The Municipality of Sighetu Marmației
The Municipality of Sighetu Marmației

The Municipality of Sighetu Marmației

About

Wandering around this town 

In the place where the map is pined.

Although our thoughts come rushing in heads, when we think of all the sights in Sighetu Marmatiei, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and Resistance stands out, first of all because here one can still hear the silent cry of suffering endured by those who fell prey to the injustices of a dictatorial regime. Each cell of the former prison was arranged as a museum hall, describing chronologically or thematically the terror of the communist regime. In one of the memorial courtyards one can visit a Space of Recollection and Prayer, built in memory of the almost 8000 detainees who were taken to prisons, camps and deportation facilities in Romania. The museum houses several works of art that ennoble the space and amplify the deeply emotional experience that visitors to this place feel, the largest work being the statuary group called the "Sacrifice Procession" (Cortegiul Sacrificaților). The museum also includes the Cemetery of the Poor, where it is said that 54 detainees were buried. It is surrounded by fir trees laid out in the shape of Romania, and at the point where the town of Sighetu Marmației is found on this map, an altar-cenotaph has been erected, behind which a magnificent Byzantine-style cross was placed. 

Among the gems of the Sighetu Marmației museum, we find the departments of the Maramureș Museum, an institution under the aegis of which are found some of the most interesting collections. No visitor to Maramureș can miss the opportunity to admire a true example of traditional local architecture, comprised of over 40 heritage objects exhibited in the Maramureș Village Museum. This experience must be completed by visiting the Ethnographic Museum of Maramureș, whose collections enrich the traditional image of the villages of Maramureș. The foray into the natural richness of the Maramureș Depression can be truly impressive, highlighted by the valuable exhibits of plants, vertebrates, fungi, minerals, rocks and fossils, found in the Department of Natural Sciences. We also suggest a time travel, which goes back to the Neolithic and is made possible by exploring the museum of the Department of History and Archeology. The next stop is the Department of History of Culture - Memorial - Art - Dr. Ioan Mihalyi de Apşa Museum House, right in the building where the great Romanian historian lived and created his work. Of course, we cannot forget the Museum of Jewish Culture and Civilization in Maramureș - Elie Wiesel Memorial House, and we invite you to cross the threshold of the house, where the famous novelist, playwright, essayist and memorialist and Nobel Peace Prize winner lived up to the age of 15. The Jewish cemetery, the largest of the 52 existing in Historic Maramureș, also reminds us of the Jewish culture. It houses tombstones that are hundreds of years old, as well as the famous Soap Monument, erected in memory of Jews who ended up in Nazi extermination camps.

We know that many of the sites already proposed can be overwhelming, as only a cold-hearted person could remain indifferent to the torments of those times that are not long gone by, which is why we offer you some suggestions of recollection, in the most beautiful holy places in Sighetu Marmației. The Ukrainian Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci), the Piarist Monastery, the Church of the Assumption (Adormirea Maicii Domnului), the Reformed Church and the New Sephardic Synagogue are some of the centuries old places of worship that promise to take the burden of an unhealthy history off your shoulders and introduce you to the cultural and spiritual variety of the area. 

A special place among the attractions of the city is held by architectural monuments which, however numerous, seem to be constantly competing for the tourist’s attention.

 The Comitatens Court, Reduta Palace, Astra Cultural Palace, Szabó Aurel Palace, Caryatid House, the office of the Freemasonry Lodge, Darvay House, as well as the Pedagogical High School buildings, Dragoș Vodă, Leowey Klara and Taraș Sevcenko, are some of the architectural gems that combine styles, visions and many stories passed down through the hourglass of time.

When the mist of current threats ceases to overwhelm us, you will be able to fully enjoy the cultural life of Sighetu Marmației, which boasts two fairytale-like festivals. The "Aeternus Maramorosiensis" Ancient and Medieval Festival reproduce an ancestral atmosphere, through a varied program, including pyrotechnic performances, concerts, competitions and exhibitions. The second event with tradition here is the "Marmaţia" Festival of Winter Traditions and Customs, a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the way Maramureș locals prepare for, feel and enjoy the most beautiful holiday season of the year.  

After all these experiences, we want to end in a happy register and we invite you to see with your own eyes the nail on which the map hangs, a monument about two meters high, which plastically reproduces the reputation of Sighetu Marmației, known as "the place where the map hangs from the pin"„locul în care se agață harta-n cui”.. If you have stayed by our side this far, all we have to do is tell you that hosting guests suits us best and the traveler should be well on his way. In other words, we look forward to seeing you!

