Delia B!ba: My home

Since I was little, I always considered my hometown one of the most beautiful cities. It is a relatively small, located in northern Romania, in a county full of history and where the old traditions are still kept from generation to generation - Maramureş.

My home

Wonderful stories are told about this place and I am always proud to hear them. I could recommend it to anyone who wishes to spend their holiday in a unique place, full of history and surrounded by hospitable people, glad to share their experiences with visitors.

CITY LIFE

Baia Mare was certified by documents in 1329 under the name Rivulus Dominarum (The River of the Ladies). The city is situated in the vicinity of the Gutâi and Igniș Mountains. The area is famous for its outstanding landscapes, and the mountains are easily accessible from the city and it was one of the most important mining centers of Romania.

City view

For new visitors I would recommend as accommodation in the city area the most representative place: Hotel Mara*** (http://www.hotelmara.ro/en/index.php), located 1 km away from the train station and close to the city center. The hotel was recently renovated and hosts 115 rooms in a sumptuous and unique building. Of course, there are many other locations to stay, but when I am thinking of my hometown, this is the first one that comes in my mind.

Hotel Mara

Being a small city, there are not many museums to visit, but some of them are not to be missed, such as: Mine Flowers Museum, Ethnographic Museum, History and Archaeology Museum and Art Museum. In the old center, a 120 foot tall Gothic style building dominates the surroundings. It is called “Stephen’s Tower” (Turnul lui Ştefan).

Stephen's Tower

The second museum created by the Ethnographers from Baia Mare is the Village Museum. Gigantic efforts were made to organize this museum because, at that time, such a museum was not desired by those who governed the country. The reasons presented by the specialists and especially the theme of the exhibition which made the museum unique in Europe, finally determined the authorities to give to our museum a land of 12 hectares, on the Flowers Hill, surrounding the wood Chapel which was on this location. The works started by laying up the roads, the water system for hydrants, the line system and then were brought representative households for the four ethnographic zones in our county.

Village Museum

SURROUNDINGS

For those who want to know more about the Romanian rural life, a tour through the villages in the close regions is welcomed, where you can admire the wooden churches that are unique in the world, and the traditional architecture with the all known Maramureş Gates.

Wooden Church from Maramureş

Maramureş Gate

The wooden church from Bârsana, with its titular saint “Our Lady’s entering the Church”, was built in 1720 in a place called the “Bridges of the Monastery” and later on, in 1806 was moved in its present location on the Jbar hill. In 1999 it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Bârsana Monastery

Rohia Monastery is surrounded by woods and magnificent views. It is a genuine place for spirituality, calm and welcoming. Many know and visit the monastery for the fact that it is the place where Nicolae Steinhardt spent his last years and he converted to Orthodoxy towards the end of his life. The monastery was founded in 1926 by Nicolae Gherman in the memory of his daughter, Ana, who fell ill and died in 1922. In his dream, his daughter urged him to build a monastery at the outskirts of Rohia.

There is an entire complex of buildings dedicated to the religious rituals of the monks. During the Communist regime only one monk was allowed to stay at the monastery. Nowadays, he still lives there and runs the activity of the monastery. The settlement can be visited all through the year.

Rohia Monastery

Merry Cemetery (Cimitirul Vesel) in Sapânţa is a unique location situated 40 miles northwest of Baia Mare. Colorful, five-foot carved oak crosses, featuring portraits or scenes from the deceased’s life, are inscribed with witty epitaphs that capture essential elements – both the good and the imperfections – of the villagers who rest here.

Merry Cementery

If you try to find accommodation outside the city, one of the most recommended is Secret Garden**** (http://www.secret-garden.ro/en/), especially during summer, when the outside pool and terrace are open. When you arrive, you will have the impression that this location is in the middle of nowhere. I have always considered that the owners took a great risk when they chose to make such a big investment in a less known location such as Daneşti village. And still…a lot of visitors come here all year long, and some of them have become regular guests.

Secret Garden

The food is also one of the best in the world, on my opinion. I have never met someone to say that they didn’t like our traditional food. In Baia Mare, most of the restaurants are situated in the Old Center. If you want to go outside the city, one of the best locations is “Păstrăvăria Alex” situated on DN18 national road, 27 miles from Baia Mare. Grilled Trout fish is one of my favorite meals that I serve here.

Mountain side lovers can easily find several locations to visit all year long. In winter, following ski slopes are available:

- Şuior and Mogoşa, (take the DN 18 national road, on the Baia Mare-Baia Sprie-Sighetu Marmatiei direction. There are road signs directing towards the complex and the lake at the junction between DN 18 and the secondary road leading to both locations)

Mogoşa

Suior

- Cavnic (To arrive to Roata slope from Cavnic you have to take DJ 109F county road, on the road which links Cavnic to Ocna Şugatag. The slope is situated on the right, upon ascension),

Cavnic