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!

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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.
Baia Mare, Romania
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.
Strada Corneliu Coposu 4, Sighetu Marmației 435500, Romania
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. 
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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.
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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. 
Stiol Lake, Romania
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.
Lacul Nistru, Romania
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.
Lacul Iezer, Munții Rodnei, Romania
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.
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Located at an altitude of about 730 m, the Bodi Lake - Mogoșa initially served the proper functioning of the mines in the area. The artificial lake at the foot of Mogoșa Peak covers an area of ​​four hectares, being a favorite place for hikers, both in the cold season, due to the proximity to the ski slopes, and in the warm season, when it offers many leisure opportunities. 
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