Maramures which lies in the northeastern part of Transylvania, on the way to the Eastern Carpathians and Bucovina, is known for its extraordinary wooden churches. Under Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian rule, the Orthodox religion lacked official status, and Orthodox worshippers were forbidden to build their churches in stone or brick. Their churches, therefore, had to be built of wood, and so the Orthodox perfected a style of wooden church architecture completely their own. The walls of the wooden churches of Maramures are generally built of square-hewn logs laid horizontally with intricate joints. The roofs are always of shingles. The timber used is most commonly oak. In most cases, the construction is two-tiered, allowing clerestory windows high in the nave walls. A lower roof usually extends over the west end to form a porch. Most of Maramures's churches were rebuilt after the last Tartar invasion in 1717. Large porches and tall towers were added at that time. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, wall paintings combining the traditions of icon painting with pagan motifs and topical propaganda were added by local artists. These murals tend to follow the standard Orthodox layout, with the Incarnation and Eucharist in the sanctuary (for the priest's edification), the last Judgement and moralistic parables such as the Wise and Foolish Virgins in the narthex (where the women stand), and the Passion in the nave. The intricate woodwork of the churches' construction, thier elongated forms and the painstaking naive frescoes within make a detour to the Maramures area well worthwhile. Good examples of wooden church architecture can be found not far from the main road north from Nagybanya towards Sighetu. Marmatiei (Maramarossziget)in Surdesti, Ocna Sugatag and Budesti are particularly fine.