Maia: Church, Manor House Ruins and Natural Monuments

Culture and History

The Biserica „Adormirea Maicii Domnului” cu Cavoul lui Barbu Catargiu was donated by Grigore Filipescu and completed in 1778 by his son Pană Filipescu. Beneath the church is the crypt of former Prime Minister Barbu Catargiu and his family.

The church and the crypt beneath it are two named components associated with the same structure. The names Grigore Filipescu, Pană Filipescu, and Barbu Catargiu refer to different historical connections: the donation, the completion, and the later designated burial site.

The former estate of the Filipescu boyar family included a manor house, a park, and a church. The estate was later purchased by the Catargiu family. Today, only faint above-ground remains of the former Catargiu manor house survive. The ruins of the manor house are dated to 1820.

The history of the estate thus connects the former Filipescu family complex with the later ownership of the Catargiu family. According to the surviving description, the original estate comprised a manor house, a park, and a church, while only minor above-ground traces of the manor house itself are still visible today. The dating of the ruins to 1820 forms part of this historical context.

Getting There

For your journey, the sequence of roads can be clearly stated: access to the Biserica „Adormirea Maicii Domnului” cu Cavoul lui Barbu Catargiu is via the DN 2A from Bucharest in the direction of Movilița, followed by the DJ Dridu–Maia.

The access route is therefore divided into two consecutive road sections. The starting point of the connection mentioned is Bucharest; it initially follows the DN 2A in the direction of Movilița, then the DJ Dridu–Maia to the stated destination in Maia.

Nature

Two Japanese pagoda trees stand at the entrance to the churchyard in Maia. Both trees are designated natural monuments.

The two Japanese pagoda trees are therefore among Maia’s explicitly designated natural monuments. Their location is given as the entrance to the churchyard; the designation applies to both trees.

Regional Surroundings

The Monastery of Mânăstirea Snagov is located in the wider regional surroundings of Maia. The Biserica Ortodoxă Fulga de Jos is also located in this wider regional area.

The Biserica Ortodoxă Fulga de Sus is located in the wider regional surroundings of Maia. The Biserica Ortodoxă Boldeşti is also among the places mentioned there.

The Movila Poşta hill is also located in the wider regional surroundings of Maia. The Movila Bratila Jilavele hill is likewise situated in this wider regional area.

The Movila Dulbanul hill is also located in the wider regional surroundings of Maia. Parc Mizil is assigned to the same wider regional area of Maia.

The wider regional surroundings therefore include both religious sites and named hills, as well as Parc Mizil. The religious sites are Mânăstirea Snagov and the three churches in Fulga de Jos, Fulga de Sus, and Boldeşti. The landscape features mentioned include the hills Movila Poşta, Movila Bratila Jilavele, and Movila Dulbanul.

Other Places

Other places on this page: Slobozia, Alexeni, Urziceni, Țăndărei, Amara.

To the overarching travel overview: Ialomita.