|
Maramures
"Here lies my mother-in-law.
Sapanta
Sighetul Marmatiei
The wooden churches of Maramures
Surdesti - the highest one of all (236 ft). Notice the four small towers surrounding the main and highest one. This means that the local authorities had the right to sentence the criminals to death, quite an unusual privilege for such a small settlement. Calinesti, Sarbi, Budesti and Sugatag, all on a picturesque river valley, show variations in the architecture, to suit the needs of each village. Particularly interesting is Calinesti, which displays a peculiar L shape. The church in Budesti holds an armour of a famous local hero, an outlaw called Pintea "The Brave". The legend says that he always escaped his chasers and could only be killed with a silver bullet.
Planning a visit? Check out some travel agencies. |
|||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
) |
) |
) |
|||||
aramures is a remote region in the extreme north of the country. Due to the relative isolation of their land, the people of Maramures developed a particularly strong community, with unique personality and traditions. Men are amazingly skillful wood carvers, and you shouldn't be surprised that all the old houses and churches are entirely made of wood. The most respected man in the village is the one who has the biggest and most elaborately carved front gate. The women, on the other hand, weave woolen clothes and blankets, in red-white-black patterns and the traditional outfit is still proudly worn every day. But both men and women have a wit and humor that traveled way beyond their land. They are famous for the merry way they write on their tombstones. Here is an example from the cemetery of Sapanta: 
apanta is probably the most well-known place in Maramures. This small village near the town of Sighetul Marmatiei amuses its visitors with the "Happy Cemetery". This is a real cemetery, but unlike any other, it bursts with color and the tombstones are written all over with witty poems, depicting the life of the one that is buried there. Some of these naive "works of art" are even painted with scenes from the life and work of the dead, or show their weaknesses. John liked to drink, so he is pictured with a bottle. George played the violin at weddings, so he still holds it. All the tombstones are cut in wood by the same local carver, who follows the tradition established by his father. 
hile you visit Sapanta, you can't miss the colorful display of woolen clothes, bags, blankets and rugs, made by local women using natural colors and traditional patterns, most of which are for sale. 
he heart of Maramures, the small town of Sighetul Marmatiei is the most convenient access point for visiting the region. Beside that, the town itself has some interesting features: the Village Museum and the annual Christmas Parade. 
ach year, around Christmas, people from neighboring villages gather in a colorful parade of traditional costumes, songs and dances. If you plan to attend this event, you must be sure to make your arrangements at least a few months in advance, because of the popularity of this parade and shortage of accommodations. Also, it is good to have a Romanian translate the songs for you, as they are often funny. By the way, Christmas in Maramures is an unforgettable experience, as you can taste the very strong local plum brandy, "horinca" and go singing carols till dawn. 
n another valley, you will find Ieud, Barsana and Bogdan Voda. Ieud has the oldest of all the churches in Maramures (1638) and one of the most beautiful. Barsana's interior frescoes are very similar to those of the painted monasteries of Moldavia. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||
) |
||||||||||||||