
Palace of Culture	Wooden Gate

Shighetu Marmatiei

The heart of Maramures, the small town of Sighetul Marmatiei is the most convenient access point for visiting the region. Beside that, the town itself has some interesting features: the Village Museum and the annual Christmas Parade.

The Village Museum lies on a beautiful hill and shows traditional wooden houses and households from all over Maramures. An elegant wooden church graciously rules over the thoroughly recreated village. You can relax in the peaceful landscape, while discovering age-old life styles and ancient crafts.

Each year, around Christmas, people from neighboring villages gather in a colorful parade of traditional costumes, songs and dances. If you plan to attend this event, you must be sure to make your arrangements at least a few months in advance, because of the popularity of this parade and shortage of accommodations. Also, it is good to have a Romanian translate the songs for you, as they are often funny. By the way, Christmas in Maramures is an unforgettable experience, as you can taste the very strong local plum brandy, "horinca" and go singing carols till dawn.