A key cultural landmark in Stâna is the wooden church “Intrarea Maicii Domnului în Biserică.” Its construction dates back to the 18th century, and the village’s musical history is also connected with Ceatarâș Izidor Șerban. For your travel plans, this offers a specific perspective on architecture, cultural memory and the landscape of the commune of Socond.

Wooden Church: Design and Details

The church dates from around 1778. Its floor plan comprises a pronaos, a rectangular nave and a lower, hexagonal apse. On the west side, the tower sits above the nave; the roof is covered with shingles. The porch was converted into a pronaos in 1820—a later change in the building’s history.

The church has a projecting gallery with four elaborately carved columns, each with three decorative arms. The massive wooden beams also combine design and construction: their dovetail joints serve both a structural and a decorative function. The interplay of building technique and ornament is evident in both the beams and the gallery.

The surviving paintings on the nave vault depict scenes from the Passion of Christ and the Last Supper; they are badly damaged. The painting is in a Western style and was created by an anonymous artist in the late 18th or early 19th century. The church is listed as a national monument. A virtual tour is also available.

Music and the Memory of Izidor Șerban

Izidor Șerban (1931–2008) was a leading Ceatarâș of the Codru region. The CD “Danțurile Codrenilor,” released in 2011, contains 17 pieces that he performed with the Taraf from the village of Stâna. The recording complements the church’s history with a musical perspective on the village and its cultural connections.

Stâna is also connected with more recent efforts to remember Șerban. Local Ceatarâși performed at a commemorative event on June 13, 2022. On the same day, a memorial plaque to him was unveiled at Stâna’s cultural centre, which was to bear his name in the future. The “Izidor Șerban” Folklore Festival took place in Stâna on April 30, 2023.

Landscape and Getting There

Stâna belongs to the commune of Socond. The commune lies at the foot of the Codru; around 80 percent of its terrain is hilly. This provides a regional landscape context for your stay, while the wooden church and the musical history associated with Șerban offer specific cultural points of interest in Stâna.

For your journey, note that the direct unpaved road between Soconzel and Stâna is impassable. The route to Stâna is via DN 19A and DJ 196 through neighbouring Beltiug. As road conditions can change, check the route locally before travelling.

For the broader travel overview: Comuna Socond.