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 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:
That place is unbelievably beautiful.Another place I would love to visit one day.
Such an amazing amount of beautiful photos … life looks so lovely and simple and uncluttered … thank you also for visiting poetrycottage.
Aaah, lovely images, brings back memories…I visited Romania a couple of times a few years back, and spent a week in Maramures…beautiful.
Nice scenes, thanks for sharing your homeland. MM 🍀
How truly magical. You’re right, its beauty is beyond words, though your photos speak volumes!
wow! that indeed is heaven! wishing to be there in the future! 🙂
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