Category: Traveller’s Guide

Whether we speak about children’s summer camps, exclusive circuits, seniors’ packages, countryside holidays or city breaks, the offer is rich and early booking discounts are significant. Today we review the most tempting offers for unforgettable holidays in Romania, in 2013.

The first offer we consider appropriate to present is one of relaxation in Romania’s oldest spas, Baile Herculane.

The area’s tourism representative at the fair, Florin Bazavan, has further details: “The accommodation fee for two persons in a double room, breakfast included, ranges from 33 to 40 euros, depending on the season. Apart from this pricing offer, we have specific packages, and the discount is substantial. Right now we have an early booking offer, with a 30 per cent discount for the whole package. Early booking benefits both tourists and the travel agency, because we know we have booked all rooms for a specific period of time”.

We’ve asked Florin Bazavan for whom the offer has been tailored: “I invite all mountain lovers, in general, to come to Baile Herculane, particularly this year, when they can enjoy a special event. We celebrate 1,600 years since the spa was first documented. It is the oldest resort boasting documentary evidence. Also, people can enjoy the area’s numerous tourist attractions. I recommend the fortress in Mehadia, we have several Imperial Roman baths, buildings with a special architecture, that have been refurbished. In a nutshell, our resort is ready to receive tourists.”

We have also found a relaxation and well-being offer at the stand of the Mangalia Sanatorium on the Romanian Seaside.

Chief nurse Florentina Stoica has more:“Our sanatorium offers a combination of natural factors, which is unique in Romania and even in South Eastern Europe. Also, we have opened a spa wellness area, where tourists can have volcanic stone massages as well as aromatherapy massages. We offer nutrition therapies, fitness, sea and sulphurous water swimming pools: we have a very generous offer. We are a medical establishment, but you can also find basic information about the monasteries in the area, the Danube Delta and the tourist attractions in the region, in general.”

The seven-day package fee, breakfast included, stands at 700 lei per person, that is 160 Euros. Medical services are to be paid separately.

We’re not traveling very far from the seaside to have a talk with Mihaela Andrei, the representative of a tourist compound in Murighiol, in the Danube Delta.

She was kind enough to give us further details on the services provided in Murighiol: “We offer a wide range of services, from accommodation to trips around the Danube Delta. We offer leisure services, we have an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool, a heated indoor swimming pool, a salt-therapy room, a fitness room and Jacuzzi. We have sports courts, several restaurants, a pizzeria and beer gardens. Apart from all these, which are included in the accommodation fee, we can also organize trips, which take from three to seven hours, along the canals in the Danube Delta. We organize trips to Sfantu Gheorghe, where the Danube flows into the sea, or to the monasteries in the region. We have all the means to fill in a seven-day package for a family or a group of tourists. The accommodation fees, which do not exceed 100 euros per room, include all services we have mentioned. Tourists benefit from accommodation, breakfast included and have access to a whole range of services on the premises.”

Another beautiful area in Romania, Rasnov, boasts a rich cultural offer. This year, the resort, which is famous among mountain lovers, boasts many activities tailored for both grown-ups and the little ones.

With details on that, here is Nicolae Pepene, the Director of the Culture Directorate: “As early as April we organize a short-reel film festival, on May the 1stthere is a European festival that we are also part of and at Easter we have an egg-painting festival. Tourists can take part in workshops and can learn the traditions of the Barsa Land. In June, the great festivals start: the Roses’ Festival is a festival typical of Rasnov, having the rose, the town’s historical emblem as the main theme. We also organize all sorts of workshops, as well as contests and concerts dedicated to that beautiful artistic symbol, the rose. As soon as kids have their holiday, the Play Mania Festival is organized. A family with children can spend a whole week in Rasnov. From Monday all through to Sunday, the little ones can spend the whole day in the citadel and the town, take part in workshops and interactive games. We take pride in running a project, which is unusual in Romania: the Archaeological Kindergarten. Jointly with a team of archaeologists, kids are learning the ropes of archaeology, on a replica of an archaeological site, with the unearthed artifacts becoming keepsake items.”

And the summer continues with the Rasnov Citadel Days, the Horse Riding festival, the Historical Film Festival, which is Europe’s biggest such festival.

We stay longer in the mountains, as the manager of an adventure tourism company in Brasov, Radu Vancu, brings you one last offer: “In Romania we have set routes in almost all the mountains and across the Delta. We have mixed packages for foreign tourists. Apart from nature, mountains or the delta, our packages include cultural travel activities, in cultural centers; we also include folk traditions so that people can get a complete picture of Romania. The mountain season in Romania begins in May and ends in September-October. The first trip we have on our schedule is to the Nera Gorges. The program is a mix of trekking and rafting. For those who don’t know, the Nera Gorges are an area of a breathtaking beauty. The program includes crossing over the Nera river, using suspended bridges, and following routes that take you through tunnels dug through the rock, along the shore, as early as the Turks’ time. The fee per person for a three-day package stands at 700 Lei.”

Bucharest, Iasi and Targu Neamt came up with very attractive city break offers at the fair. Rural and ecological tourism was also a well represented sector at the fair, but we‘ll be speaking about that in a future edition of Traveler’s Guide.

Without salt, food would be tasteless and the chemical industry would have not been what it is today. Romania’s salt extraction area is huge, which makes the country one of the biggest salt producers in the world. Experts say that at present Romania can secure its salt production for the next 1,000 years from domestic resources alone.

Whether we talk about Ocna Sibiului, Turda, Praid, Targu Ocna, Slanic Moldova or any other tourist salt mine in Romania, they all provide excellent treatment and spa centres for tourists. The curative properties of salty air have led to the development of speleotherapy and climatotherapy, the treatment of conditions underground, in caves and salt mines. This form of treatment consists mainly in the inhalation of air, in salt mines, and is used to cure respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and allergies.

Not to mention that the former salt mines have excellent acoustics, which makes them ideal venues for concerts. This is also the case of the Slanic Prahova salt mine spa that we are going to visit today. Constantin Niculescu, in charge with salt exploitation at the Unirea tourist salt mine, tells us more about it:

“The first written evidence about an important salt exploitation dates back to 1685, when sword bearer Mihai Cantacuzino bought an estate that covered most of today’s town, with the intention to capitalize on its salt deposits. In 1865 he opened the first salt mine, which, in technical terms, included a surface opening with four vertical pits: two for the extraction of the bulk salt from the underground deposits, one for ventilation and another one for the miners’ transport. There is a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius inside the Unirea salt mine, irrespective of season. The air pressure is by 20 millimetres mercury column unit higher than at the surface. This particularity led to the development, as of 1970 when the salt mine was closed, of the mine’s potential as a tourist and treatment centre. Respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and bronchiolitis are some of the health conditions that can be treated here.”

