Maramures Bucovina Romania
3
Day Itinerary •
Romania
Three days in Maramures and Bucovina delivers the most extraordinary combination of living medieval traditions in Europe, from the remarkable Maramures wooden churches that are UNESCO World Heritage sites, the extraordinary Sapanta Merry Cemetery and the fine Vaser Valley steam train, to the most brilliantly preserved exterior Byzantine frescoes in the world at the Voronet and Sucevita painted monasteries. This focused route covers the essential Maramures and Bucovina experience. The extraordinary Barsana Monastery and the UNESCO wooden churches of the Iza Valley, the remarkable Sapanta Merry Cemetery on Day 1, the fine Mocanitsa steam train and the remarkable Moldovita painted monastery on Day 2, and the extraordinary Voronet Blue monastery, the remarkable Sucevita and the fine Suceava fortress on Day 3.
Best Time To Visit
May to October, wooden churches finest in summer
Getting There
Fly into Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) or Iasi (IAS), hire car
Getting Around
Hired car essential throughout the entire circuit
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 120 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, some mountain pass driving
DAY 1
MARAMURES
MORNING
BARSANA MONASTERY AND IZA VALLEY
The extraordinary Barsana Monastery, the finest contemporary wooden monastery in Maramures and one of the most remarkable religious complexes in Romania, built entirely in the extraordinary Maramures oak timber construction tradition since 1993 with soaring wooden spires and remarkable carved gate posts. The fine Iza River valley below Barsana, the most extraordinary rural valley in Romania, preserves the finest intact traditional Maramures landscape of wooden farmhouses, the remarkable haystacks, the fine orchards and the outstanding Gothic oak-spired churches in the most authentic medieval-to-modern agricultural setting in Europe. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
SAPANTA MERRY CEMETERY
The most extraordinary cemetery in the world, the remarkable Sapanta Merry Cemetery where the fine carved and painted oak grave markers created by the remarkable Stan Ioan Patras since 1935 depict the lives of the deceased in extraordinary colourful folk naif paintings with the fine ironic epitaphs in rhyming Romanian verse. The outstanding grave paintings showing how each person lived, worked and died, sometimes with the remarkable cause of death depicted humorously, are unlike any funerary tradition in Europe. Entry approx 10 RON. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
WOODEN CHURCHES OF MARAMURES UNESCO
The extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage wooden churches of Maramures, the finest collection of medieval timber religious architecture in Europe, where the remarkable tall oak spires of Barsana, Desesti, Poienile Izei, Rogoz, Budesti, Ieud and Surdesti rise from the extraordinary traditional villages of the Maramures highlands. The fine Church of Ieud Hill from the 17th century, one of the oldest wooden churches in Romania with the remarkable interior frescoes, is the finest UNESCO monument in Maramures.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Vadu Izei village at the entrance to the Iza Valley, the finest village gateway in Maramures, is where the remarkable traditional Maramures culture is most accessible with the outstanding wooden houses, fine hand-carved gates symbolising family wealth and the extraordinary embroidery traditions still practiced by the remarkable local women. The fine guesthouse accommodation in Vadu Izei is the finest traditional Maramures
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sighetu Marmatiei hotel Good breakfast before the Iza Valley drive. | Lunch: Barsana village cafe Simple outstanding Romanian lunch at a fine Barsana village restaurant. Extraordinary local mamaliga and fresh cheese. | Dinner: Sighetu Marmatiei Outstanding traditional Maramures dinner. Extraordinary home-made plum palinca and fine local lamb at a family guesthouse.
