Things to see and do Maramures

Long and lined with colorful houses surrounding a large square, it's the heart of the town. It is home to a number of fine buildings, including the Catholic Cathedral, built in the ^18th century in the Baroque style, and the former girls' school, a beautiful pink-orange building (at no. 22), also in the Baroque style. To the far east of the square is a yellow eclectic building called Reduta (1889). At the other end, continuing westwards, the Gothic-style Reformed Church adjoins the former Prefecture, a ^17th-century red-and-yellow Baroque building.

The illustrious American Jewish writer and philosopher Elie Wiesel, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, was born in Sighetu Marmației in 1928. At that time, almost half the town's population was Jewish, and there were numerous synagogues. World War II decimated the community, which was massively deported to concentration camps. The only survivor of his family, Elie Wiesel devoted his life to bearing witness to the horror of these camps, leaving an abundant body of work until his death in 2016. Today, you can visit his birthplace, transformed into the Museum of Jewish Culture in Maramureș. Documents, objects and testimonies tell of their ancient roots in the region. One room recounts the tragedy experienced by the Jews of Maramureș, after the region's incorporation into Horthist Hungary in 1940 (ghettos, massacres, deportations...). Another room is dedicated to Elie Wiesel, his work and his visits to his hometown.

Located in the city's old Jewish quarter, the house is close to the only surviving Sephardic synagogue (strada Basarabiei, 8). Built in 1904, its interiors are richly decorated. The town also boasts a number of memorials, such as the one on Gheorghe Doja Street, erected in memory of the 38,000 Jews from Maramureș arrested by the Hungarian police and deported in 1944. The Jewish cemetery is located south of Mihai Eminescu Street, not far from Grădina Morii Park.

South of the river Săsar, around the piața Libertății, the old town is not lacking in charm. There are some imposing buildings and beautiful late-Gothic medieval structures. From the piața Libertății starts the pretty Vasile Lucaciu street, partly pedestrianized, as well as the lively Gheorghe Șincai street. To the south, take Rue 1 Mai or Rue Crișan, and you'll come across the pleasant, recently rehabilitated piața Cetății. In addition to the Etienne Tower, you'll see the Church of the Holy Trinity. Baroque in style, it dates back to 1720.

A strange name for a cemetery, but a fitting one indeed: a masterpiece of naive, colorful and poetic art, the joyful cemetery(cimitirul vesel) of Săpânța attracts thousands of tourists every year. Its originality lies in its 800 or so bright-blue painted crosses, embellished with many other colors and motifs, personalized for each of the village's deceased: they are most often sculpted and decorated to illustrate their trade (woodcutter, weaver, ploughman...) or some other emblematic activity in their lives (drinking, praying...). Some represent the circumstances of a tragic death: by drowning, in a car or subway accident. The crosses are accompanied by short biographies written in the first person, recounting the major episodes in the life of the deceased, his or her joys and sorrows, qualities and faults... texts filled with humor and tenderness. To get the most out of them, we advise you to be accompanied by a Romanian-speaking guide or friend, even if the drawings are quite explicit. These folk art jewels are the work of a certain Stan Ioan Pătraş. Born in 1908, this local craftsman began carving and painting crosses in 1935. He died in 1977 and is buried here, his tomb topped by a cross decorated... by himself. Since his death, his disciples have carried on the tradition. You can also visit his house, which has been converted into a memorial, where you can also see some of his furniture. It is located in a street behind the cemetery.

One of the most photographed monasteries in the region, this convent, a complex of churches and wooden houses, impresses with its position in the green hills of Maramureş. The entrance to the Twelve Apostles monastery is done by a magnificent sculpted portal. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Church of the Virgin Mary is one of the highest in the region. The site, dating back to 1720, impresses with its architectural unity.

Located at the southern exit of the city, about 3 km from the center, this open-air museum which spreads out on the hill of Dobăieș benefits from a very pretty wooded setting, which provides superb panoramas of the surroundings. It mainly presents different types of village buildings, farms, houses, carved doors, but also mills, oil presses, traditional washhouses ... The oldest pieces date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. You will also see a wooden church dating from 1621, brought back from the village of Oncești.

This is the last remaining forest railroad in Europe. Put into service in the 1930s, this narrow-gauge railway runs for 50 km through the magnificent Vaser valley, accessible only by this means. Customs officers and lumberjacks use it to get to their places of work, and on the return journey, to bring the wood back to Vișeu. Tourists can also take the 21.6 km route, aboard vintage wagons pulled by a steam(mocăniță) or diesel locomotive. Enjoy spectacular views of the valley, punctuated by gorges, ridges, tunnels and waterfalls. Several stops are planned. At Paltin, the last stop, you'll stay for 1 to 2 hours. Here you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue lunch and a short walk through the forest. The train runs from late March to mid-November (Thursday to Sunday; daily from June to late September): departure is at 9am, returning around 3pm. The mocăniță also runs around Christmas and New Year. With the snow, the atmosphere is magical!

In the station parking lot you can admire a group of traditional Maramureș houses(Satul Maramureșean Mocănița). Local produce is sold here, and folklore events are sometimes held.

The station is also home to a small café called Elefant, in a traditional Jewish house that doubles as a museum.

Caravans and motorhomes can also park here for a fee.

