The Municipality of Baia Mare
The Municipality of Baia Mare

The Municipality of Baia Mare

Obiective turistice

Baia Mare, Romania

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Hearing the heart’s call, Baia Mare we shall explore

We must admit that rural Maramureș is the favorite of tourists, but any route you would follow through our beautiful county must have as a starting point the urban center of Baia Mare, a city with a rich past and a promising future. It is no coincidence that we mentioned the rich past of the city, documented since 1329, which developed as a gold center during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Two fragments of the defense wall of the Baia Mare fortress can still be seen today in the city. One of them is in the immediate vicinity of the Maramureș County Museum of History and Archeology, while another fragment is visible on Podul Viilor Street, near the Săsar River. The fortification system was built in the time of Matthias Corvinus (Matei Corvin) and included four gates and seven towers, of which only the Butchers' Bastion survived until today. The latter's name comes from the butchers' guild, to which the bastion was entrusted, but it is also known as the Ammunition Bastion, as it served as a place to store ammunition to protect the fortress. The death of Pintea the Brave (Pintea Viteazu) is connected to this Bastion: he was shot near the South Gate of the city during the anti-Habsburg uprising. The Bastion currently hosts ethnographic and folklore exhibitions and fairs.

The former Central Square of the city, known today as the Historic Center, also tells us about the past. Those who fall prey to the medieval air of the area, surrounded by centuries-old buildings, with the status of a historical monument, feel like in a time machine. The Iancu de Hunedoara House is such a building, that has carried the story of its erection across the centuries. It is joined by other architectural gems such as the Degenfeld House, the beautiful building of the former King Stephen's Hotel, the Agricultural House, the Harácsek House, the Lendvay House, the Husovski-Petrescu House or the Black Eagle Inn.

No matter how beautiful all these buildings are, the star of the city remains Stephen’s Tower (Turnul Ștefan), located in the Citadel Square. Dating back to the 14th century, the Tower is a symbol of the city of Baia Mare, and has served as a bell tower for the former "Saint King Stephen" church. The construction of the massive stone tower with a height of 50 meters was ordered by John Hunyadi (Ioan de Hunedoara) to celebrate a victory. The moon clock, installed in 1928, completes the medieval characteristics of the monument. The bell, about five centuries old, found its place in the tower only in 1925. A total of 165 narrow stairs give access to the turret at the top, which reveals an unparalleled view over the city. On the southern side of the Citadel Square we also find the "Holy Trinity" Roman Catholic Church of the former Jesuit monastery, which was built in Baroque style between 1717-1720 and belonged to the Jesuits until 1773. On its facade are two side niches, with the statues of the Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Alois Gonzaga, but also a central one, where you can see the statue of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus in his arms. The murals on the vault, made in the early twentieth century, are attributed to the painter Károly Kiss, while the painting of the main altar, made in 1823, is the work of the painter László Kármán. Not far from this place we find another historical monument of Baia Mare. It is the "Saint Antony of Padua" church (Sfântul Anton de Padova) in Liberty Square, which was erected in 1402 by the Order of Minorities, underwent extensive rehabilitation works in the 19th  century. The small place of worship is surprising due to its simplicity, having a modestly decorated interior. The altar painting is the work of the painter Megyeri Mayer, from Budapest. Another emblem of the city is the Reformed Church on Podul Viilor Street. It was built between 1792 and 1809, in Neoclassical style, its church tower, with a height of 50 meters, being erected in 1836. The place of worship with the red dome tower became, along with Stephen Tower, a symbol of Baia Mare. The interior of the church houses a beautiful priestly tribune built in 1786, an altar table completed in 1873, but also an organ made in 1828 and refurbished in 1891. Keeping the spiritual register, we turn our attention to the Evangelical Church. Although the conversion of the entire city of Baia Mare to the Reformed religion was recorded in 1547, the current Evangelical Church was built only in 1912, after the first church, built in 1693, was demolished and the second, built in 1805, was replaced. The current church was built in the Art Nouveau style and still houses the pews, organ and altar of the old church. The painting of the altar bears the signature of the painter Iványi Grünwald Béla, completed in 1903. Among the holy places are the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Adormirea Maicii Domnului) and the imposing Orthodox Episcopal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, which today is 85 meters long, 50 meters wide and 85 meters high. 

The city of Baia Mare also boasts a generous cultural offer. The Maramureș County Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art, “Victor Gorduza” County Museum of Mineralogy from Baia Mare, the Baia Mare Museum of Astronomical Sciences, the Maramureș County Museum of History and Archeology and the Maramureș County Museum of Art - Baia Mare Artistic Center - are some of the cultural institutions that greet their visitors with a unique museum background. Another representative place for the cultural life of Baia Mare is the Painters’ Colony (Colonia Pictorilor). For  over a century, it has been the meeting point for artists from the country and abroad, who have defined and refined their style at the Baia Mare School of Painting. The Painters’ Colony ensemble was included on the List of Historical Monuments in 2010, being subjected to a rehabilitation project that was completed in 2017. The exhibition complex reveals the identity of the Baia Mare artistic guild, in a space that combines the past with the present, being an expression of its continuity. Art lovers can also admire three statuary complexes in the city, namely the Monument dedicated to the Romanian Soldier (Monumentul Ostașului Român), the Council of the Elders (Sfatul Bătrânilor) and the Miner’s Statue (Statuia Minerului). Theater enthusiasts will not be bored in Baia Mare either, as they can opt for the performances of the two artistic institutions in the city, namely the Municipal Theater or the Puppet Theater. 

