ENCHANTING Holiday Home, Maramures, NW Transylvania near Rogoz UNESCO Church

Reconnect with nature and the slower pace of northern Transylvania in the village of Cupseni. Our 3 bedroom holiday home is the perfect base to discover the UNESCO wooden churches of Maramures, enjoy breathtaking views of Satra, Tibles and Hudin mountains & go hiking in the WWF managed Virgin forests of Poiana Botizii. A wonderful holiday home, fully equipped and perfect for a family of 6 -11 (2 can sleep on sofa bed in living room) or group of friends who wish to be close to nature but don't want to camp. Cupseni Village is the ideal location to visit: UNESCO Wooden Church Rogoz (1663) (10 min drive) UNESCO Wooden Churches Surdesti & Plopis (30 min drive) Enjoy self guided hike around Cupseni Village and picnic by Cupseni Village river at Casa Carolina's picnic spot Hike to Satra Mountain ( use online Google maps) Visit Satra Monastery with its beautiful views of the Costeni & Cupseni Villages Visit Rohia Monastery, its fresco paintings, the Steinhardt Museum - 24 km - 40 min drive via Targu Lapus; visit wood carver Alexandru -Perta Cuza in Targu Lapus for a taste of local wood carving traditions Visit Rohita (Little Rohia) Monastery & stop for delicious lunch at Bonjour Bistro in Targu Lapus Visit Raoaia Monastery - 40 min drive and admire the beautiful paintings inside the church Visit Florean outdoor Sculpture Park Guided Hike to Lapus Gorge - Natura Site - ask for details Go skiing in Cavnic - 52 km - 1h 15 min drive Day trips further afield Visit famous and unique Barsana Monasteries - 79km - 1.40 min Take a bath in Ocna Sugatag therapeutic saltwater spa or let the children play in the water park accross the road - 68 km - 1 h 30 min Visit Valea Izei with its many picture-perfect views of old wooden churches Visit the Merry Cemetery of Sapanta - 135 km - 3 h via Sighet City Visit Sighet City and learn about Romania's 45 years under communism at the Victims of Communism Memorial Museum FOOD & DRINKS Taste local foods such as 'mamaliga cu branza' aka polenta with sheep sheese, 'ptita de malai cu slanina' - corn bread with/ without crispy bacon 'Ptitoi in topala' - foraged mushrooms in white sauce 'mazare cu otat' - sour bean soup 'balmos' - breakfast polenta with cheese 'horinca de prune, mere sau pere' - plum, apple or pear brandy; 'afinata' - blueberry liquour Order these delicious homemade dishes from our cook Viorica. Cook marshmallows or slivers of pork fat on the Casa Carolina camp fire Learn to make bread with Viorica and bake it in our wood fired bread oven (75RON/ person) Eating Out and Drinks PODINA Restaurant + Bar, Ungureni Village - delicious wood fired oven pizza ( 10 min drive) BONJOUR Bistro Restaurant, Targu Lapus for Lunch in Targu Lapus PASTRAVARIA Alex - Savour a lunch of freshly-caught trout & polenta Activities depending on season *Hiking & walking in nature is the most enjoyable activity in this natural setting - self guided hike map * Build a campfire - Use wood provided to build an evening fire & cook marshmallows ( from Lidl in Targu Lapus) or ask Viorica for slivers of pork fat *Learn to bake bread with our baker Viorica and bake it in our wood fired bread oven (75RON/ person) *Hiking around the villages and all around Tara Lapusului is very enjoyable. Currently we can supply 2 adult & 3 child bikes. Ask for details *Take a day-trip to a local shepherd's enclosure on a horse-drawn cart with lunch included - ask for details (90 RON/ pers - min 4 pers or 350RON) *Learn to decorate Easter eggs with village women in the week before the Orthodox Easter - ask for details Future Easter dates to help you plan ahead: 2020 - 19 april 2021 - 2 may 2022 - 24 april 2023 - 16 april 2024 - 5 may 2025 - 20 april *Scything and hay stack making with a local farmer --- July - September - ask for details - free *Enjoy a trip on a horse-drawn sledge --- November - February depending on snow - 75RON/person - min 4 or 300RON Guided tours with English, Italian or German speaking tourist guide €50/ day for a group up to 4 adults; €100/day for larger groups *Join an organised mountain hike with local photographer & trained mountaineer Gabriel Motica who has climbed mount Everest - check Facebook for MaramontSport events for details - Free