Slanic Prahova, where Europe’s biggest salt mine is located, is a treatment and spa centre where the Salt Mountain, unique in the world, can be found. You will also discover a town surrounded by scenic landscapes, in short, the perfect place for a holiday. Constantin Niculescu, in charge with salt exploitation at the Unirea tourist salt mine in Slanic Prahova, tells us why tourists return here every time:

“First of all, the quality of air in this underground facility and the impressive aspect of the mine make this tourist site truly attractive. We have also promoted the place in the international media, and as a result we have visitors coming from all over the world: America, Asia, Israel, the Middle East and Europe. Shuttles bring here tourists from the Middle East almost every day. People are interested in this site, and there are travel agencies that offer packages including transport, accommodation and tours of this mine, which is open throughout the year.”

The town of Slanic is located close to the Teleajan Mountains, which you can reach on several trails for 3 to 5-hour hikes. An alternative would be a 30-minute walk to one of the natural springs with sulphated or chlorosodic waters, near the town. Then, only 39-km away, there is the city of Ploiesti with its National Oil Museum.

Gabriela Tanasescu, the director of this museum: “Romania became a landmark in the history of oil processing as far back as 1857, when three major things happened. That year, Romania became the first country in the world with a crude oil output included in international statistics. Next to Ploiesti, the world’s first industrial oil refinery was set up that year, and Bucharest was the first city in the world to use oil lamps for street lighting, on April 1, 1857.”

And once you get to Ploiesti, there is another interesting visit you can try. Tatiana Ristea, a curator with the Nicolae Simache Clock Museum in Ploiesti, tells us what it is: “In our museum you will be able to see some of the oldest types of watches and clocks, from sundials to water clocks and to the modern timepieces that we all know. We have an impressive collection of pocket watches, mantel clocks, and a large variety of music boxes that make a separate category of items on display in our museum.”

The name of Dolj has a Slavonic origin, meaning the Downstream or Lower Jiu river. The area has a rich history, offering visitors the opportunity to see natural reserves, thick forests, beautiful lakes and period buildings, all of these speaking about the status of the county.

Craiova is the administrative center, as well as the region’s best-known city. Lia Olguta Vasilescu is the mayor of Craiova, and she will now be tempting us with a few tourist attractions, which are well worth visiting.

Lia Olguta Vasilescu:“Craiova is a very old city, located on the ancient site of Pelendava. It was first documented in 1475. Here you can find lots of heritage buildings, that were designed by famous architects of that time. Here we have the Bania House, the city‘s oldest existing building, dating as far back as 1699. It was later rebuilt by ruler Constantin Brancoveanu. The Bania House is a two-storey building, it has rooms with brick vaults on the ground floor and rooms with jutting balconies on the first floor. It was built by the then ruling prince’s architects, in a traditional style. You can also visit the Jean Mihail Palace which I recommend to all those who come to Craiova, it is a very beautiful edifice, built between 1899 and 1907 by French architect Paul Gottereau, who was commissioned to erect the palace by Constantin Mihail, one of Romania’s richest men at that time. We also have the Craiova University building, the former Palace of Justice, designed by architect Ion Socolescu, which is illustrative of the Neo-classical style in architecture. Then there’s the Craiova City Hall, a former building of the Commercial Bank, designed by architect Ion Mincu. It was completed in 1916, and it had an interior decorated with stuccos, stained glass frames, Venetian mosaics and wrought iron gratings. “

The city of Craiova in southern Romania, with its well-preserved monastic sites has long been part of the local ecumenical tourist network. The best-preserved church here is the Coshuna Monastery, the only part left of the whole initial compound. Coshuna was built in Wallachian style, as a synergy of local traditional elements and Byzantine motifs. Another must-see in Craiova is the Madona Dudu cathedral, a real pilgrimage place, whose paintings bear the signature of renowned 19th century Romanian painter Gheorghe Tatarascu.

The church got its name from the miracle-working icon of Virgin Mary, which according to the legend was found in a mulberry tree, on the place where the altar was later built.

Craiova is a place with a lot of green spots. The “Nicolae Romanescu Park” is unique in Romania and one of Europe’s most interesting green areas. The project belongs to French architect Edouard Redont and was awarded the gold medal at the international exhibition held in Paris in 1900.

Lia Olguta Vasilescu: ”I believe that nobody should miss one of Craiova’s most spectacular places, the Nicolae Romanescu Park, which is unique in Romania and the largest in south-eastern Europe. Its total surface measures 76 hectares and includes a lake of 4 hectares, a hippodrome, alleys and lanes, as well as a zoo, where one can see various bird and animal species from Romania and abroad.”

Also worth seeing is the Botanical Garden in Craiova, built upon the initiative of local botanist Alexandru Buia.

And if culture is your interest, then Craiova is the right place to come to. Here one can find many interesting places like the National Theatre, the Puppet Theatre and the Opera House. The Art Museum in Craiova has on display works from the early period of great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, such as “The Kiss” and “Vitellius”, one of Brancusi’s first works, made out of plaster in 1898, “A Woman’s Torso”, carved in marble, “Bust of a Boy”, or “Mademoiselle Pogany”.

Leaving Craiova, we get, 55 km away, to the village of Bucovat, a representative example for the region.

Vasile Constantin, mayor of the village, in Dolj county, has more on what is to be seen here: “Bucovat is a beautiful village, so much so that many people from Craiova have summer homes here. What Bucovat has over other villages is the naturally ozone-rich air. In Bucovat we can find the ruins of the Roman castle Pelendava. We also have a protected area with some of the oldest fossils in Europe, and another protected area, of a few hectares, where geology and prospecting students come to do research. The Jiu river divides the village of Bucovat from the township of Craiova. We raise water buffalo, which is a rarity, which means we have excellent fresh, very nourishing milk. You can also find here the old Bucovat monastery, on the left bank of the Jiu, and the church in the village Bucovat proper, built by the monks of Mount Athos.”

In Dolj you can also find good fishing spots in ponds and lakes, and the locals can take you hunting deer, wild boar, fox, badger, quail, duck, and pheasant.

If you are interested in sports tourism, you can paraglide around Craiova, and you can try obstacle horse riding at the Hippodrome in Nicolae Romanescu Park, as well as in some villages.

During autumn, you can attend the local festival of leeks and plum liquor in the village of Bailesti, in Dolj county, where you can also find food to everyone’s taste.