And when you thought we had finished the journey through the tourist heritage of Baia Mare, we have kept some recommendations for those who want to enjoy nature. On the administrative territory of the city you will find the "Sweet Chestnut Tree Baia Mare" Natural Reserve, the Columns of Limpedea Reserve and the Firiza Dam, three attractions for those who prefer to spend time outdoors. If we were sober to the end, you would say that we are not true "moroșeni"- Maramureș dwellers, so we promise you that in our city you will find as much fun as possible, the nightlife being just as effervescent in the city at the foot of the Gutâi Mountains. 

We finished talking / Now you are free to visit!

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The Cemetery of the Poor

The cemetery, where 54 detainees who passed in the political prison are believed to have been buried, part of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and the Resistance, is surrounded by fir trees displayed in the shape of Romania. At the point where the town of Sighetu Marmației is located, an altar-cenotaph was erected on this map, behind which a Byzantine-style cross was placed. The cemetery also houses memorial plaques, a Memorial Gate, crucifixes, and urns containing earth brought from various prisons, camps, and deportation centers.
Sighetu Marmației 435500, Romania
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The Chioarului Fortress from Berchezoaia

Part of the Lăpuș Gorge Nature Reserve, Chioarului Fortress was first documented in 1319, being destroyed four centuries later, under the cannons of the Austrian nobility. Located at an altitude of 475 m and surrounded on three sides by the Lăpuș River, the fortress has served, for centuries, in the defense of the communities established around it. Currently, the ruins of the Chioarului Fortress are part of the list of historical monuments of national interest. 
Remetea Chioarului, Romania
Atracție naturală Obiective turistice

The Șipot Waterfall

Șipot Waterfall is located at the exit from Săpânța, Maramureș County, on the road to Negrești - Oaș. There are several waterfalls on the Nadoșa Valley, the Șipot Waterfall being the largest of them, overflowing over a rock with a height of about 7-8 meters. The tourist route has a low degree of difficulty, and can be crossed both on foot and by off-road vehicles. It is located in a deciduous forest that offers tourists unique displays of color, regardless of the season. The hiking area is very well known by enthusiasts of the spring water called borcut, due to its ferruginous springs rich in natural minerals.
Sapanta, Romania
Obiective turistice

The "Ulmu Base" Permaculture Center

The "Ulmu Base" permaculture center is a didactic household, where tourists can stay in eco-domes built with super-adobe technique, and where they can acquire valuable knowledge about the ecological lifestyle, promoted by the founders of this unique project. Also here, visitors can enjoy the fruits harvested directly from the garden, obtained through organic farming.
Ulmoasa, Romania
Muzeu Obiective turistice
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The Teleki Castle - The Petőfi Sándor Museum

Teleki Castle is believed to have been erected between 1740 and 1760, during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa. The most famous owner of the imposing building erected in the Baroque style was Teleki Sándor of Szék, a well-known revolutionary and writer, close to some personalities of the time, including the poet Petőfi Sándor. Between 1846 and 1847, the famous Hungarian poet was a three-time guest at Teleki Castle, the most important stay taking place in 1847, when Petőfi Sándor and his wife spent their honeymoon here. The visit, which lasted more than a month, culminated in the enrichment of Hungarian literature with 24 love poems, works that the poet wrote on a stone table in the castle courtyard. Originally, the castle housed a single Petőfi Sándor memorial room, but in 1960, as more and more pieces joined the collection, it was extended over an entire floor. In 2020, the historic monument building was inaugurated as a result of a rehabilitation process, and the museum's exhibition material shall be further expanded with the support of the Petőfi Literary Museum in Budapest. The rooms of the museum welcome their guests with themes related to the history of the building, from the presentation of the Teleki family and the evolution of the castle, to the visits of the poet Petőfi Sándor. Not only the inside of the castle is surprising, but also the outside area, where one can still admire the horn and the stone table on which the famous works of art of the poet were created, as well as a group of statues representing the relatives of Count Teleki, a crucifix and magnificent secular trees. 
Piata Eroilor Nr. 43, Coltău 437283, Romania
Muzeu Obiective turistice

