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Wooden churches on UNESCO heritage list, most sought after tourist destinations of Maramures
The century-old wooden churches and Christian Orthodox churches of Mt. Gutai, Pietrosul Rodnei as well as the local museums in Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmatiei are among the most sought after tourist destinations in summertime, Chair of the Maramures National Association of Ecologic and Cultural Tourism (ANTREC) Victoria Berbecaru told Agerpres on Tuesday.
"The eight wooden churches, some nearly 400 years old, now on the UNESCO heritage list, are among the most visited landmarks of the province of Maramures in summertime. Romanian tourists, particularly religious tourists, are anxious to tour these landmarks, learn about their history, take pictures of them and discuss with locals. Organised groups, mostly from the provinces of Moldavia, Dobrogea and Oltenia, are coming here to see the landmarks as well as other attractions including history museums and the village museums of Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmatiei. The groups are accompanied by well versed guides who know what is worth visiting," said Berbecaru, the owner of a rural guesthouse at Botiza.
Also arresting the attention of tourists, besides the wooden churches on UNESCO's list, are the local Christian Orthodox and Ukrainian monasteries.
"The Christian Orthodox monasteries of Moisei, Rohia, Rohita, Dragomiresti, Sapanta-Peri, Petrova, Bixad, Botiza, Habra-Grosi, as well as the Ukrainian Christian Orthodox monasteries are also very much sought after. Each year, thousands of tourists from various parts of the country come to these places of worship. Each visited religious structure rounds up the tourist offering of Maramures by other unique holiday possibilities in terms of wonderful landscapes and excellent services," added Berbecaru.
Featuring on the UNESCO world heritage list are the wooden churches of Barsana, Budesti, Desesti, Ieud, Plopis, Poienile Izei, Rogoz and Surdesti.
The visitors to the local churches and monasteries choose meals and accommodations either at nearby guesthouses or at monasteries, whenever possible.
According the ANTREC, Maramures is visited by more than 40,000 Romanian and foreign tourists each year.