| Find out about the unique and rich cultural heritage of | | | | lush river valleys live people who for the most part still |
| Bucovina and Maramures: monasteries, churches, | | | | follow the traditional agrarian way of life. Their life might |
| architecture, frescoes, icons and wall paintings that are | | | | seem hard and simple and it is a millenarian fight |
| a testimony to the faith of former times. | | | | against the weather, to grow the crops, to raise the |
| There are many regions in this world that are worth a | | | | animals, to work from dawn until sunset without the |
| visit, and very often we Europeans tend to travel | | | | many mechanized and electronic comforts we think |
| overseas to see something exotic, or visit people who | | | | are essential. But, that life can be rewarding in all its |
| still lead a life that perhaps our grandfathers knew. | | | | simplicity, as each day shows the results of work, and |
| Rarely it occurs to us that it is not always necessary | | | | family and friends guarantee that there are often |
| to travel far to be able to experience "time travel". | | | | reasons for celebration. The seasonal festivities, like |
| Bucovina is a region of monasteries, unique in the | | | | Christmas and Easter or local festivals and weddings, |
| world for their colorful exterior frescoes. Equally well | | | | have retained their real value of breaking the |
| worth the visit are the villages, still leading the traditional | | | | everyday routine, and feasting lasts several days and |
| way of life, and the stunning landscapes.The name | | | | is done with gusto. Why this region is considered |
| Bucovina may not mean much to many people, but | | | | unique and those who have been there want to |
| Bucovina, and its brave princes, played an important | | | | return? The answer is a mixture of three things: |
| part in the history of the Balkans during the XV and | | | | amazing landscapes, genuine people and the simple |
| XVI centuries, and in particular with regard to relations | | | | civilization of wood, with the famous wooden churches |
| with the Ottoman Empire. The impressive number of | | | | whose towers can be seen from far. The nature, |
| churches to be found there, with their fine exterior and | | | | people, houses and churches are spiritually connected |
| interior frescoes, have been preserved and handed | | | | and have maintained this link to the present.But most |
| down from mediaeval times, and because of their | | | | of all is the uniqueness of the architecture is the |
| uniqueness and artistic value, were added to | | | | inclusion of eight wooden churches in UNESCO's |
| UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List in 1993. There | | | | World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. These |
| is, indeed, no other place in the world where such a | | | | churches are the church of the Presentation of the |
| group of churches, with such high quality exterior | | | | Virgin at the Temple in Barsana, the church of Saint |
| frescoes, are to be seen.The churches were founded, | | | | Nicholas in Budesti, the church of Saint Parasceva in |
| in most cases, as family burial places of princes and | | | | Desesti, the church of the Birth of the Holy Virgin in |
| high nobles. Each painter, although following the | | | | Ieud Deal, the church of the Holy Archangels in Plopis, |
| canonical iconographic programme, interpreted the | | | | the church of Saint Parasceva in Poienile Izei, the |
| scenes in a slightly different way. The scenes were | | | | church of the Holy Archangels in Rogoz, and the |
| first painted on the interior walls, and then extended to | | | | church of the Holy Archangels in Surdesti.Our |
| the exterior ones. The reasons for such vast scenes | | | | guidebooks: Maramures -A Travel Guide to Romania |
| were both religious and didactic: to promote Orthodoxy | | | | 's Region of Wooden Churches and Bucovina - A |
| and to educate the illiterate.Tourist information in | | | | Travel Guide to Romania's Region of Painted |
| Romania was linked by the notion of "tourist | | | | Monasteries are excellent full-color books on a wide |
| information office" that disappeared after the 1989 | | | | variety of cultural heritage subjects from mural |
| revolution because all the local tourist offices were | | | | paintings and archaeology to architecture and local |
| abolished. The travel agencies created by the private | | | | traditions. It also gives practical information and tips on |
| sector took over the role of the tourist information | | | | travel to and in Romania, what to see, where to stay, |
| offices. They can provide you with the information and | | | | what to buy and to eat, to get the most of |
| services for organizing tours in Bucovina. Because | | | | Maramures.Why a guidebook and not another type of |
| Romanians themselves increasingly prefer to travel | | | | book? Because we consider that a cultural guidebook |
| outside Romania, the travel agencies are more | | | | addresses those who, while enjoying a memorable |
| specialized in organizing international travel. Local tours | | | | holiday, can also help such a special region develop |
| have been neglected for many years but are now | | | | and maintain its specificity and character. To assure |
| flourishing again.The private sector is now the most | | | | the preservation regions like Maramures, it is |
| advanced, and appreciated both inside and outside the | | | | necessary that they do not fall into total oblivion. It is |
| country for the western level of comfort and | | | | necessary that the young people can remain, find |
| services.Tourist information can also be found in the | | | | work and live there with their families, while being at |
| annual publication of the Romanian Yellow Pages. All | | | | the same time aware of the importance of their |
| bookshops sell travel guides, but it is not so easy to | | | | inheritance. Cultural tourism can be a mutual investment |
| find travel guides of Bucovina in the main towns. An | | | | that can bear fruit for everyone. The visitor's joy and |
| exception could be the newspaper stores.Another | | | | the host's joy are both real experiences.We hope that |
| region is Maramures in northern Romania, such a little | | | | you will enjoy your travel to Bucovina and Maramures! |
| known corner of Europe. Amid beautiful rolling hills and | | | | |