Today’s destination is Maramures, a picturesque and charming region in northern Romania.
Today's destination is Maramures, a picturesque and charming region in northern Romania, known for its century-old traditions observed to date, and for the special events devoted to its tourists. At the same time, Cavnic and Borsa mountain resorts boast functional skiing tracks, both for beginners and for professional skiers.
We talked to Dan Carpov, the head of the Tourist Information Centre with the Maramures County Council. He told us about two upcoming events, namely the 10th edition of the Christmas in Maramures Festival, hosted by the Village Museum in Baia Mare, and the 50th edition of the Marmatia Customs and Traditions Festival held in Sightetul Marmatiei. Dan Carpov:
"The Christmas in Maramures Festival has reached its tenth edition, and is aimed at introducing the rural life and traditions of Maramures to the urban population. We could call it a mini-festival. We will have carollers from ten villages, from all the areas in Maramures. It will be a celebration of tradition, local food, merry-making and, last but not least, winter-specific folk outfits. It's an open event. We are used to seeing tourists who are usually visiting Maramures at this time of the year come and join the celebration. Many people called us asking for accommodation and inquiring about the event. We will have groups of carollers, as well as a special show staged by the Transylvania National Folk Ensemble, but also children's choirs from various parts of Maramures."
There will be practically ten days of fantastic events in Maramures, Dan Carpov told us. Over December 17-27 the area will host a wide array of Christmas-related festivals and events. Dan Carpov:
"On December 27 we will kick off the Winter Customs and Traditions Festival. This year the festival celebrates 50 years of existence. It's a festival that has been held without interruption around December 27. It's a nationwide event, all the more so as this year we celebrate 100 years since the Great Union, so we will be presenting Christmas traditions from all over the country, from Banat, Moldavia, Bukovina, Dobrogea and Oltenia. All the country's folk regions will be represented. The festival is held in the city centre, so it will be delightful to see so many people parading in traditional outfits. We will have mask games, winter traditions, carols, all sorts of things."
There are also thematic tours of the area that tourists can take to ensure a wonderful stay in Maramures:
"Tourists can sign up for a tour of the wooden churches. Of course, it's a lot better to do that during the warm season, but it's also wonderful to visit Maramures in wintertime. We've had snow at Christmas for many years, and people who visit Maramures when it snows will see that the churches host various events at Christmas. It's all very beautiful, the atmosphere is very warm, it's like a family welcoming you like an old friend. Nature outings are more for the summer season, but we've replaced the bikes with horse-drawn carriages and sleighs, available to our guests. Starting December 17 and until the end of the year we will be urging tourists to engage in such activities."
If you're looking to exercise and do sports during your winter holiday, Maramures is the perfect place. Dan Carpov:
"We have very good news. We have officially opened two skiing slopes in Maramures, with a third one pending in Borsa. Right now, we have the Cavnic slope up and running, we've had snow and we're keeping it properly functional with the help of artificial snow. It was opened on December 1 and I can tell you I've personally inspected the slope and it's in excellent condition. Moreover, the slope in Suisor is also open, and Borsa will be next."
Of course, prices for accommodation vary. For instance, one night per person in a three-star guesthouse for a minimum stay of three nights with half-board and Christmas dinner included costs around 55 euros. For more detailed and customised offers you can call the travel agencies, as there are many to choose from, Dan Carpov told us:
"I am glad to say that we have a lot of accommodation alternatives in our area. Guesthouses offer a wide range of events, apart from the traditional Christmas or New Year's Eve meals. Once we officially launch the Christmas season on December 22, there will be even more events adding to the list. The narrow-gauge train on Vaser Valley is also a tourist-favourite attraction at national level. We have special surprises in store for our tourists around the winter holidays."
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