Maramures Bucovina Romania
5
Day Itinerary •
Romania
Five days in Maramures and Bucovina gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest living medieval and Byzantine heritage in Europe, from the remarkable UNESCO wooden churches of the Iza Valley and the extraordinary Sapanta Merry Cemetery to the fine Mocanitsa steam train, the outstanding painted monasteries of Bucovina and the remarkable Stefan cel Mare foundations at Putna. This extended route covers Maramures and Bucovina completely. The extraordinary wooden churches and Sapanta on Day 1, the remarkable steam train and Moldovita on Day 2, the fine Voronet and Sucevita on Day 3, the extraordinary remote Maramures valleys and Borsa mountain park on Day 4, and the remarkable complete Bucovina monastery circuit and Putna on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
May to October for the finest landscape and monastery colours
Getting There
Fly into Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) or Iasi (IAS)
Getting Around
Hired car essential throughout the entire circuit
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 130 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mountain pass driving, some optional walking
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
REMOTE MARAMURES
MORNING
MERRY CEMETERY TO PIETROASA HIDDEN VILLAGES
The extraordinary Pietroasa valley north of Barsana, the finest and most remote traditional valley in Maramures, where the remarkable isolated villages of Botiza, Ieud and Oncesti preserve the extraordinary 18th-century Maramures way of life in the most authentic traditional landscape in Romania. The fine traditional wooden churches, the outstanding hand-embroidered costumes still worn by the remarkable older villagers and the extraordinary hay meadow landscape give the most extraordinary living folk culture experience in Europe. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MARAMURES VILLAGE GUESTHOUSE LUNCH AND CRAFTS
The extraordinary traditional lunch at a fine Maramures family guesthouse, the finest cultural experience in northern Romania, where the remarkable home-made food includes the fine sheep and goat cheeses of the extraordinary Maramures mountain pastures, the outstanding home-cured pork products, the remarkable pickled vegetables and the extraordinary home-distilled palinca plum brandy. The fine hand-embroidered textiles, the remarkable carved wooden objects and the outstanding traditional costumes are the finest Romanian crafts. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
BORSA SKI RESORT AND RODNEI MOUNTAINS
The extraordinary Borsa mountain resort and the remarkable Rodnei Mountains National Park, the finest wild mountain area in northern Romania, where the outstanding bear, wolf and lynx populations roam the extraordinary primary beech and spruce forest. The fine Cascada Cailor waterfall, the tallest waterfall in the Eastern Carpathians at 90 metres, is accessible by a remarkable cable car from Borsa and gives the finest mountain scenery in the Rodnei massif.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Maramures hay meadow landscape in June and July, when the remarkable wildflower meadows are at their peak and the fine traditional farmers still cut hay with scythes on the extraordinary hillside fields, is the finest traditional agricultural landscape remaining in Europe. The remarkable sight of a Maramures farmer on a horse-drawn hay cart on the extraordinary rolling hills is the finest travel image in Romania.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Maramures guesthouse Outstanding traditional home breakfast. Fine local eggs, extraordinary cheese and remarkable home-baked bread. | Lunch: Maramures family guesthouse The finest traditional Maramures lunch. Extraordinary home cooking with remarkable local ingredients. | Dinner: Viseu de Sus hotel Simple good dinner near the extraordinary Mocanitsa steam train terminal.
DAY 5
MONASTERY CIRCUIT
MORNING
SUCEVITA AND THE FIVE MONASTERIES
The extraordinary Bucovina painted monastery circuit completing all five UNESCO World Heritage monasteries in one morning with the fine Sucevita, the remarkable Moldovita, the outstanding Voronet Blue, the fine Humor and the remarkable Arbore non-UNESCO monastery. The extraordinary diversity of colour palettes, from the remarkable Moldovita blue to the fine Voronet ultramarine and the outstanding Sucevita green, makes the complete Bucovina monastery circuit the finest collection of Byzantine exterior fresco painting in the world. 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
PUTNA MONASTERY AND STEFAN CEL MARE
The extraordinary Putna Monastery near Radauti, founded in 1469 by Stefan cel Mare and the burial place of the finest medieval ruler of Romania, the fine treasury museum with the most remarkable collection of embroidered textiles in Romania and the outstanding medieval manuscripts. The remarkable pilgrimage to Putna on Stefan cel Mare's death anniversary is the finest traditional religious festival in Bucovina. Entry to church free, treasury approx 5 RON. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
IASI AND RETURN OR DEPARTURE
The extraordinary Iasi, the finest and most historically significant city in Moldova and the former capital of the Moldavian Principality, with the remarkable Three Hierarchs Church from 1639 whose extraordinary exterior is entirely covered in the finest carved stone lacework patterns. The fine Iasi Cultural Palace and the outstanding National Theatre, the oldest in Romania, are the finest cultural buildings in northeastern Romania. Iasi has excellent flight connections for departure.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Three Hierarchs Church in Iasi from 1639, entirely covered in the finest carved limestone lacework exterior decoration by Caucasian, Byzantine and Polish craftsmen, is the most remarkable single building in northeastern Romania. The outstanding interior with the remarkable royal tombs and the fine carved stone decoration make it the finest church building in Moldavia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Suceava or Campulung hotel Good breakfast before the Sucevita monastery circuit. | Lunch: Putna village Outstanding traditional Bucovina lunch near the extraordinary monastery. Fine homemade pastries and remarkable local soup. | Dinner: Iasi or flight Fine farewell Moldavian dinner in Iasi or departure.
Where To Stay
Sighetu Marmatiei Casa Iurca de Calinesti or traditional pensiones. Approx 150 to 300 RON per night. Bucovina Casa Elena Suceava or Hotel Balada. Approx 150 to 350 RON per night. Remote Maramures Traditional family guesthouses in Botiza or Breb. Approx 100 to 200 RON with meals.
Top Tips
1. Hire a car before arriving. The Maramures and Bucovina circuit is entirely inaccessible by public transport.
2. Book the Mocanitsa steam train the day before. Departs 8am from Viseu de Sus station.
3. Stay in Breb or Botiza traditional guesthouses. The finest home hospitality in Romania.
4. Visit Voronet before 9am for the finest light on the extraordinary Last Judgement fresco.
5. The painted monasteries require modest dress. All five can be visited in one day on Day
5.
6. Romanian June and July are the finest months for the extraordinary Maramures hay meadow landscape.
Total Budget
210 to 710 RON/day