The wooden church with “Brusturi” in its name now stands in the centre of Băile Felix—a reminder that cultural history and present-day location do not always coincide. For nature-related topics, Finiș commune provides the broader context. Brusturi is one of the settlements it administers.
Landscape and Nature in the Commune
Finiș commune lies at the foot of the Codru-Moma Mountains, in a landscape of high hills and low mountains. In the Finiș area, the Finiș Valley and small streams have shaped steep slopes, low plateaus and wooded ridges. Valleys, slopes and higher ground thus form distinct parts of the terrain. The commune’s varied natural landscape offers favourable conditions for rural tourism, hiking and outdoor activities.
Forests and pastureland together cover more than 70 percent of Finiș commune. The ROSCI 0042 Codru Moma protected area is also part of the region’s natural landscape. It covers 24,631.60 hectares, of which 6,672.74 hectares lie within Finiș commune. The protected area is in the Codru-Moma Mountains, which are part of the Apuseni Mountains. The stated area refers to the commune; Brusturi is one of the settlements it administers.
Wooden Church and Schitul Huta
The wooden church known as Biserica de lemn din Brusturi is an 18th-century historic monument. A craftsman named Meșter Toadere built it from oak in 1785. From 1961, it was housed in the courtyard of the Muzeul Țării Crișurilor in Oradea; later, it was moved to the centre of Băile Felix, where it stands today. Its history therefore leads from the historical name Brusturi, through a stop in Oradea, to its present location in Băile Felix.
Another cultural-historical reference is Schitul Huta, founded in 1998 in the area of Finiș parish. Its church was built in 1927 and restored in 1973. It is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and Saint Theodora of Sihla. The year Schitul was founded and the church’s construction history are two separate dates.
Getting to Brusturi and Schitul Huta
The turn-off to Brusturi branches off from DJ 764 and continues along local roads. These roads are unpaved or have only been partially upgraded. Allow for these road sections when planning your journey, and check their current condition before setting off.
A separate route description to Schitul Huta gives directions from Beiuș via county road DJ764F towards Finiș: first 4 km on this road, followed by a further 12 km along a forest track. The two sets of directions concern different destinations and should be kept separate when planning. If you plan to travel to Schitul Huta, also check the current conditions on the forest track before setting off.
For the broader travel overview: Finiș Commune.
