Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mănăstirea
is 1km east of Sat-Şugatag. The church here was built by monks in 1633.
By 1787 just one monk and four servants remained, and during the reign of Austro-Hun-
garian Emperor Joseph II the monastery was closed. The original monks' cells are on the
northern side of the church.
Seven kilometres south of Mănăstirea is
Hărniceşti
, home to a marvellous Orthodox
church dating from 1770. A footpath, signposted 'Spre Monument', leads from the vil-
lage's primary school to the hillside church.
Nine kilometres southeast of the village of Ocna Şugatag is
Hoteni
, known for its
Tân-
jaua de pe Mara
folk festival held from 1 May to 14 May to celebrate the first ploughing.
EASTERN MARA VALLEY & COSĂU VALLEY
Heading south from Sighetu, bear left at
Fereşti
along the road leading to some of Mara-
mureş' least accessible villages. From Baia Mare, you can approach this area through
Cavnic, across the Neteda Pass.
Corneşti
, the first village along this stretch, has a small 18th-century church with in-
terior paintings by Hodor Toador.
Călineşti
, 7km further south, has two churches, known
as Susani (
sus
meaning 'up') and Josani (
jos
meaning 'low'). The Susani church (1683) is
on the left side of the road as you enter the village from the north. The Josani church, built
20 years earlier, is more spectacular.
From Călineşti a road leads to
Sârbi
, inhabited since 1402. Its two churches are built
from oak. The Susani church dates from 1667, the Josani church from 1665. A traditional
'natural laundrette', ingeniously constructed by villagers to utilise the hydropower from
the stream, is still used to wash clothes and blankets here.
If ever there was a place that conjoured bucolic Eden,
Budeşti
is it: men sport straw,
nipple-shaped hats, women are garbed in floral headscarves, and all is backdropped by in-
tricately carved wooden entrances to cosy cottages stacked with firewood. There are a
couple of shops scattered about and a pension. The village also has one of the most beauti-
ful churches in Maramureş.
Josani church
, built in 1643, features four small turrets sur-
rounding the main steeple. The church's most prized piece is the 18th-century painting of
the Last Judgment. If the church is locked, there's a phone number on the entrance door.
Budeşti is reachable from Sighet by bus or maxitaxi (or dedicated hitching). Pack a
lunch as food here is scarce.