The "Stan Ioan Pătraș" Memorial House

The modest wooden house reproduces the unmistakable style of the master cross-maker, who made the name of Maramureș known throughout the world. The carpenter Stan Ioan Pătraș was only 14 years old when he started to transform pieces of oak into works of art, perfecting his style over time. Thus, the crosses he sculpted were no longer reminiscent of dull funerary monuments, his art combining folk craft with painting, sculpture and poetry. The vivid colors, the sculpted figures, but also the famous epitaphs that speak ironically about the fate of the dead, adorn more than 700 crosses made by Stan Ioan Pătraș. In addition to the famous crosses with epitaphs, the artist left behind other sculpted objects, as well as numerous painted icons. The tourist objective that pays homage to the life of the folk craftsman is located just a few hundred meters from the Merry Cemetery and consists of the house, the stable and the workshop in the yard, which belonged to the most famous artist of Săpânța. Inside the house you can see the specific furniture, along with household textiles, but also a significant collection of objects crafted with care and skill by Stan Ioan Pătraș himself. The story of the craftsman is carried forward not only by the works that bear his mark, but also by his successor, Dumitru Tincu Pop, who continues his work, restoring old crosses and creating new ones, in the same "Săpânța blue", according to artistic canons passed down from his master.
Unnamed Road, Săpânța 437305, Romania
Muzeu Obiective turistice

The "Ion Șugariu" Memorial House

The hero-poet, Ion Șugariu, was born in 1914 in Băița and has distinguished himself throughout his life by his important publishing activity, highlighted by his collaboration with well-known publications, at national level. His debut poem, "Hymn to youth", was published in 1934 in the "Observatorul" magazine. During his university studies at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, he was appointed President of the Refugee Students Association. During the Second World War, Ion Șugariu was forced to give up his career in order to serve his country, initially as a reserve officer of a training school, and later as a member of an Infantry Regiment. The poet passed away during the horrors of war in Czechoslovakia, where he had remained, after being sent to Hungary in 1944. He left behind an important wartime manuscript, a diary describing the emotional impact of the battlefield experience. The house that today bears his name was donated to the state in 1976 by Floarea Șugar and was in the patrimony of the Maramureș County Museum until 2008, when it entered into the administration of the Local Council of Tăuții-Măgherăuș. Those who visit the small parental home of the talented poet and journalist have the opportunity to discover, in one of the rooms, documents, letters and manuscripts describing the author's life, and in the second room, a decoration specific to the traditional homes of miners in this area.
Strada 80, Băița, Romania
Muzeu Obiective turistice
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The "Elie Wiesel" Memorial House

Elie Wiesel Memorial House is a special place that honors the memory of one of the most famous personalities of Maramureș. The first attempts to evoke the culture of Maramureș Jews took place in the early 70's, when the Maramureș Village Museum wished to represent the Jewish culture, an initiative that materialized through the restoration and arrangement of two houses that belonged to Jewish families. After the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1986 to Professor Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the concentration camps that took the life of millions of Jews, efforts were made for many years to turn the house where he was born into a museum. The Elie Wiesel Memorial House, which opened its doors to the public only in 2002, is located right in the house where the famous novelist, playwright, essayist and memorialist lived until the age of 15, in one of the old Jewish neighborhoods in Sighetu-Marmației. After experiencing the horrors of Jews and other minority groups during World War II, Elie Wiesel published nearly 40 volumes describing the inhuman treatment of the victims of the Holocaust in Nazi extermination camps. In the rooms of the memorial house are exhibited pieces of furniture and decor that belonged to Jewish families, but also a reconstruction of Elie Wiesel's desk, along with documents and photographs on the life of the memorialist. Also, one of the rooms of the house evokes the consequences of the Vienna Dictate, which led to the deportation of Jews from Maramureș and one room presents the cultural relations that Elie Wiesel had with other personalities of the Jewish community in Sighetu Marmației. The courtyard of the house was arranged as a space for recreation and silence, a good place to contemplate the cruel truths revealed inside the museum.
Strada Tudor Vladimirescu 1, Sighetu Marmației 435500, Romania
Muzeu Obiective turistice

„Dr. Ilie Lazăr” Memorial House

Born in 1895, Ilie Lazăr distinguished himself as a lawyer and, above all, as a politician. He fought in the First World War, after which he was a member of the Romanian National Party in Hungary and Transylvania and then a deputy on behalf of the National Peasant Party. Dr. Ilie Lazăr is one of the historical personalities from these lands who contributed to the accomplishment of the Great Union, being delegated to the Great National Assembly in Alba Iulia. The memorial house from Giulești is also related to the historical period of the Great Union, here being summoned the members of the Maramureș delegation who then signed the union of Maramureș with Wallachia. The building, which is a monument of traditional architecture, was erected in 1826 and originally belonged to the Greek Catholic archpriest Vasile Mihalyi, and was later inherited by the Lazarus family. The house with oak soles and walls made of spruce beams combined in a "blockbau" system respects the traditional Maramures typology. Those who cross the threshold of the boyar house with six rooms will discover documents, photographs and manuscripts from the Union period, as well as an exhibition of local ethnography.
Giulești 437160, Romania