The region of Maramures, isolated by two mountain ranges, kept close ties with its customs, thus preserving more than anywhere in the country the habit of wearing the traditional clothes, especially on holidays and while going to church. Elaborately carved timber is still heavily used for buildings and, especially, for intricate gates. The breath taking-complex of Barsana convent, located in an idyllic valley, is a great example of this. All the communities of the region have their respective wooden churches. In an out of the way village, visit one of them, not in use anymore (so you can explore all the nooks and crannies). Due to its location, it is virtually unknown, even though the almost 300 year old interior naïf painting is still incredibly vivid. Enjoy a copious authentic Maramures lunch in the house of the former local cultural promoter, now a good friend of ours. After lunch, hug the Romanian Northern border to the colorful and unique Merry Cemetery, where the life story of the deceased is reflected on their wooden crosses in meaningful and sometimes even hilarious hand-carved images and poems. En route to your cozy accommodation, get a glimpse of the tallest wooden church in the world, Peri (UNESCO).
