What Maramures is known for

Baia Mare, a historic mining hub in Romania, showcases a heritage spanning over two millennia, primarily associated with the extraction of valuable metals such as gold, silver, and nonferrous minerals. In the heart of the town's medieval center is the square called Piața Libertații, with a Gothic-style watchtower, Turnul lui Ștefan, built in the mid-1400s. Another square in the city, Piata Izvoarelor, hosts the primary open-air food market. Adjacent to Piata Izvoarelor stands the only remaining fragment of the 15th-century medieval fortifications in the area: the Butchers' Tower (Turnul Măcelarilor), constructed to safeguard the southern gateway of the old citadel. Another one of Baia Mare's attractions is Casa Ioan Corvin de Hunedoara, also known as Casa Elisabeta, the oldest surviving house in Baia Mare's Old Town, dating back to the 1440s. The house is the only remnant of a castle complex commissioned by Transylvanian voivode Ioan de Hunedoara for his wife Elisabeta and now serves as an art exhibition venue.[6] 

In close proximity to Baia Mare is located the Merry Cemetery of the village of Sapanta. The cemetery is known for its colorful grave markers featuring epitaphs, each encapsulating a defining aspect, be it a virtue or a flaw, of the deceased villager's life. Sculptor Stan Ion Patras initiated this project in 1935, choosing words and images to characterize the individuals interred there. Today, Stan Ion Patras' former residence in the village has been transformed into a museum, offering an understanding of this art form.[6]

Another sight in Maramures County is the wooden church. The churches were constructed using durable local oak, with interiors showcasing local artists' biblical scenes juxtaposed against familiar village landscapes. UNESCO recognizes Maramures' Wooden Churches found in Surdesti, Plopis, Rogoz, Ieud, Poeinile Izei, Barsana, Budesti, and Desesti as world heritage sites.[7] Reportedly, the churches exhibit a diverse range of designs and craftsmanship. They are characterized by their clock towers situated at the western extremity of the buildings, which are often single- or double-roofed. In this way, they represent a distinctive vernacular manifestation within the cultural landscape of northern Romania's mountainous region.[8]

Geography

The Maramures County spans 6,304 square kilometers, constituting approximately 2.6% of the national landmass. Its landscape is diverse, comprising mountains, plateaus and hills, lowlands, meadows, and terraces. Additionally, the county holds natural resources, including precious metals, more specifically gold and silver, as well as lead, zinc, copper, iron, and manganese ores. There are also mineral water springs renowned for their therapeutic properties, such as those in Sapânta, Stoiceni, Ocna Sugatag, Baia Borsa, Costiui, and Carbunari. Preservation efforts cover 5,415 hectares of the Maramures' territory, including 19 natural reserves. Among these, the Pietrosul Rodnei reserve tends to be visited for its geology, fauna, and flora. Some of the other reserves are the Baia Mare chestnut reserve, Creasta Cocosului in the Gutâi Mountains, Oak Forest of Bavna, Mlastina Poiana Brazilor in Sapânta, Fossiliferous Reservation of Chiuzbaia, and TatarulQuais in Mara village, among others.[2]

The northwestern part of the county is covered by the Maramures Mountains Natural Park, which serves as a designated protected area with the primary objectives of conserving the local landscape and traditions, safeguarding the natural, spiritual, and cultural heritage, promoting sustainable forest management, and fostering tourism. It encompasses a total area of 133,418 hectares, protecting the last remaining natural population of larch trees in Romania, which are unique to the Danube basin. Additionally, the park protects flora and fauna specific to the Carpathian Mountains and the traditional way of life reliant on natural resources.[4]

The climate in Maramures County is temperate continental.[2] The warmest month in Baia Mare tends to be August, with an average daily temperature of 27°C. January is most commonly the coldest month, as temperatures average approximately 2°C. In addition to being the coldest month, January is often considered the driest month in Baia Mare because it generally receives 75 millimeters of rainfall on average. The most precipitation falls during June, with an average of about 127 millimeters.[5]

History

In ancient eras, the Maramures region was inhabited by Celts, Dacians, Sarmatians, Germanic tribes, and Akatziri. During the first century BC, it became a part of the Dacian Kingdom under Burebista's rule. In the early Middle Ages, this area witnessed the reign of the Hunnic Empire, the Kingdom of the Gepids, the Kingdom of the Avars, White Croatia, Hungarians, and even the Kievan Rus'.[1]

Later, Maramures was described as a region primarily ruled by local leaders and voivodes, not organized as a formal district until the latter half of the 14th century. It remained one of the last territories to be brought under Hungarian Royalty's control. The Romanian inhabitants of Maramures actively participated in the anti-Habsburg uprising led by Francisc Rakoczi II (1703-1711) to capture Baia Mare. Among them was an outlaw and soldier, Grigore Pintea, who met his end on August 12th, 1703, during a battle at the fortress gates. Pintea eventually became a historical figure, remembered as Pintea the Brave, and he remains one of the celebrated Romanians of his era.[2]

In the late 17th century, the Maramures region came under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy, which later became the Austrian Empire in 1804. However, in March 1939, Hungary annexed Carpathian Ruthenia, and in August 1940, it also annexed the Northern Transylvania region, which included southern Maramures, from Romania. These territories remained under Hungarian control until 1944.[1] In 1920, the northern part joined the newly established Czechoslovakia, while the southern section became part of the Kingdom of Romania. In 1938, after some administrative changes, Maramures County became a part of Ținutul Crișuri. In August 1940, under Nazi Germany's influence, the county returned to Hungary as part of Northern Transylvania. However, the Paris Peace Treaties in 1947 reaffirmed Romanian jurisdiction over Maramures County.[3]