We start off in Alba County, where we met Constantin Chesculescu, the owner of a guesthouse focusing on horse riding activities. It all started from his love for horses, adventure and tradition. Our guest invites you to mount the back of a horse and have a ride across mountains and valleys, up in the fresh air of the highlands. You have two programmes to choose from: a three-day package, known as Aventura Carpatica and an eight-day package, which is run under the heading ”Romanian Villages”. As part of the eight-day package, in the first two days tourists will get acquainted with their horses, says Constantin Chesculescu. Then in the third day:

Constantin Chesculescu: “We start an expedition in the Cindrel mountains. We depart from the Rahau, a village nearby the town of Sebes, and we’re heading to Jina, a village neighbouring Poiana Sibiulu, both localities being famous for their sheep farming activities. Waiting for us there is a traditional dinner, then we set off again, this time towards Crint, a place in Cindrel Mountains. We focus on the villages in Marginimea Sibiului, since each spot has its unique beauty and something special to offer: hearth-baked bread, fresh ewe cheese, completely homemade”.

We go back through the Cindrel mountains, but this time our route is different. All along the trip activities are interactive. Tourists participate in cooking or in barbecue activities. Also, if during one of the expedition days the horses need to rest, we’ll take tourists to Sibiu on ATVs. Constantin Chesculescu told us how much it costs to embark on such a horseback adventure trip in the Romanian Carpathians.

Constantin Chesculescu: ”Horse riding is an all-inclusive service. The tourist won’t have to pay anything more after having booked such a holiday package. One day on horseback costs 120 Euros, all-inclusive. In the seven-day package we also have two days with no horse riding and then the price goes down to 55 to 60 Euros, depending on accommodation and menu. We thus resume Romania’s knightly tradition before World War II and I am happy we’ve got so many families that want to bring up their children in that spirit. Working with horses is very instructive, it trains your patience, brings you closer to nature, to animals and keeps you away from computers and the cell phones.”

Valentin Gheorghe is the manager of a company specializing in adventure tourism. For two years now, he has mainly been focusing on the Carpathian Arch area: Penteleu, Sibiu, the mountains around Buzau and Vrancea counties, mainly due to the wilderness of those places. With details on the offer, here is Valentin Gheorghe:

”Foreign tourists would rather take a route off the beaten track. So, the most appropriate offer would be the one including several survival scenarios. By means of ATVs or other means of transportation, participants are taken to a wild area and from there, jointly with the monitors, they will have to find their way back to civilization. Apart from acquiring basic survival techniques, which are used in military training, tourists will practice all sorts of sports without realizing everything had been previously arranged for them. For instance, if they want to get from one point to the other they can only do that crossing the river, and they’re likely to find some canoes somewhere. Actually, under the circumstances, they cover a very long distance in only one hour. Then they reach a precipice, and there they will find abseiling equipment. In two or three days’ time they reach civilization again. “

We asked Valentin Gheorghe, who promotes this adventure programme and whether tourists need any special equipment:

Valentin Gheorghe: “Our tourists need not bring any kind of equipment, everything is provided by our company. We’ve had quite a lot of foreign tourists, coming from Germany, France, and Hungary, most of them on individual holiday packages. So far we’ve only had groups of tourists coming from Poland, where there is a similar organization with which we have been working for a few years. This year we plan to go into new markets: Israel, Spain and, hopefully, the United Arab Emirates.”

We end today’s journey in the Apuseni Mountains, where an area of 55 square km hosts nearly 2,000 caves. Spaeleology tourism or cave tourism is quite fascinating, says Cristi Varciu, from Apuseni Adventure:

Cristi Varciu: “I’ve been working as a guide for French tourists for four years, in spring I work with tourists from Israel and in autumn with Czech and Polish tourists. These are the three major categories of tourists that I take around the Apuseni Mountains, and their favourite part is cave tourism. We have a very successful seven-day package, in which we walk from one tourist site to the other, while the luggage is taken by off-road cars to our next accommodation place. So basically, in the morning we leave with just a backpack and see a string of natural and ethnographic marvels, and in the evening we get to another guesthouse, where the baggage is already waiting for us. The next morning, we move on. It’s not only a journey in the Apuseni Mountains, but also a journey in time, because I take tourists to pre-historic times, for instance the Fire Glacier, the oldest cave inhabited by people, as well as to modern times, to see the mountains from the paraglider.”

Sinaia was first mentioned in documents in 1690, when a group of peasants in the service of local boyars came to settle around the Sinaia monastery.It has long since been known and appreciated by winter sports aficionados, and vintage snapshots featuring bobsleigh or ski contests from early 20thcentury stand proof of that.

The mayor of Sinaia, Vlad Oprea, has told us why this place is worth visiting: “There are plenty of reasons for coming here, one of these can be the extremely rich offer Sinaia has for tourists. Boasting over 20 kilometers of ski slopes, the place is a real heaven for winter sports lovers. There is a brand new slope, fitted with snow cannons, that goes down into the resort. At its foot there lies a fun-park with a trampoline for extreme sports enthusiasts; there are also nursery slopes and snow tubing facilities. The resort has also a skating rink, very much appreciated by tourists.”

Sinaia has more than 20 slopes with various degrees of difficulty, from those for expert skiers (such as Carp, Zade, Tarle, Papagal, Valea Mioritei), for advanced skiers(such as Furnica, Drumul de Vara, Scandurar, Valea Dorului) or nursery slopes, like those in Valea Soarelui. Most of these slopes are fitted with cable transportation facilities. Radu Miscuci, owner of an ATV center in Sinaia, has mentioned some of the ski slopes he likes the most here.

“Valea Dorului is a very beautiful place and my favourite slope. There are also other good slopes starting at 2,000 meters or at 14 hundred meters, like the Carp Slope, which is destined for advanced skiers. The Summer Way is a less difficult ski track, then there is another one also located in Valea Dorului; each of these are fitted with chairlifts, offering excellent conditions for skiers.”

In recent years tourists have indulged another form of entertainment in Sinaia: ATV rides. Here is Radu Miscuci with more on the resort’s ATV entertainment.

”Sinaia is a very beautiful setting with breathtaking landscapes. And if the weather is fine, tourists can really enjoy this winter wonderland with snow-loaded trees and outstanding views. However, in winter, snow is limiting ATV access, as these vehicles mainly take on forest roads. In winter, only three roads offer good conditions for ATV rides; one is the national road winding up to an altitude of 1,400 meters, and unless blocked by the snow, one can also take the old road. Then there is another route leading up to Poiana Stanii and one going right behind the Peles Castle, which doubles the DN1 motorway to Busteni. In winter, there are one hour and a half walks, but more routes like these become available in summer, and they can take up to six-seven hours.”

