Maramureş
Maramureş represents an ancient region of Romania, a space where customs, traditions and natural beauty have resisted the erosion of time. Lying in the northern region of Romania, close to the border to Ukraine, Maramureş could be compared to a large natural amphitheater cradled between the Mountains of Rodna, Ţibleş, Lăpuş, Gutâi and Maramureş.
Maramureş is a very “wooden land”, therefore we can speak of a real civilization of the wood in the surroundings. The famous Maramureş gates have often been compared to triumphal arches, decorated with traditional ornamental motives, like the sun and the stranded rope, both being symbols of life and continuity. Some of the most beautiful wooden gates are to be found in the villages of Săpânţa, Vadul Izei, Deseşti and so on.
The wooden churches of Maramureş occupy a special place within the world values and belong to the UNESCO patrimony. Unique in shapes and ornaments, they define the original Romanian style. Many of them, wooden houses and glass paintings, are priceless: Bogdan Vodă, Bârsana, Surdeşti, Călineşti, Moisei and so on.
Visitors to the region of Maramureş cannot fail to be impressed by the outburst of spirituality and vitality, of light and color, spread around by the traditional costumes, arts and customs.
The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta is spectacular in its originality. The crosses, most of them painted blue, are carved and painted with peasants faces, accompanied by very humorous texts (representing short biographies of the dead person). The creator of this open-air museum was a very popular artisan, named Stan Ioan Pătraş. |
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