Local meaning of traditional, unique popular art, honed by centuries of ingenuity and hard work – all these are what I believe this part of the country represents. Its beauty unsurpassed by almost anything I have seen in my last 30 years of travelling. And I am trying my best to be objective here, as honest with me and with you as I possibly can.
Maramures (read: Mára-mooresh) has been for centuries part of the principality of Transylvania, and after the Kingdom of Hungary entirely took hold of the said principality, Maramures was part of that kingdom. It became a county in Romania after the WWI, when Transylvania was annexed to the Kingdom of Romania. History sometimes can teach us things, if only we listen. Sometimes we do listen, sometimes we are deaf.
This part of Romania was always deeply religious, and this has its reasons: Romanian ethnics had few rights, and one of the rights they enjoyed was the right to build churches of Orthodox persuasion. Romanians had always seen this as a way of protecting their culture, traditions, heritage and beliefs. So they made their faith a shield, in dire opposition with the Catholic faith ruling the land under the Hungarian power. Much of the churches and indeed of their houses and whatnot were and still are built in wood, for this part of Romania is still heavily wooded. The Carpathians are here majestic and the border to Ukraine is very close.
The images here are of the holy grounds of the Monastery of Barsana, residence of Orthodox monks, which can safely be called a haven of Orthodoxy in these parts. An old medieval church or monastery has stood here, as early as the XV century. The architecture of the monastery and of its buildings is Maramures traditional one, with very steep roofs, elongated shapes, and serving both monastic and public purposes.
It is a place where tourists come in their thousands and the locals are attending sermons and celebrate holy days, pray and enjoy the silence as it was intended. As I said, a haven for anyone, not only for believers of the faith.
Images were taken with a Nikon F2 Photomic and Agfa APX 400, scanned negative.