The Maramures wooden churches represent the beautiful synthesis of the major architectural elements of Eastern and Western Europe, more precisely a synthesis of the Byzantine plan and the Gothic forms rendered according to an original autonomous architectural interpretation. The constructions are made out of wood.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: The city of Cluj-Napoca. It is an ancient cradle of Romanian culture and civilization. It lies at the center of the county, at the crossroads of important national and international highways. The most important urban center of Transylvania is a city with two names: Napoca is the name of the ancient Dacian fortress, and Cluj is the Latin word which denominated it subsequently. These days Cluj-Napoca is recognized as the capital of Transylvania.
The Catholic Cathedral Saint Michael - The construction started in 1350, and took over two centuries. It is an impressive and valuable monument of Gothic architecture sheltering remarkable interior paintings. The tower, built in Baroc style, is 80 m in height and it was erected between the years 1836 1862.
- Flight Bucharest Cluj-Napoca
- City tour of Cluj-Napoca, visiting the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, the National Art Museum, the Franciscans Church, The National Art Museum (Banffy Palace), The Catholic Cathedral Saint Michael and The Orthodox Cathedral
- Optional, lunch
- Accommodation in Victoria Hotel 3* in Cluj-Napoca
Day 2: The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta. It has been, for more than 50 years, the creation of sculptor Stan Patras, the successor of several generations of wood artists that bequeathed their trade from father to son. Usually on the crosses there is a short poem written in the first person, dotted with archaisms, vernacular phrases and spelling errors. The relatives of the dead person do not mourn, but drink and make merry. The entire life of the village is featured in this cemetery. The shepherd, the farmer, the wood ranger, the wood cutter, or the pupil stand side by eternally, with the weaver, the spinner, the housewife, the merchant, the carpenter, the doctor, the musician or the drunk. This collective memory of Sapanta, this ensemble of colorful graves where each dead person recounts humbly his/her existence with its joys and sorrows, creates a serene and merry atmosphere, a sort of challenge to death, a hymn to life.
- Breakfast at Continental Hotel
- Transfer Cluj Baia Mare (3h)
- Visit The Museum of Mineralogy, The Museum of Popular Art and Folklore, Stefan the Great Tower, Butchers' Tower in Baia Mare
- Optional lunch
- Transfer Baia Mare Vama village (1h)
- Visit Pottery Museum and the workshop and the Orthodox Church from Vama village
- Transfer Vama Sapanta
- Visit The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta
- Transfer to Sighetul Marmatiei
- Accommodation in Perla Sigheteana 3* in Sighetul Marmatiei
Day 3: The Ethnographic Museum. The exhibition was arranged in permanently opened halls and it was structured on the main categories of the folk culture. The first halls displayed the primary occupations (picking-up, hunting, fishing, bee-hunting - "barcuit") illustrated by objects used in practice. Further, the main occupations, which belonged to the agricultural and shepherd life, to which one could add the work in the forest (butinarit) and rafting (plutarit), the Maramuresh country being rich both in coniferous and leafy forests.
The Memorial of the Victims of Communism - Made up of a Museum - situated in the former political prison in Sighet - and an International Center for Studies about Communism - with its headquarters in Bucharest - The Memorial aims to rebuild the memory of certain nations, particularly the Romanians, who for half of a century have been misled with a false history.
- Transfer Barsana Rozavlea village
- Visit the wooden church from Rozavlea
- Transfer Rozavlea Ieud village
- Visit the wooden church from Ieud
- Transfer Ieud Botiza village
- Visit the wooden church from Botiza
- Accommodation in Berbecaru Rural Guest House *** in Botiza village
Day 4: Moisei Memorial. This memorial at the eastern end end of Moisei honors the 29 prisoners who died at the hands of retreating Hungarian troops on October 14, 1944. The twelve stone figures are by Vida Geza with faces on two of the figures and traditional masks worn during Maramures festivals on the others.
- Breakfast at Berbecaru Rural Guest House
- Transfer Botiza Bogdan Voda village
- Visit the wooden church from Bogdan Voda
- Transfer Bogdan Voda Moisei
- Visit Memorial House from Moisei dedicated to the people who where killed by Hungarian army and Moisei Monument made by Vida Geza
- Transfer Moisei Bistrita (1h30)
- Optional lunch
- Visit the old center of the town of Bistrita and The Evangelical Church
- Accommodation in Coroana de Aur Hotel 3* in Bistrita
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Car/van/bus transportation
- Accommodation in 3* or 4* hotels in double rooms on B&B basis
- English speaking guide/driver
- Entrance fees at the museums
- Round trip flight to/from Cluj-Napoca
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Romania
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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