Maramures, Romania

Maramures is a peaceful and quiet region located in the North-West of Romania and it’s impressive with its rural landscape. Here we find villages where century-old traditions are still part of daily life, the air is fresh, there’s no pollution and the sound of nature surrounds your senses.

Things to see in Maramures

• Maramures wooden churches with tall, thin roofs (8 of them part of UNESCO World Heritage)
• Hay-stacks on fields
• Hand carved wooden gates
• The unique Merry Cemetery in Sapanta

Maramures Wooden Churches

Famous and unique in the world for their double roof and tall, pointy towers, in Maramures there are many wooden chuches, 8 of them being listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Budesti-Joseni wooden church is one of them (in the following photos).

Budesti Josani wooden church

Dating from the 17th century, this small wooden church is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site:

The Southern side of Budesti Josani church

The back of the Budesti Joseni Church

Barsana Monastery

Dating from year 1390, this monastery complex is situated on the valley of Iza River. Observe the specific high, pointy bell-towers of the wooden churches.

Typical wooden Churches, with high pointy bell tower, at Barsana Monastery

  Barsana Monastery in Romania

Barsana Monastery in Maramures, with a nice pointy roof

Haystacks

There are vast fields in Maramures,  world famous for the hayricks drying in the sun at the end of summer. People here cut the grass manually with a scythe. The landscape is simply beautiful and relaxing.

Fields with hay-stacks, traditional in Maramures rural environment

Rural landscape with hay ricks in Maramures, Romania

Wooden Gates

The wooden gates of Maramures are manually carved by the local craftsman and each gate is unique and impressive with its style. The gates have a roof and various carvings on them (many with a sun, a symbol of wellbeing).

Traditional carved wooden gate in Maramures

Sun carved on wooden gate in Maramures, Romania

People and life in Maramures

People in Maramures lead a decent, simple life, many still working the field. Women still wear scarves on their heads and some farmers go to field in horse-drawn carts.

Two women with traditional outfit for the region

Each household has a bench at the gate where neighbors can sit and chat

Woman and girls coming from the field

Horse and carriage is still used as transportation in some villages in Romania

People still cut grass with a scythe in Maramures

The local wood craftsman’s atelier


Wooden church at Budesti Susani in Maramures (from the 17th century)

Tombstones in Maramures, at Budesti Susani Monastery

If the red pot is on the top, then the household has a girl ready to be married (tradition in Maramures)

Handmade carpets and tablecloths – traditional Maramures pattern with contrast and vivid colors

Sapanta Monastery – wooden church with tall thin roofs, characteristic for Maramures Region

Don’t miss:

• Visit the moon: the Mud Volcanoes, Romania
• Dracula’s Birthplace (Sighisoara, Romania)