DAY 2
STEAM TRAIN AND PASS
MORNING
VASER VALLEY STEAM TRAIN
The extraordinary Mocanitsa steam train in the Vaser Valley near Viseu de Sus, the finest narrow-gauge steam railway still in working operation in Europe, where the remarkable 1932 locomotive hauls timber through the extraordinary Carpathian forest along the fine Vaser River valley to the logging camps 30km from the terminus. The remarkable steam train journey through the outstanding Maramures mountain forest, crossing the fine wooden bridges and stopping at the extraordinary logging villages, is the finest heritage railway experience in Romania. Return journey approx 70 RON. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
PRISLOP PASS AND BUCOVINA BORDER
The extraordinary Prislop Pass at 1,416 metres on the road from Maramures to Bucovina, the finest mountain pass in northern Romania, with the remarkable Haghimas mountain views and the extraordinary traditional monastery of Manastirea Prislop. The fine Prislop Pass marks the remarkable transition from the extraordinary Maramures wooden church landscape to the outstanding painted monastery country of Bucovina as the road descends into the fine Moldovita valley. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
MOLDOVITA PAINTED MONASTERY UNESCO
The extraordinary Moldovita Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the finest painted monastery in Bucovina, where the remarkable exterior frescoes from 1537 depicting the extraordinary Siege of Constantinople scene and the fine Last Judgement on the south wall are the most brilliantly preserved outdoor Byzantine frescoes in the world. The remarkable deep blue and gold Moldovita colour palette is the finest in the Bucovina painted monastery series. Entry approx 5 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Manastirea Putna near Radauti, the oldest monastery in Bucovina founded by Stefan cel Mare in 1469 and the burial site of the greatest ruler of medieval Moldova, is the finest pilgrimage monastery in Romania and the most important spiritual site in Bucovina. The remarkable treasury museum contains the finest collection of embroidered votive objects in Romania. Entry free to church, museum approx 5 RON.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Viseu de Sus hotel Good breakfast before the Mocanitsa steam train. Trains depart early morning. | Lunch: On the Mocanitsa train Simple remarkable food brought on the extraordinary steam train journey. | Dinner: Campulung Moldovenesc Outstanding traditional Bucovina dinner. Fine Moldavian sarmale and remarkable local sour soup.
DAY 3
BUCOVINA MONASTERIES
MORNING
VORONET BLUE MONASTERY UNESCO
The most extraordinary painted monastery in the world, the remarkable Voronet Monastery with its extraordinary exterior frescoes dominated by the unique Voronet Blue, a shade of blue that no scientist has been able to replicate, covering the entire western facade in the most remarkable Last Judgement fresco in Byzantine art. The fine calendar frieze and the outstanding depiction of the Resurrection are the finest exterior frescoes in Orthodox Christianity. Entry approx 5 RON. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
SUCEVITA AND HUMOR MONASTERIES
The extraordinary Sucevita Monastery in its remarkable defensive wall enclosure, the finest and largest of the Bucovina painted monasteries, with the outstanding dark green exterior frescoes covering all four walls and the remarkable Ladder of Virtues on the north wall where angels and demons struggle for ascending souls. Then the fine Humor Monastery with its remarkable painted Hymn to the Virgin fresco. Both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Entry approx 5 RON each. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
SUCEAVA FORTRESS AND DEPARTURE
The extraordinary Suceava Fortress, the ruined 14th-century seat of the Moldavian princes who built the remarkable Bucovina painted monasteries, perched on the fine hill above the Suceava River with outstanding views over the Bucovina countryside. The remarkable citadel of Stefan cel Mare, the finest medieval ruler in Romanian history who built 44 churches and monasteries and never lost a battle against the Ottoman Empire, is the finest historic site in Bucovina. Entry approx 10 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Arbore Church near Suceava, a remarkable 1502 painted church with the finest collection of narrative fresco scenes in Bucovina, is almost entirely overlooked by tourists who focus on the famous five UNESCO monasteries. The extraordinary green-dominated exterior fresco palette and the remarkable fine detail of the narrative scenes are the finest painted church in Bucovina outside the UNESCO five. Entry approx 5 RON.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Campulung Moldovenesc hotel Good breakfast before the Voronet visit. Arrive before the tour buses at 9am. | Lunch: Sucevita village Simple outstanding lunch near the extraordinary Sucevita Monastery. Fine local Bucovina bread and cheese. | Dinner: Suceava farewell Outstanding farewell Moldavian dinner. Fine fish ciorba sour soup and remarkable local Cotnari wine.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Sighetu Marmatiei Casa Iurca or Pensiunea Oltean. Maramures guesthouses. Approx 150 to 300 RON per night. Bucovina Casa Elena or Hotel Balada Suceava. Approx 150 to 350 RON per night. Budget Traditional pensiones and family guesthouses. Approx 80 to 150 RON per night.
Top Tips
1. Hire a car before arriving. The entire Maramures and Bucovina circuit is inaccessible by public transport.
2. Book the Mocanitsa steam train the day before at Viseu de Sus. Departs 8am sharp.
3. Visit Voronet before 9am. The extraordinary Last Judgement fresco is finest in morning light.
4. Stay in a Maramures family guesthouse. The traditional hospitality and home-made palinca are extraordinary.
5. The painted monasteries are active religious communities. Dress modestly and follow the entry rules.
6. The Maramures landscape is finest in June when the extraordinary hay meadows are at their peak.
Total Budget
190 to 700 RON/day