If you want to rent an ATV, or quad bike, as you like to call it, you need to hold a B-category driving license, and to have basic knowledge of how to drive a quad bike. Quite often, rental firms may have an accompanying guide on offer, apart from the specific equipment: helmets, gloves and overall.

You can also use snowboards in Sinaia. If you do not have your own equipment, you can rent snowboards in Sinaia, at the foot of the telegondola. The routes are rather scarce and you need ski slopes, which are well covered in snow.

If winter sports do not appeal to you, you can visit Sinaia for its cultural temptations it has on offer. Speaking again is the mayor of Sinaia, Vlad Oprea :

”Those who do not come for sports, can also come for culture, since here they can find the Peles Castle (the Romanian royal family’s former summer residence), the Sinaia monastery, the Casino which is the venue for lots of activities, ranging from the staging of plays to temporary or permanent exhibitions, as well as the George Enescu Memorial House.”

Sinaia is ready to welcome its guests, irrespective of the season. It also comes up with a rich offer of hotels and guesthouses as well as with a diversified cuisine, ranging from the traditional Romanian one to Mexican Swiss or Italian food.

The Bucegi Mountains are said to be one of the favorite winter holiday destinations of Romanians. Stretching over an area of 300 square meters, this massif spreads out across three counties: Dambovita, Prahova and Brasov. The scenic landscape, the easily accessible marked mountain trails, the climbing routes and the numerous ski slopes in the resorts in the area make for a holiday offer which is too tempting to turn down.

The Bucegi Nature Park, located in the Bucegi Mountains, is a protected area with very high appeal among tourists. It is in fact one of the most visited mountain areas in Romania after the Danube Delta, with over 1 million 200 thousand visitors every year. The varied tourist attractions and scenery provide a plethora of leisure activities catering to all tastes. Horia Iuncu, head of the Bucegi Nature Park Administration, managed by the Romsilva National Forestry Administration, tells us more about ways to spend a winter holiday in the area:

Horia Iuncu: “Apart from the scenery and natural heritage, visitors can make the most of the tourist infrastructure made available by local authorities. The skiing area that has been recently upgraded to European standards is a plus. The Bucegi Nature Park is located in the Bucegi Massif in the Southern Carpathians, and covers an area of 32,000 hectares. The Park includes some of the most important Romanian mountain resorts, such as Sinaia, Busteni, Rasnov, Bran, Moeciu and the newest tourist resort, Padina Pestera, located at the very heart of the Park.”

According to Horia Iuncu, the Park’s administration is relentlessly trying to bring more tourists to this area so a special department has been set up with the purpose of raising people’s awareness, encouraging eco-friendly behaviors and trying to come up with new leisure activities without having a negative effect on the protected environment. Horia Iuncu:

Horia Iuncu: “We have taken a keen interest in this matter and we even have a project under way. The project, dubbed “Improving tourist infrastructure in the Bucegi Nature Park”, runs on European funds and is worth 4.2 million euros. We also plan to set up a tourist information center where anyone interested can find out everything they want to know about the area’s attractions, leisure activities, lodging facilities, maps and brochures.”

The Bucegi Nature Park is home to a large number of protected species. Horia Iuncu has the details:

Horia Iuncu: “There are several protected wildlife species in the park, such as the chamois, the bear, the deer and the heather cock. As for the protected plant species, there is the edelweiss and the red vanilla orchid, a rare type of orchid whose Romanian name translates as ‘the brave man’s blood’, as well as several species of trees. Each species holds an inestimable local value and we do our best to protect them. Bucegi boasts 42 natural monuments, among which the popular Babele and the Sphinx, and the steepest peak in Romania, Caraiman. There are also two small although beautiful lakes. One of them is the 100-hectare Bolboci Lake and the other is the Scropoasa Lake, that covers only 12 hectares, but which turn into a bird haven in wintertime.”

Winter is in full swing. This is why we make a stopover at one of the chalets in the area, a favorite among skiers, located on the Malaiesti Valley. Ion Adamuta, head of the Rasnov Mountain Rescue Office, gives us details about the skiing conditions there:

Horia Iuncu: “The snow layer is 1-meter high. Most of it is compressed snow, so there is no risk of an avalanche occuring. The Malaiesti Valley is one of the most beautiful in the country. The chamois can be seen here, as the area is quite wild. We also have marked climbing routes. Tourists from Germany, Austria, Spain, England and France are often among our guests.”

Irrespective of the hotel or guesthouse you pick, the meals have to be traditional. Horia Iuncu gave us some tips:

Horia Iuncu: “Given the fact that we are neighboring the Moeciu-Bran area, I strongly recommend tourists to sample a traditional dish called bulz, made of cheese and polenta. Farming activities are mostly based on animal breeding, and dairy products here are highly appreciated throughout the country.”

In a nutshell this is an area where nature lovers can see a lot of natural monuments, protected species of animals and plants, an area where they can take walks and enjoy everything that a modern mountain resort can offer.

That is why they are also known as the Roof of the Banat region, a historical province in western Romania. Access to these mountains is easy, as there are only 40 km between the town of Resita and Semenic. The peaks of the massif make up a triangle: Semenic, 1445 m high, Piatra Goznei, 1447 m and Nedeia, 1439 m, so on top of each of them you can see the other two. Although not that high, Semenic is covered by a layer of snow that rarely goes below one meter in thickness, for 5 and even 6 months a year, even during winters poorer in precipitations. In winter, temperatures range from –25 to plus 6 degrees Celsius, and in summer they stay somewhere between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius.

There are five homologated ski slopes in Semenic, and skiing conditions are very good. Here is Sorin Blaga, the mayor of Valiug village in Caras Serverin county, who invites us to go skiing in Semenic.

Sorin Blaga: “We’ve got one of the oldest mountain resorts in the country. Snow stays for a very long time and we’ve got the longest slope in the country, measuring 6 km. It has always been a special area, and even in the old times Serbs and Hungarians would come here every weekend. There is another slope at Casa Baraj, which is beautiful, but rather small. There are buses that take people there. Also, there is an after-ski at Casa Baraj, and also a beautiful bar, a chair lift and snow canons.”

Of the older slopes in the resort, the longest on Semenic is Uriasul (in English “the giant”), which is 1 thousand 2 hundred m long. The slope rise is 220 meters, and the difficulty level is intermediate. The chair lift can carry up to 800 people per hour. The slope does not allow for night skiing and it does not have snow canons.

