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