In Maramures, elaborately carved timber is still heavily used for buildings and, especially, for intricate gates. 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. A few villages away, in an idyllic valley, lies the breathtaking complex of Barsana convent, a great recent example of the style. The pointy steepled wooden church, of impressive height, watches over the occasional nun, leaning over the colorful flower beds, always kept in perfect order. A short distance away, don’t miss the church of Ieud. Some historians argue that, perched upon its hilltop, it managed to weather for more than 600 years both nature and nomadic invasions. Leave the enchanted land of Maramures behind, going through villages, following rivers and crossing hay-stacked valleys, surrounded by mountains. End the day in the town of Bistrita, with a walk through its small but pretty pedestrian center.