Another, equally popular slope is Crucea de Brazi. It is an intermediate level slope, with a 750-m run and 160-m rise. The chair lift can carry 500 people per hour. Groznuta and Prietenii Muntilor are other intermediate-level pistes in the resort, while Semenic is an easy-level slope, with a chair lift capacity of up to 400 tourists per hour.

Several hotels and boarding houses are waiting for you, and in terms of meals, all of them will certainly meet your expectations.

Sorin Blaga: “Those who come to ski in the Semenic area find accommodation in Valiug, Crivaia and Trei Ape, but most of them will choose Crivaia, at the feet of Semenic. Up the mountain there is a small hotel, with only around 300 rooms. All Romanian tourists know that the blueberry brandy, the trout and mushrooms are the best in our menus, but foreign tourists should come and see for themselves that not only the landscape, but also the cuisine of the region are unbelievable. From international dishes to traditional Romanian meals, the restaurants in the area cater for all tastes.”

Semenic has something to offer to tourists in any season. Once the ski season is over, the area is a destination of choice for those who love fishing or swimming. Water sports lovers can rent boats, water bikes or windsurfing boards, while mountaineering fans will find breathtaking landscapes.

But since the weather is expected to get cold again, guaranteeing that the ski season is far from over in all Romanian mountain resorts, don’t waste any time and book yourselves a ski holiday in Semenic Mountains!

In the Trotus Valley there lies the Targu Ocna salt mine, with modern entertainment facilities located at a depth of 240 meters, providing guests with excellent opportunities to relax, exercise and treat their respiratory diseases. Within the inner depths of the mountain of white gold, as the locals call salt, also lies an Orthodox Church. Adding to all that is the breath-taking scenery, as a cascading salt-water lake lies at the foot of the mountain.

We sat down with Carmen Maria Tintaru, a geological engineer at the Targu Ocna complex, who told us more about leisure activities at Targu Ocna, as well as about the history of the salt mine:

Carmen Maria Tintaru: “Salt-mining activities here go back in time 500 years. The entire business in the area revolves around this precious mineral resource which we’ve called “the white gold of the earth”. At first, salt extraction in Targu Ocna was limited to smaller areas, to those special mines we call saltworks. Thus salt was extracted here since the 15thcentury and up to the second half of the 19thcentury, when miners switched to a more efficient extraction method that employed the use of trapezoid-profiled chambers. This method was first used at the Moldova Veche Saltworks, also known as the Carol I salt mine, which was operational in the 1870-1941 period, then at the Moldova Noua mine, where exploitation works were undertaken from 1936 to 1968. Starting 1967, a new experimental salt exploitation method was employed for the first time in Romania at the Targu Ocna mine, which is still used to date”.

Alongside the main activity at Targu Ocna, which consists in the extraction, processing and marketing of salt products, the saltworks also provide tourist services, as our guide Carmen Maria Tintaru told us.

Carmen Maria Tintaru: “As regard the early days of leisure activities at Targu Ocna, the first tourist facilities were set up in 1974. It was much later, in 1992, that the Christian-Orthodox Church was built, the first underground Church ever built in a salt mine at European level. The Church was erected under the patronage of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, on the 9thfloor. On July 11, 2005, the salt mine’s entire tourist potential clustered on the 9thfloor, at 240 meters below, in the very core of the salt block”.

We asked Carmen Maria Tintaru how guests could access tourist facilities at the Targu Ocna salt mine:

Carmen Maria Tintaru: “Access is made with the help of cars. The salt mine has busses that carry tourists to all the corners of the underground mine, where entertainment facilities await them. The length of the course is 3100 meters, while the difference between the access level and the 9thfloor is 136 meters. You can get access to all that by means of a slanted, spiral-shaped plan, which goes beyond the level of the areas under exploitation and reaches the level of the 9thfloor, where that particular tourist activity unfolds. What you’re offered in Targu Ocna stands out as something very unusual, and to go with it are relaxation, health and last but not least, knowledge. Respiratory conditions can be treated very efficiently thanks to the aerosols’ positive effect. Also, there are playgrounds for children, which have cradles, toboggans, swings and courts for various sports such as basketball, tennis and badminton. There are areas where you can play pool, there are tables for table tennis and inflatable toboggans for kids. There is also a very interesting salt museum, with various items on display taking us back into the past but also to the early days of the Targu Ocna’s salt deposits. We also have a surgery, a salt water lake, and you’re sure to brim with delight each time you reach down under, because of its spring wells. Also, we have a gift shop and an outdoor café where you can have a cup of tea and a cup of coffee, 240 meters underneath the ground, right at the heart of the salt massif. “

So here we are in a subterranean universe that can provide a unique holiday, a universe which is not hidden and which has not as yet remained undiscovered. The tourists who visited the Targu Ocna salt mine returned to the place, our host Carmen Maria Tintaru assures us.

Carmen Maria Tintaru: ”In the beginning, of course the salt mine was discovered by Romanians. They were delighted with everything they discovered in that little Romanian corner, in that wonderful spot from Moldavia. Then there were the English tourists who visited us, and also the French and people from the former USSR and the present-day Russian republics. But we also had the pleasure to receive guests from other continents from the United States, China Japan. We always welcome them with the same pleasure and with basic info on what salt exploitation means in Targu Ocna, and also on our region’s tourist potential. “

And since we mentioned something about tourist potential, among the must-visit assets in the region is the Magura Ocnei Monastery, which has a long-standing and troubled existence. Three churches had been built there, one after the other. The nuns monastery in Targu Ocna was built between 1750 and 1757 with the purpose of setting up a tourist compound. After the fall of the Communist regime the monastery was reopened. Today’s church was built after 1990, by Epifanie Bulancea the monastery’s prior and archimandrite.

Epifanie Bulancea: ”In 1991 we began the construction works. People were eager to have a church built here, and in one single year we erected it from the foundation up. We erected it gradually, going two meters up, from one week to the other. The Targu Ocna Salt Mines helped me a lot with the vehicles. When they saw I got the church erected they asked me to help them up with their salt church as well. They appointed me an architect. In 1993 the church was finished and between 1993 and 1997 we had the painting done.”

The painting of the church was made in oil, fresco-style. The monastery was built at an altitude of 505 meters in a thick forest.

Our interlocutors are Constantin Ungureanu, the president of the Rosenau Tourism Association in Rasnov and Crina Coco Popescu, the Romanian mountain climber who entered the Guinness Book of Records after becoming, at the age of 16, the first woman to climb Mount Sidley, the highest volcano in Antarctica.

