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Full days, from dusk ‘till dawn - we discover Vișeu de Sus
The exploration of tourist resorts of local interest in Maramureș continues with Vişeu de Sus, a town where the confluence of Vaser Valley with Vişeu wove a rich story from a natural, historical, ethnographic and cultural point of view.
The abundance of natural heritage that one can discover here has been summed up extremely comprehensively in the old name of the city, "Between the Rivers". If to the vast forests, crossed by valleys with streams that visually and acoustically accompany the fairytale landscape, we add the fact that the town of Vișeu de Sus is the second largest in the country, having into regard its surface, you can get an idea of the splendor of this place. We would also like to mention the fact that it is one of the towns on whose administrative territories lies the Maramureș Mountains Natural Park, one of the most representative objectives in the natural heritage of the county. And whereas the entire Maramureș is a source of legends, it could not be that Vişeu de Sus did not have a story of its own, carried through time with the same care with which the people of Maramureș preserve everything relating them to the past, history and roots. The town is said to have been founded by a lumberjack who built a church on the site where his son had died. Like a fruitful seed, the place of worship gave birth to a growing community around it, and people came to make a spiritual covenant with the places that became their home. According to the local legend, this is how the green oasis, bathed in peace, which today we call Vișeu de Sus, appeared.
We are convinced that if this destination is already among your travel plans, the main culprit for this is the steam train on the Vaser Valley, one of the main tourist attractions in the county. We have to agree that any visit to the land of Maramureș must have, as a stopping point, the steam train that puffs and moves slowly down the Vaser Valley. The narrow-gauge forest railway crosses 46.3 km and attracts thousands of curious tourists each year, who wish to experience a journey as it was almost 100 years ago, when the old locomotive was built. The steam train (Mocănița) is recognized as being the last forest railway that runs on steam and still serves the original purpose to this day, namely the transport of wood.
We are aware that it is difficult for something to compete with the experience of traveling with the Mocănița, but we advise you not to limit yourself to only this, as the area has many other tourist treasures. It is said that the soul is the mirror of man, and the soul of the people here can best be described by the places of worship they have erected, as a manifestation of pure gratitude for the blessing of partaking in every new sunrise over the lands that provide them with shelter. The Orthodox Church "Annunciation" (Biserica ortodoxă „Bunavestire”) and the Roman Catholic Church "Saint Anne" (Biserica romano-catolică „Sfânta Ana”) are two of the pearls of the church tradition in this area, the particularly beautiful constructions being included in the list of historical monuments. We also mention eight other holy places, but also a monastery dedicated to the "Birth of the Virgin Mary". The large number of places of worship is not at all surprising should we take into account the fact that the people of Maramureș find refuge in the Divinity, both in times of prosperity and in times of hardship, as well. The list of architectural masterpieces, however, does not include only churches. It also includes the "Pop Simion House", which today houses the City Hall and the Local Council of the town of Vişeu de Sus, but also the building of the Technological High School No. 1.
As emblems of the cultural heritage of the area we mention the Museum of History and Ethnography in Vişeu de Sus, the "Elephant House" Jewish Museum and the Documentary-Exhibition Center of the Maramureş Nobility. The permanent exhibition of the Museum of History and Ethnography brings to the public's attention approximately 800 exhibits out of the over 1100 held in the museum's collection. In the historical collection one can admire objects, illustrations, documents and archeological pieces that recreate the course of local history, while in the ethnographic one you will find pictures, work tools and household objects, elements of the folk costume, as well as exhibits reminiscent of the cultural and religious life of the people of this region. The "Elephant House" Jewish Museum is home to the last traditional Jewish wooden house in the area, that has survived the time, and houses a library-café, as well as interesting objects that have belonged to the Jewish community. The importance of this community is also reflected in the impressive Jewish cemetery in Vișeu de Sus, where dozens of specific funerary monuments can be seen. Last but not least, you have to cross the threshold of the Documentary-Exhibition Center of the Maramureş Nobility, which offers visitors a unique foray into the world of several personalities who have lived in this region. The library of the center shelters historical maps, Royal Diplomas, genealogical trees, but also other vintage documents, all telling for the past of Maramureș County.
We have to stop here because it is said that one cannot talk much without lying, and we have been taught from an early age to "speak honestly". We will end by telling you that the town of Vișeu de Sus is ideal for hiking and reconnecting with nature. It is also a place where one can have fascinating experiences, as it is full of culture and history, and it is surrounded by an aura that invites you to explore it, shining differently but brilliantly in every season. Since we like you, we give you yet another tip: in June, the rhododendron blooms in the Maramureș Mountains, an EXTRAORDINARY chromatic show, which you must see with your own eyes! We’ve kept first row tickets for you!