The Department of Cultural History - Memorialistic - Art - "Dr. Ioan Mihalyi of Apşa" Museum House

Part of the Maramureș and Bucovina Carpathians, the mountains surprise by the fairytale landscapes, dominated by coniferous and deciduous forests, but also by pastures. Although the highest peak of this mountainous group is Gutâiul Mare, with a height of 1,443 meters, the favorite of tourists is the Rooster’s Ridge Peak (Vârful Creasta Cocoșului), near which, over an area of ​​about 50 hectares, lies an impressive mixed nature reserve. In addition to the Rooster’s Ridge, the Gutâi Mountains are home to nine other areas with nature reserve status.

The Culture and Art Committee of the Maramureș Region decided to erect the Monument of the Romanian Soldier as a sign of gratitude for the Romanian soldiers who died in the battles of the Second World War. The monument was created by the sculptor Andrei Ostap, together with the architect Anton Drâmboiau, and has a length of 16 m and a height of over 10 m. Workers and farmers are engraved on the inside of the wall, which is built of cement and stone, while the outside of the wall depicts battle scenes: soldiers, weapons, cannons and tanks. In the vicinity of the monument there is a memorial cemetery in the memory of the soldiers who fought for the country.

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism and the Resistance, one of the landmarks of our county, was opened in memory of the injustices of a dictatorial regime, but also of the souls who fell prey to it and which we must not forget. The idea of ​​establishing this Memorial, which is a "means of reviving the collective memory", began to materialize in 1993, through the initiatives of the Civic Academy Foundation, the proposal of the framework project to the Council of Europe being made by Ana Blandiana. After years of hard work, the Memorial was inaugurated on June 20th, 1997, each cell became a museum hall, that describes chronologically or thematically the steep price paid by Eastern European nations under the terror of the communist regime. In one of the courtyards of the former prison you can visit a Space of Recollection and Prayer designed by the architect Radu Mihăilescu, a place where ancient aesthetics intertwine with modern aesthetics, in a silent cry of suffering endured by the nearly 8,000 prisoners who ended up in prisons, camps and deportation facilities in Romania and whose names were engraved on the walls of the descent ramp. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism and the Resistance houses several works of art that ennoble the space and amplify the deeply emotional experience felt by the visitors to this place. The most extensive work that can be seen here is the statuary group "The Procession of the Sacrificed" (Cortegiul Sacrificaților), which bears the signature of the sculptor Aurel I. Vlad and evokes the impact of the communist regime on people's lives. The museum also includes the Cemetery of the Poor, located about two kilometers outside the city, where it is said that 54 prisoners were buried after dying in the political prison.

The monastery dedicated to the "Transfiguration" from  Botiza is a monastic settlement of nuns, built in the shape of a cross, whose construction started in the early 90's. The complex was built of fir wood on a concrete foundation and has specific Maramureș decorations. Although it was originally covered with tin, today the monastery has a shingled roof. The church within the settlement was consecrated in 2007 and has a beautiful interior decorated with biblical scenes, painted in neo-Byzantine style. The monastery also houses an icon that is said to be a miracle worker. 

The monastery dedicated to "Saints Michael and Gabriel" was founded in 1997, the ensemble being built mainly of oak and fir wood. The church of the monastery is surprising in size, with a height of 78 meters, a figure that places it in the top of the tallest wooden buildings in Europe. At the same time, it stands out because of its special architecture, with a pentagonal porch, a basement and a 3-storey floor. The cross of the church, which is seven meters high, was gold-plated, using four kilograms of gold.

Located at the foot of Gârgalău Peak, at an altitude of over 1650 meters, Știol Lake is a glacial lake, around which springs the upper course of the river Bistrița, known as Golden Bistrița (Bistrița Aurie). The Știol Lake can be reached by following several routes that start from the area of ​​the Borșa Tourist Resort. 

Nistru Lake in Tăuții Măgherăuș is an artificial lake, on the shore of which visitors can camp in tents or camping houses and where they can enjoy sport fishing. For those who love hiking, the landscape is magnificent, the lake being surrounded by a beautiful beech forest. Even mushroom connoisseurs are welcome here, as the mature beech trees shelter various species of edible mushrooms. Fishing is possible on any side of the lake, at the dedicated fish stalls. The fish species found here are: carp, catfish and pikeperch.

The picturesque lake in the Rodna Mountains, famous for its shape that resembles the map of Romania, is located at an altitude of 1825 m height. Spread over an area of ​​3450 m2, the clear blue lake originates from two natural springs. Above the lake sits Pietrosu Peak, at an altitude of 2303 meters, which is also the highest peak of the Eastern Carpathians.

The Firiza dam is located 10 km from Baia Mare, in a coniferous and deciduous forest, on the road to Izvoare Resort. The dam has a height of 51.5 m and a crest of wave length of 260 m. It was built for water supply, electricity generation and flood mitigation. Tourists can go hiking around the lake or in the surrounding forest or explore the beauty of the dam, practicing water sports on boats, water bikes or kayaks. For fishing enthusiasts, the Firiza dam offers different species of fish, such as: carp, catfish, trout, bream, chub, crucian carp and pikeperch. Warning! Fishermen need a fishing permit. Being a dam, swimming is prohibited.