“Fresh air, tranquillity and delicious food,” this is how tourists used to describe Rasnov in the interwar period. The essence has remained the same, the landscape is unchanged but the experience of a tourist that visits the town in 2013 is highly enriched, as Constantin Ungureanu, our guide today, tells us:

“Rasnov can accommodate over 2,000 tourists in 2, 3 and 4 star hotels and guesthouses. The prices range from 60 to 150 lei per person in a double room. The cultural and sports offer this year is very diverse. It starts with the International Cup of the Ski Federation, held between January 18thand 20th, which is a ski jump competition, and continues with the most important event of the season: the European Youth Winter Olympics, with its ski jump competition being held here. The offer is more varied during the summer months, with important events held almost every weekend in June, July and August. The Historical Film Festival is one of them, as well as the Historical Re-enactment Festival and a children’s event called Game Mania, to name only a few. There are many other surprises in store for visitors.”

The Rasnov Citadel is no doubt one of the reasons people should pay a visit to the region. Located on the top of a calcareous hill and visible from every spot of the town, the Rasnov Citadel has been taken over for a few years by an Italian investor, who upgraded it and turned the historical monument into a tourist attraction. After making the effort to climb the hill, once on top, visitors can rest over a cup of tea or coffee served by a little shop within the citadel’s walls. Constantin Ungureanu tells us more about the fortress and about other ways of spending time in the region:

“Tourists can visit the Rasnov citadel, open daily between 9 am and 5 pm and also the Valea Cetatii Cave. Those who love music can listen to symphonic concerts held in this cave every Saturday, starting at 5 pm. The Evangelical Church is open to visitors every day, as well as the Romanian Orthodox Church. I highly recommend tourists not to miss the only ski jumps facility in south-eastern Europe. They can see athletes training here every morning. Ukraine’s Olympic team also came here for training ahead of competitions.”

A bungee jumping platform has also been made available to lovers of extreme sensations in Rasnov. Unique in Europe, the platform is 135 m tall and it can even go up to 155 m over a distance of about 100 m, depending on the jumper’s weight. Constantin Ungureanu, the president of the Rosenau Rasnov Association for tourism promotion highlights several alternatives for active tourism:

“We have two riding centres, a mountain club and a mountain horse farm, offering horseback riding where riding is practiced. In the Rasnoavei Gorges area you can practice mountaineering, bungee jumping and mountain climbing. There are two caves which can be visited only by experts, as well as four tourist tracks and the Malaiesti mountain cabin that is very popular with mountain lovers.”

Crina Coco Popescu, who is 17 years old, has already climbed Mount Sidley, the highest volcano in Antarctica. She is the only woman in the world to have climbed the Seven Volcanoes circuit and who aims to reach seven peaks in the 7 summits circuit. The only one left for her to conquer of the seven summits is Everest.

In order to set all these records, Crina Coco Popescu has been training in the Rasnoavei Gorges area. She says it is a very nice area, especially for mountain sports like sports climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and running:

“The Gorges are close to Mount Postavaru. You can go down by skiing or snowboarding along various routes to the Rasnoavei Gorges. They are wild areas, but you can practice skiing there. We’ll leave aside the technical details about climbing in wintertime, which are not for beginners. There are places where you can enjoy Romanian traditional cuisine in the Rasnoavei Gorges area, mainly in the town of Rasnov.”

So, there are all reasons for you to choose a holiday in Rasnov. Whether you are fond of history, traditions, exercise or sports, you can find them all in Rasnov.

Constantin Ungureanu, the president of the Rosenau Rasnov Association for tourism promotion extends a final invitation to you:

“I invite you to visit Rasnov to discover history. You can visit the Rasnov Fortress, the 14thcentury Evangelical Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church, which is the oldest Orthodox stone church in South-Eastern Transylvania. Last but not least, our town is home to some very original cultural events.”

These old places of worship keep legends alive, and beyond legends, a rich history brought to light by the tireless effort of archeologists, historians, architects and experts from the field of art and culture. We also extend an invitation to people transiting Romania to make a stopover and visit these unforgettable places in our country. We make the first stopover in northern Moldavia. The first monastery whose doors we open for you today is Moldovita.





The painted church of this monastery has been put on UNESCO’s world heritage list. One of the nuns of the monastery will accompany us on a tour of this monastery, which was built in 1532 during the reign of Petru Rares. She will present to us several exhibits put on display at the museum, starting with the exceptional tourist destination trophy granted by the International Federation of Journalists and Writers in Tourism, FIJET.





Nun: ”We have put on display the ‘Golden Apple’ award which has been granted to five monasteries with interior and exterior mural paintings: Moldovita, Sucevita, Arbore, Humor and Voronet. It was offered in 1975. Near this trophy, we have put on display a 17th century triptych, two epitaphs, woven with golden and silver threads. One of them was offered by ruler Stephen the Great. The original throne belonging to Petru Rares, dating back to the 16th century, which is made of sycamore maple wood and carved in Moldovan style, is also put on display. You can also see a book of psalms in Slavonic handwritten by bishop Ifrim with a goose quill, on a parchment, two lecterns, religious books, a triptych in Slavonic, a music book and old coins, discovered on the premises of the monastery. There is also a Gospel in Slavonic, donated by Czarina Ecaterina II of Russia, in the 18th century. Icons painted on wood in the 17th-18th centuries are also on display.”





Another gem of architecture, Rohia monastery, is also in the north, in Maramures, which is another famous tourist region with a rich history. It is located in a breathtakingly beautiful area, on the top of a hill, at an altitude of 550 meters, in a beech and oak forest. There we were met father Macarie Motogna.





Macarie Motogna:” You can visit the library of the monastery, which boasts 40,000 volumes from various fields: theology, history, medicine, philosophy and literature. The books are written in various languages, and the library was initially arranged by father Nicolae Steinhardt (a prominent Romanian writer, literary critic and legal scholar, who lived between 1912 and 1989). Another interesting place to see is the chapel of the monastery, where you can see an exceptional iconostasis depicting truly special scenes, not only religious scenes, but also portraits of men of culture and historical personalities.”





Tourists to eastern Romania, namely Buzau county, be they pilgrims, art or history lovers, make a stopover at the Ciolanu Monastery. Situated some 40 km off Buzau, the capital of the county with the same name, the monastery has been documented as early as the 16th century and boasts two churches situated a small distance from one another. There, you can visit not only the churches, but also a museum, where you can admire 200-year-old icons. It is a monastery for monks, and an ideal place for meditation. Abbot Filaret Urse has further details:





Abbot Filaret Urse:”First of all, the Ciolanu monastery has been open to visitors from its very beginning. It has never been closed, irrespective of the political regimes that succeed each other. One of the specific elements of the monastery, which I am glad to share with you, is that our Holy Liturgy has continued uninterrupted since the monastery was built. There are two churches on the premises. The upper church was built 450 years ago by order of a prince. Its patron saint is St George. It is the smaller church of the monastery. It has not been preserved unaltered, and has undergone changes along the years. The second church, the big one, is situated lower down, and its patron saints are St Apostles Peter and Paul. It was built by order of bishop Chesarie Capatana, between 1825 and 1828. The painting work took two years to complete.”





