Sighetu Marmatiei

Join the Hipporoller Challenge

Help the Travel Guide reach 20,000,000 characters and we'll donate 63 hipporollers worth over $6000. Read more.

Quick Facts

[edit]

Coordinates

• Latitude: 47.926845
• Longitude: 23.902035

On Travellerspoint

• 1 Sighetu Marmatiei Hostels

Contributors

• Peter (48%)
  from My Shout
• Utrecht (44%)
  from http://utrecht.travellerspoint.com

as well as Teofil (8%)

Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.

Introduction

Sighetu Marmatiei (also spelled Sighet), with its 41.000 inhabitants, is the main town of the Maramureş region (northern Transylvania, Romania). Inhabited since the Stone Age, the settlement was first mentioned in 1334, and as town, in 1352. Today, Sighet is the gate of Maramureş, and one of its most important tourist attractions.

Sights and Activities

• The Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance (the former prison of the Maramures County, built in 1897, today a museum of European significance, under the aegis of the Council of Europe).
• The Village Museum of Maramures (an open air museum, with over 30 wooden houses dated back to XVII-XIX centuries and a XVI century wooden church).
• The Elie Wiesel House (today "The Jewish Culture and Civilization Museum", the place where was born Elie Wiesel, laureate of the 1986's Nobel Prize for Peace).
• The Ethnographic Museum of Maramures (rich displays of XV-XIX icons, carpets, furniture and other ethnographical stuff).
• The Archaeological, History and Natural Sciences Museum (the former Piarist Monastery, built in 1730).
• The Calvin Church (the oldest building which survived-dated in XIV century, mixture of Gothic and New Gothic styles).
• The Roman-Catholic Church "Saint Carol Boromeu" (built between 1730-1806, Barocco style, sun clock above the entrance, an Armenian altar, paintings and statues).
• The Ukraininian Orthodox Church "Elevation of the Holy Cross" (built between 1791-1807, many saints relics).
• The Sephardic Synagogue was built in the Mauric-Renascentist style in 1900-1904.
• The Jewish Cemetery and the Soap Monument consist of 3.000 graves, like those of the founders of Chasidic movement-Teitelbaum dynasty. The Soap Monument contains two boxes filled with soap made by Jews gassed at Auschwitz death camp.
• The Cemetery of the Poor where lie buried in anonymous graves about 50 former Romanian dignitaries, ministers, bishops, academicians, journalists, who were killed in the Sighet jail during the 1950's.
• A Henschel & Sohn Steam Engine, built in 1943.
• The colourful Livestock Market takes place on the first Monday of each month.
• The Central Market is open daily, selling vegetables, fruits, dairy produces and handcrafts.
• The Cultural Palace (built in 1912-1913, looking like a medieval castle, Eccletic-Romantic style).

Events and Festivals

• The Winter Festival (see Maramureş).

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post