: Alba.