If you visit Buzau, don’t miss the Ratesti monastery, 30 km off the county seat. The interior is covered by a fresco painted between 1843-1844 by famous Romanian painter Nicolae Teodorescu (1799-1880, uncle to Gheorghe Tattarescu). The collection of old religious books put on display in the hall of the museum is extremely valuable. As early as 1878, there were some 180 volumes in the library. In 1900, the library boasted many manuscripts, the most valuable being a volume dating back to 1780. Nun Amalia from Ratesti monastery has further details:





Nun Amalia:” The church is a historical monument. It was built in just one year, between 1843-1844, by order of bishop Chesarie Capatana, who is the founder of the church. It has the compositional structures of local ecclesiastic architecture, with neoclassical elements, used mainly for decorative purposes. As regards the painting, the scenes which capture the visitors’ attention in particular are those in the narthex, which features scenes depicted in Virgin Mary’s special prayer, and scenes featuring the passions of our Lord Jesus Christ are painted in the nave.”

Rasnov is an ideal place for families. Constantin Ungureanu, the president of the Rosenau Tourism Association in Rasnov will be our guide in our virtual trip throughout this special region of Transylvania.

“Rasnov provides a wide range of activities for tourists thanks to tourist infrastructure investments that have been made over the last 6 years. Top attractions of the area are the Rasnov Citadel, the Valea Cetatii Cave where symphonic music concerts are held on Saturdays afternoon and the Evangelical Church in Rasnov dating from the 14th century where tourists can listen to organ concerts every Friday afternoon. Ski and biathlon lovers can benefit from modern facilities, unique in south eastern Europe. These facilities can be used all year round”.

Rasnov is also home to two riding centers, a mountain club and a horse farm. In the Rasnov Gorges tourists can practice mountaineering, bouldering and bungee jumping. The area also offers great opportunities for trekking. There also are caves, 4 tourist routes and a chalet. Rasnov offers great opportunities to sports lovers and culture aficionados alike. Our guide has more details:

“Rasnov has the richest cultural agenda of Brasov county. Between August 10th and the 19th, Rasnov will host the 3rd edition of the Historical Film Festival, then there is the Historical Reconstitution Festival and a children’s event called Game Mania. At Archaeological Kindergarten, children are taught how to shape clay, to paint and to act. This year will see the first edition of a Detective Film Festival”.

Rasnov is a great destination for all travelers, with a number of events held there throughout the year. Winter is ideal for sports, while many festivals are held in summer. Constantin Ungureanu says:

“It’s mostly foreign tourists who come here. Last year, the Rasnov Citadel received over 200,000 visitors. Most foreign tourists have strong bias related to Romania upon getting here. They see it as a poorly developed country. However, when they visit us, take in the landscape, and meet hospitable people, they change their ideas radically. The events that are held throughout the year draw an endless flow of tourists. For instance, some history students from the US have already made reservations for the month of August. They come to visit Rasnov and to carry out archeological diggings, on their own. They have received the approval of the Brasov Museum to make diggings in the Roman Camp.”

It is well known that Romanians like eating and Romanian cuisine known for its excellence. Just like in almost all regions of the country, the cuisine of the Rasnov area is truly special, and typically Transylvanian. A special dish of the region is the “zup”. It is a special spicy stew, cooked in a cast iron pot, particularly in spring, and always in the open. It bears German and Hungarian influences.

These are only some of the reasons why tourists choose to spend their holidays in the middle of nature, in a history-rich area, enjoying cultural events, says Constantin Ungureanu, the President of the “Rosenau Tourism” Association in Rasnov.

” You can come here to discover history. The first reason why I would like to invite you to visit the region is the Rasnov Citadel, the second reason is the 14th century Evangelical church, and last but not least the Romanian Orthodox Church, the oldest Orthodox Church made of stone, in southeastern Transylvania. Another tourist attraction is the ‘Valea Cetatii’ Cave, which has recently been opened to the public and features a state of the art lighting system.

The system produces cold light, to preserve the microclimate of the cave unaltered. In February 2013, Rasnov will host the Olympic Festival for Youth. Two sports events will take place in Rasnov: ski jump and biathlon. It is also worth mentioning the rich cultural agenda of the town, which includes exquisite cultural events.”

We have extended you the invitation to visit Rasnov. All you have to do is contact your travel agent, to get a holiday package in Rasnov, the ideal family destination.

Today we invite to join us on a tour of the Ceahlau National Park, found in the Ceahlau massif in northeastern Romania. The area is known for its unique variety of flaura and fauna but also for the numerous tourist routes which may be followed in a special picturesque background. Close by, there are a lot of resorts and a wide range of activities tourists can enjoy during their holidays. Ion Parvulescu — the head of the Administration Division of the Ceahlau National Park told us that almost one quarter of the 292 square meters of the Ceahlau massif is owned by the Ceahlau National Park. The most spectacular part of the mountain is in the central area whose special landscape was the result of a complex geological structure.

‘’The park is also known for its rich bio-diversity consisting of various species of plants and animals. The area provides easy access to tourists as compared to other mountain areas because it is situated at the junction of various roads linking Transylvania to Moldavia“

There are many routes which tourists can embark on, in order to learn more about local flora and fauna and do sports. There are easier or more difficult routes for beginners or more advanced hikers. Everybody is welcome to travel on the routes of the Ceahlau National Park. Ion Parvulescu talks about the first route which can take up to seven hours to complete.

‘’People who are fit can pick the longest route which starts in the northern part of Durau and goes down to the Mountain route. It then climbs up to the Fantanele Challet, to reach the sub alpine plateau under the Toaca Peak, the second largest height. It ends at the Dochia Chalet. That chalet is located at the highest altitude on the Ceahlau Mountain. The route goes down to the Nun Meadow and from there straight to the Mountain Spring. Tourists can indulge in the spectacular landscapes of the Ceahlau Mountain, with its rich biodiversity, and get a glimpse of the chamois, while climbing the mountain. This beautiful route crosses the mountain from north to south“

People wishing to make short trips in the surroundings can go to the Duruitoarea fall. Due to the water flow from the Ruptura brook and its tributaries, and water tumbling down from a height of about 100 m, the deafening roar of the fall can be heard from afar; hence the name the Roaring Fall. At the foot of the fall there is a wooden staircase which you can climb along a 30-m stretch to reach a platform dividing the waterfall into two different water columns. It takes about three hours to reach the waterfall.