Similar Suggestions

The monumental spindle on Babelor Hill is about 14 meters long and was made of oak wood by craftsman Petru Godja. This objective pays homage to the bravery of the women who withstood the Tartars in the 1717 invasion. On the four sides of the spindle, four figures of women can be seen, who embody the warrior woman, the hardworking woman, the mother and the widow, in an attempt to capture the personalities of the local brave women who defended their community.
Văleni 437077, Romania
The non-ferrous metals flotation dates from around 1810-1820, being part of the industrial heritage of the town of Cavnic. Although so far no solutions have been found for the tourist capitalization of the elements of industrial technology from Cavnic, the old technological archetypes that have survived are of particular historical importance.
Cavnic 435300, Romania
With a total length of 36 km, of which 25 km make up a nature reserve, the Lăpuș Gorge or Strait impresses with its canyon-like appearance and rocky ridges, the area being as wild as it is beautiful. The biological diversity, the exquisite landscape, as well as the possibilities of practicing extreme sports, make the Lăpuș Gorge unique and attract countless tourists.
Vima Mica, 435600, Romania
Located in the northern tip of Romania, the town of Sighetu Marmației is famous as the place where "the map hangs by the pin", which is why a nail-shaped monument was placed here, with a height of about two meters. The unique monument that can be seen in the historic area of ​​the city, soon became one of the main tourist attractions.
Strada Corneliu Coposu 1, Sighetu Marmației 435500, Romania
Placed in 2014 on top of Țibleș Peak, at an altitude of 1,839 m, the monument cross guards the border of Maramureș and Bistrița-Năsăud counties, being a tribute to those who, in the past, took refuge in these mountains and also having a protective role for the communities in the area. The five-meter-high monument consists of a cross built of stone blocks, on top of which a bell was placed, both framed by a wooden arch, reminiscent of the famous Maramureș gates.
Țibleș Mountains, Romania
The Museum and Monumental Complex "Dr. Vasile Lucaciu" evokes one of the historical figures who had a considerable contribution to the achievement of the Great Union. He was also a signatory of the Memorandum demanding that Romanians in Transylvania be given equal rights to ethnic Hungarians. Born in 1852 in Apa locality, Satu Mare County, Vasile Lucaciu dedicated his youth to his studies, later becoming a priest and a teacher. After resigning from education, starting with the summer of 1885, he held the position of parish priest in Șișești, becoming more active on the political scene. In the next three decades Vasile Lucaciu distinguished himself as a prominent political figure, militant for the union of Transylvania with Romania and a great supporter of the interests of all Romanians. After an illustrious career, he passed away in 1922, being buried in Șișești on December 1st, four years after the Great Union. The museum complex inaugurated in 1968, dedicated to the "Lion of Șișești", now includes the following: the parish house, which served for three decades as a residence for the Lucaciu family, the school where he taught, the Church of the Holy Union of All Romanians with VasileLucaciu's tomb, the Gathering place, the Spring of the Mother of the Romanians from Șișești, the stone columns for the statues of Trajan and Decebalus, the altar of the old wooden church and the library of the Lucaciu family. In the valuable library, which contains approximately 15,000 volumes, there are documents that describe the activity and personality of Vasile Lucaciu. Also, the patrimony of the museum complex also includes photographs, documents and original pieces of furniture, from the years when this spokesman of the Great Union fought tirelessly for the welfare of Romanians.  
250, Șișești 437325, Romania
The complex of the Ruoaia Monastery, dedicated to the "Birth of the Virgin Mary" and whose erection began in 1995, includes a Maramureș-style church, a chapel, a summer altar and cells. The church tradition of the place goes back to 1315, when there would have been another monastic ensemble here, which was destroyed more than three centuries later. In the monastic ensemble one can visit the Lăpuş Village Museum Collection, consisting of objects, traditional tools and clothing, which bear the ethnographic style of this area.
Lăpuș 437175, Romania
The Lăpuş Village Museum Collection is part of the Ruoaia Monastery ensemble, a monastic settlement that enriches the spirituality of the Maramureș lands. The church tradition of the place where the monastery is found today goes back all the way to 1315, when there was another monastic ensemble here, which would be destroyed more than three centuries later. The foundation stone of Ruoaia Monastery was laid in 1995, on the same protected area from where the old monastery would watch over the people of Lăpuș. The Lăpuş Village Museum Collection consists of traditional objects and tools, but also clothing that exemplifies the ethnographic style of this area, increasing the attractiveness of the monastery among tourists, eager to combine the spiritual experience with a cultural one. This monastery includes a Maramureș-style church, a chapel, a summer altar and the cells, which offer generous number of accommodation places. The nuns who worked hard to create this slice of heaven managed to set up a workshop of embroidery, fabrics and carpets.
Lăpuș 437175, Romania
St. Anne - Rohia Monastery has a very valuable museum ensemble. The place of worship located in the heart of Maramureș is one of the places that carry the greatest spiritual load, a magnificent example of church traditions in these lands. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world visit Rohia Monastery, a destination that reveals a rich religious and cultural heritage. The museum of the monastery is arranged in the wooden church dedicated to "St. Anne" and brings to the public's attention a collection of over 100 church books, but also a valuable collection of old icons, painted on wood or glass. In addition to this museum, which shelters priceless exhibits, hundreds of years old, the monastery's museum complex also includes Nicolae Steinhardt's cell, as well as a vast library of over 40,000 books of worship and theological magazines, as well as volumes of universal and Romanian literature. The cell where Father Nicolae Steinhardt spent the last years of his life and which is located on the ground floor of the "Poet’s House", has preserved the personal belongings of the monk, known as a doctor of law, writer, publicist and literary critic. Nicolae Steinhardt, a native Jew, converted to the Orthodox religion while being incarcerated in Jilava Prison, where he would serve his sentence for refusing to testify against his friend, Constantin Noica. Between 1979 and 1989, Nicolae Steinhardt lived as a monk in the Rohia Monastery.
Aleea Mănăstirii 18, Rohia 435612, Romania