Bărăția – Bucharest's Oldest Catholic Church

Bucharest's oldest Roman Catholic church, built by Franciscan monks, dating back to the 14th century.

Bărăția, officially named Sfânta Maria a Darurilor, is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Bucharest, located centrally on I.C. Brătianu Boulevard. Built by Franciscan monks, it dates back to the 14th century. The modest, repeatedly rebuilt structure stands in quiet contrast to the city's larger Orthodox churches. Protected as a historic monument and still active as a parish church, Bărăția is a quiet witness to the Catholic minority tradition in the Romanian capital.