Maramureş

Introduction

woodden church in Maramures

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Maramures is one the best kept European secrets, a place where time hasn't moved for decades, a place where the traditions, the wooden art and the human kindness are well preserved. On this small surface are preserved 5 UNESCO listed wooden churches, a natural reserve also protected by UNESCO, about 60 villages and small towns, the only narrow gauge industrial steam train still in use in Europe, and many other attractions.

Geography

Close to the Ukrainian border, Maramures covers 3,381 square kilometres of valleys, beautiful villages, hills and mountains (up to 2,303 metres high).

Cities

• Sighetu Marmatiei
• Viseu de Sus
• Borsa
• Salistea de Sus
• Dragomiresti

Sights and Activities

• Vaser Valley], where runs the only steam powered train.
• The wooden churches protected by UNESCO (Poienile Izei, Ieud-Deal, Budesti-Josani, Desesti and Barsana-Jbar) - erected between XVI-XVIII centuries, in "Maramures gothic style" and painted hundreds of years ago.
• The Merry Cemetery from Sapanta - unique in the world, famous for its colourful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives, today an worldwide known tourist attraction.
• The tallest wooden church in the world (78 metres high, erected at Sapanta, between 1995-2003).
• Pietrosu Rodnei Natural Reserve - UNESCO listed since 1979, established in 1932, part of the "Rodna Mountains National Park", protecting edelweiss, gentians, marmots, chamois etc.
• Maramures Mountains Natural Park - the largest and wildest in Romania, covering 1,480 square kilometres, protecting 1,260 plant species, bears, wolves, lynxes etc.
• Breb Village - adopted by the HMS Prince of Wales (he bought there three old wooden houses).
• Sarbi Village - group of water powered machines (fuiling and watermills, thresher, alcohol distilleries, whirlpools).
• Budesti Village - the best preserved traditional Maramures settlement.

Events and Festivals

• Sighetu Marmatiei Christmas Festival (26-27 December) - great customs and traditions festival, several thousands full costumed participants. Many other village festivals, during summer.

Weather

Continental, average temperature in July, around 22 °C, in January, -5 °C. 200 sunny days a year.

Getting There

By Plane

From Budapest Ferihegy Airport, or from Bucharest International Airport.

By Train

From Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj Napoca, trains daily.

By Car

Folowing E60 until Oradea (200 kilometres from Maramures), or by Satu Mare, Baia Mare, Bistrita, Suceava (all of them, Romanian cities).

By Bus

Regular buses from Budapest, Timisoara, Arad, Oradea, Cluj Napoca, Satu Mare and Baia Mare.

Getting Around

By Train

Over there is just a railway which passes through Tisa and Viseu valleys (Sighetu Marmatiei-Valea Viseului-Viseu de Jos-Sacel-Salva). Another railway, narrow one, where runs the only logging train hauled by narrow gauge steam engines (760 mm) still in use in Europe, crosses the Maramureş Mountains, starting from Viseu de Sus town.

By Car

Is the best way to get around Maramures.

By Bus

There are many local buses which link all the villages between. The timetable is changing often, and there are buses just twice daily.

Eat

Many restaurants in towns, not in the villages. Try "sarmale" or "mamaliga".

Drink

The local brand is "palinca", a strong (55 degrees) plum brandy, very clear and tasty.

Sleep

In the towns and in Ocna Sugatag spa resort and Borsa ski resort, are hotels (two or three stars). In the villages are found about 460 pensions and homestays. Campings are found just at Sapanta and Ocna Sugatag. In Sighet is a hostel. Up, in the mountains are a couple of chalets.