There are three chalets on the massif; one of them stands at Izvorul Muntelui, at the entrance to the Ceahlau National Park. The other two are located within the park and are more accessible from the Durau resort. One of them is Fantanele, located at a 1220 m altitude, and the other one is Dochia, at 1700 m. If you don’t book accommodation, staff members can answer your queries about accommodation vacancies, routes and can give you maps. Ion Parvulescu again:

“Our administrative staffs are permanently in the park, particularly by its entrance gates, namely in Durau and Izvorul Muntelui. Tourists can get brochures, maps, various periodicals and books about the Ceahlau National Park. At the park entrance, tourists must pay a 5-lei fee, that is 1.15 Euros. The money is invested in the park infrastructure providing for an enjoyable trekking.”

Ion Parvulescu, head of division within the Ceahlau National Park Administration told us that foreign tourists have also visited the site:

”We’ve had a lot of foreign tourists from Argentina, Australia, and South Africa. There are also many European tourists, especially from Italy, France, Germany, the Czech Republic or Poland. Without bragging, we must tell you that they highly appreciate the beauty of the park and the way we put it to best use. We’re waiting for you to come to the Ceahlau National Park anytime. Obviously, it’s easier to visit in summer. There are days when 600-700 visitors enter the park in Durau. All of them are thrilled, the landscape is gorgeous, the air is clean and the beautiful flora is one of the park’s highlights. We expect you to come any time and we’re ready to provide you with necessary information.”

If we’ve convinced you to come over, we suggest you call your local travel agency, for appealing packages in the Ceahlau National Park area.

Bukovina and Maramures are at the top of the list when we think about ancient Romanian customs and traditions. This is especially significant around the great holidays, Easter and Christmas. Today you are invited to discover these two destinations, Bukovina and Maramures, through the perspective of special tourism offers, while not forgetting other areas in the country, which offer tourism packages at least as attractive.





Lacramioara Beilic, from the Bukovina Tourism Association tells us about the range of prices for packages in the region:



Lacramioara Beilic: “Our offers for Easter are quite varied, we have packages for accommodation only, starting at 58 Euro and going as high as 115 euros for a three to four night package, and complex packages that include more than meals(HB and FB) , for prices between 115 euros and 280 euros, for a seven day stay”.





Of course, these prices depend on the level of comfort you choose, and the additional services, which may include trips in the surrounding area or visits to traditional crafts workshops. In Bukovina, you shouldn’t miss the Museum of Painted Eggs, belonging to Lucia Condrea, who’s been practicing this craft for many years. She has painted over 10,000 eggs along the years and knows the tastes of each tourist, no matter what continent they hail from. She says about Belgians, for instance, that they have embroideries similar to the Romanian ones.





That is why an egg made for a Belgian has patterns similar to embroidery. 80 international exhibitions in 15 years of activity have turned eggs painted by Lucia Condrea into unique works of art. She uses 6 different techniques, but the result is always unique. What are other reasons for which tourists should come to Bukovina? Lacramioara Beilic answers:





Lacramioara Beilic: “First of all, it is a spiritual and traditional exercise. For us, Easter is the most important religious holiday of the year. Whether you are in a rural area or in a city, in our homes we follow this tradition to the letter. This is the reason why travel agencies have very interesting offers, which include specific activities showing tourists who visit our country, or who come back as visitors, what this holiday means to us. The main reason for which people visit us are the painted churches in Bukovina, an attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists. These UNESCO heritage monuments are famous across the world and represent the main attraction of the area. People who come to visit on holidays wish to get back in touch with spirituality and tradition visiting these monuments”.





The region of Bukovina is situated in the north-east of the country, some 450 kilometers from Romania’s capital city, so it has not been affected by modernity very much. Rural areas there are a genuine open-air museum, just like the neighboring area of Maramures.



Also, make sure you don’t miss a trip to Maramures’s most famous tourist attraction: the Merry Cemetery in Sapinta. With details on that, here is father Grigore Lutai.





Grigore Lutai: “I am impressed with how many tourists and foreigners from all continents come to visit us. Stan Ioan Patras created the cemetery. Until 1935, the crosses had neither epitaphs carved out on them, nor the portraits of those departed. However, upon the villagers’ request, that was carried through. A primary school graduate, Stan Ioan Patras succeeded in describing the whole life of those who passed away. In all cemeteries around the world homage is paid to those who passed away, but in Sapinta life is recorded on most of the 1,500 crosses in the Merry Cemetery just the way it was lived, with its good and bad moments, showing people’s main preoccupations.”





Our guest has also told us the history of the denomination: The Merry Cemetery. Before 1989, most tourists visiting Sapinta were French. In 1938, a group of tourists from Marseille having a stroll with master Stan Ioan Patras, said Sapinta was the only place where you laugh till you die. And that’s how they named the cemetery, and the name has been preserved to this day. Asked why he used blue to paint the crosses, Stan Ioan Patras said he wanted to capture a tiny bit of the sky. Blue is a color traditionally used to paint houses in the region. The whole area of Sapinta can be taken for a stage of a genuine performance, by those who are not familiar with the region’s customs. Father Grigore Lutai has more:





Grigore Lutai: “People come to our church dressed in traditional costumes. From the mayor to the doctor, everybody wears traditional clothes. They are proud of it. Every family has their own clothes. And there is another extraordinary thing in Sapanta. Every house has a traditional room, a room they call ‘the honorary room’; it’s a room they are sentimentally attached to. They never sleep in this room, as beds are very high and narrow. They only receive carolers there, store memorabilia, vintage carpets, platters and old icons. It’s a sort of a family altar. Dinners are served there, too, but the room is more of a family altar.”





You will enjoy traditional Easter dishes cooked by local housewives after centuries-old recipes passed down from generation to generation. And if you decided to go to Maramures, it would be a drag not to visit the neighboring Bistrita Nasaud county.





The trip takes a couple of hours at the most, and you can spend Easter in a 200-year-old household, a genuine time capsule, as ethnologist Emilia Bumb described it.





Emilia Bumb: “There is a tourist package in Bistrita Nasaud County including visits to several traditional houses, which are ready to welcome Romanian and foreign tourists. Their interior is specific to a peasant household, with traditional objects, blue walls, clay pots and traditional towels. Practically you may find anything there, just like in any traditional household decorated with objects created by craftsmen of the region. These old households can be visited, and can also offer accommodation.”





The addresses of these special houses can be found at the rural guesthouses in the area.