Saint Nicholas Church in Ponoarele is a wooden church (also known as the Curch under the Stone) that has Saint Nicholas as Patron (celebrated on 6th of december) and it is a prestigious tourism objective in Ponoarele. It was declaired a historical monument in 2010. By its location it is named also the Curch under the Stone, due to the fact that is positioned near the Ponorii Stone, a sharp and barren slope that arizes over the village in the south part, showing that here took place a rupture and the ground collapsed over galleries.

The existing church was built and consacrated in 1851 on the ruins of the old church.
According to the Cartografia in 1840, the old church was built in 1695 by Parvu Buce, Radu Raduica, Ilas Curuiuc and Milos Craciunescu. According to Radu Creteanu and as per the inscription on the entrance door, the year of the construction is 1763. Another date inscriptioned on the imperial doors is 1880. The disputes regarding the year of construction can be explained by the fact that, throughout its existence, the church suffered several total reconstructions. According to the legend, the church is built on the site where monk Nicodim wanted to build Tismana Monastery in XIVth century.

The existing church is built from oak wood, with a boat shape with a bell tower (steeple). The hallway is supported by wooden colomns connected by arches.
The oldest icon of the church is to be found in the transept and it represents Saint Joan the Baptizer holding a cup in his left hand, with a papyrus which writes: „Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven had come. 1762. Repaired in 1879.” It is the only icon dating back in the 18th century that still exist in Mehedinti; others have been repainted.