Church of Saint Nicolas of Ruská Bystrá

The Church of Saint Nicolas is a wooden structure with three main sections and a shingled roof covering the entire building. The construction shows traditional carpentry methods typical of the regional building practices.

Construction took place between 1720 and 1730 when local parishioners built this worship space for their community. In 2008 it gained UNESCO World Heritage recognition alongside other wooden churches in the Carpathian region.

The church is named after Saint Nicolas and displays baroque and rococo decorations inside that reflect the artistic tastes of the faithful who built it. These details show how religious tradition and local craftsmanship merged in this place.

To visit, contact the information office in Michalovce at +421 56 686 4105 to arrange access to this active place of worship. Since it is an active Greek Catholic church, be prepared for services and approach with respect for its religious function.

The building uses specific carpentry techniques from the Carpathian region where wooden joints were fitted together without nails or metal parts. This craftsmanship allowed the structure to remain stable for nearly three centuries with minimal repairs needed.

Location: Ruská Bystrá

Inception: 1730

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Made from material: wood

Part of: wooden churches of the Slovak Carpathians

GPS coordinates: 48.85682,22.29676

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:21