It occupies the former prison, infamous for having housed many opponents of the communist regime in the 1950s. Some 200 politicians, clerics and intellectuals were imprisoned and tortured here. 54 died. Photographs in the cells show the horror of this repression and retrace the history of communism and dissidence. The inner courtyard is home to the Cortege of the Sacrificed, a moving group of bronze statues.

This park of the Rodna Mountains is one of the most beautiful in the country. The massif includes 28 lakes, circuses and glacial valleys, waterfalls and rivers. The flora is rich, the forests are beautiful. Edelweiss is the symbol of the massif. The Refuge refuge, accessible from the station, is the best starting point for other hikes in the massif.

Tourism in the region, but the reception is cheap.

Baia Mare is a town that offers many opportunities for tourists interested in rural, ecological and cultural tourism. The ANTREC MARAMUREŞ Tourist Office is a valuable resource for visitors wishing to discover traditional Romanian culture. Founded in 1994, this association promotes the preservation of traditional Romanian culture and offers information on activities and events related to rural tourism. Visitors can also discover local gastronomy and traditional crafts. ANTREC MARAMUREŞ regularly organizes cultural events, such as "La porțile soarelui. De Sânziene la Muzeul Satului", which showcases local traditions and customs. Visitors can take part in activities such as wreath-making and attend traditional dance performances. The association also has branches throughout the country, demonstrating its commitment to rural, ecological and cultural tourism in Romania.

Bus tickets, excursions and car hire.

A beautiful park located south of the city centre, extending along Iza. There will be many old trees and poplars with impressive height.

This vast square consists of a large central park, surrounded by beautiful, colorful old buildings. Among these is the flamboyant Hotel Dacia, with its facade richly decorated with floral sculptures. Built in the early ^20th century in the Hungarian Secession style, it has fallen into disrepair in recent years. The main points of interest are grouped around piața Libertății.

To the north, via strada Ștefan cel Mare or a tiny street past the Firemen's Tower (45 m high and dating from 1904), you'll reach the Hungarian Reformed Church(Biserica reformată). Also known as the "Chain Church"(Biserica cu Lanțuri), it is a Baroque building, completed in 1802, with organs dating from 1814. In strada Horea, you'll find the Théâtre du Nord(Teatrul Nord), a handsome neoclassical monument dating from 1889.

To the south, between piața Libertății and the river, the Civic Center displays its sad 1980s concrete constructions, with the classic Maison de la culture, prefecture, etc. In strada Decebal stands the large Moorish-style synagogue, built in 1889 for the city's once-large Jewish community: over 12,000 people at the beginning of the ^20th century. Most were deported in 1944, after being confined in a ghetto.

To the east, in strada 1 Decembrie 1918, the Greek-Catholic Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, built in the 1930s, boasts beautiful eclectic architecture influenced by Byzantine and neo-Romanesque styles.

The building housing the Museum of History and Archaeology (as well as the Museum of Natural Sciences) dates from 1730, and features a collection of artifacts from the Maramureș region, from the Paleolithic to the 20th century. Its Bronze Age section is one of the most important in the country. There are also collections of weapons, stamps, coins and photographs, providing precious evidence of the history of Maramureș in the 20th century.

Housed in an ^18th-century mansion, it showcases the treasures of local folklore and craftsmanship: tools, carpets, sculptures, icons... The exhibition, though modestly presented, aptly reflects the diverse facets of Maramureş, a deeply rural region where traditions remain fully alive. One section is dedicated to the masks and costumes used for "Viflaim", a popular performance with a religious dimension, performed on the occasion of the end-of-year festivities in Maramureș. Definitely worth a look!

Just north of Budești, this village of 700 inhabitants, which stretches along the Cosău River, is full of charm. It boasts two beautiful ^17th-century wooden churches. A must-see is the Folk Technical Architecture Complex, at no. 181: this ingenious peasant installation, still in use, uses the river's power to wash textiles, grind grain or distill țuică. You can also visit the workshop of illustrious local craftsman Vasile Borodi (no. 180), who makes traditional hats(clop).

It occupies the former summer theatre, an elegant white building on the Hill of Flowers, not far from the centre. The exhibition features carpets, traditional costumes (including beautiful wedding dresses) and other popular handicrafts. She focuses particularly on woodworking, a great specialty of the region. A section is dedicated to ceramics, another important local know-how. A good introduction to the richness of the folklore of Maramureș.

Located within the Mara Hotel, this competent agency offers tourist services for the whole of Romania, as well as abroad: sale of plane tickets, stays on the Romanian coast, car rentals... Its speciality is Maramureș: organisation of excursions in the region (horse riding, participation in village festivals...), accommodation in local houses or in boarding houses in the surrounding area, good restaurants... Mara Holiday locally represents the national association of rural, ecological and cultural tourism (Antrec).

In the small town of Carei, 36 km southwest of Satu Mare, this superb Baroque castle is well worth a visit. Built in 1792 by the powerful Károlyi family on the site of a ^15th-century fortress, it was transformed again in 1894 to take on its current eclectic, medieval castle form: several towers were added and the facades decorated with Romantic and Neo-Gothic elements. The interiors, furnished with period furniture, recreate the atmosphere of a late ^19th-century aristocratic residence.