It ain’t easy posting in english, but (OMG) here we are

The post Hard Enduro Masterclass with Alex TARA appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

If we’ve reached you, you probably enjoy this extreme sport called enduro.

You might have chosen it to feel freedom. It’s possible that you’re seen as a strong, robust, and adventurous person, a hunter of thrills. This sport embraces your wild spirit, which we all possess, but you’ve chosen to act as a conqueror of nature.

If you’ve ever seen #RoManiacs, you know that in Sibiu, enduro becomes the gateway to unforgettable adventures. They are the ones who show the versatility of the terrain in our region.

In 2014 our idea was born to do things differently in Sibiu regarding enduro, and thus, we created Trail Trips Romania. Beyond all the suitable vacations for explorers that you can find in our offer, we decided to provide enduro experiences.

It’s essentially to respect the country you visit, the beautiful region and the inhabitants of the area, Therefore, we kindly ask you to always choose a guide when you decide to practice enduro and any offroad activities in #Transylvania, Romania, or anywhere in the world. We’ve all had funny and foolish moments that turned into priceless memories. Perhaps, like everyone else, you’ve chosen a path thinking you knew it, but the sheepdogs tore your pants off. By choosing to come with us, guided by Alex Tara, instead of the dogs biting you, you’ll bite some delicious cheese up there at the sheepfold!

️

Embrace the Wild Spirit! ️

Practicing enduro with #AlexTara will make you discover that the value of the experience is incomparable. With each route you take, you’ll push your limits and realize that nothing compares to the sensations on two wheels, especially when you master the impeccable techniques in hard enduro riding. You can be part of an adventure that cannot be equaled, with minimal efforts, aided by our fleet of motorcycles!

You surely dream of facing the challenges of the #RedBullRoManiacs trails at least once in your life or at least discovering the fascination of enduro on the most versatile terrain in the world. Do you refuse the fight? Then choose the pleasure of the experience on two wheels and come to train with Alex Tara so that everything doesn’t seem so difficult.

Practicing enduro with us, you’ll discover that the value of the experience is incomparable. With each route you take, you’ll push your limits and realize that nothing compares to the sensations on two wheels in Sibiu. You can be part of an adventure that cannot be equaled!

As we’ve heard elsewhere, we’re probably the best. Our prices may give you pause, but we offer unique experiences starting right on the off-road trails, without wasting time on asphalt! We were the first ones to offer this, and it’s our advantage!

Why Choose Us?

If you want to experience thrilling sensations and see spectacular landscapes, with the confidence that we guarantee your unforgettable experience, look no further because if you’re not satisfied, we’ll refund your money in no time GUARANTEE

Join Our Masterclass!

If we’ve convinced you, we’re letting you know that !

We invite you to choose an Enduro Master Class with Alex TARA!

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to feel the thrill of enduro in Sibiu!

Just let us know:
Have you ever dreamt about riding at RedBull Romaniacs?

The post Do you practice enduro too? appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

Documentarily attested in 1354 under the Latin name of Magna Villa, the settlement (an important craft, commercial and cultural center in Mărginimea Sibiului) has been inhabited since prehistory, more precisely since the Paleolithic.

The area is representative primarily by the fact that it has preserved in proportion of 90% elements of the popular dress characteristic of the ancient Dacians.

It is “The village of beautiful girls and peasants with libraries” (poet P. Panaitescu).

The inhabitants of this area keep some occupations such as: shepherding, making hats, harnesses for horses, then carpentry workshops, weaving carpets, tailoring and a civilized trade.

In Săliște there is a historical school – “Ioan Lupaș”. The history of the school in Sălişte represents a small part of the history of Transylvania.

In the beginning, it was a “bucoavna” school, next to the church. The school from Sălişte, where so many sons of this region studied, is documented from 1616, when there was neither a church or a Romanian school in Sibiu.

This is one of the oldest Romanian schools in all of Transylvania (the second after the one in Scheii Braşovului). Once it appeared, the school continued to exist for centuries.

Maybe I have already aroused your interest in this destination, if not, I will continue to present you some tourist attractions to convince you.

The monumental wood carving park in Poiana Soarelui

Poiana Soarelui is a wonderful place, but less known by tourists. This tourist objective is part of a unique ethnographic area in Romania, Mărginimea Sibiului, here being exhibited some of the most unique works of contemporary art belonging to artists from all over the country who participated every year in the editions of the National Wood Sculpture Camp.

Foltea Hermitage

Foltea Hermitage is located 5 km west of Săliște village and can be reached by climbing through the forest, on a road.

At Fântâna Foitii (name under which the hermitage is also known), the monk Visarion Sarai, “Apostle of Orthodoxy”, passed here, in 1744, according to the marble plaque of the church.

The church of the Foltea hermitage was built between 1922 and 1923 and is dedicated to the memory of the heroes of the First World War. Since 2002 it has become a nunnery.

Agritourism Complex from Săliște

The villa of Nicu Ceaușescu (son of the former Romanian communist dictator-Nicolae Ceaușescu), once his place of recreation, was recently refurbished and transformed into an agrotourism complex with various facilities for visitors: accommodation, sports field with night, campsite , orchard with various fruit trees (hence the name of the whole area – Marmalade), a fishing pond and an outdoor pool, open to all who want to have fun.

Museum of Sălişte Culture

Called the Spiritual Capital of the people of the Mărginime, it is a living monument of the peasantry, of the cultural dexterity and of the uninterrupted perseverance of our people on the Transylvanian lands.

The large number of academics and scientists who were born in Sălişte brought the fame of the locality and today, two halls of the museum are dedicated to them.

Here you can admire books, documents, works of art, paintings and various works of science that have stood out over time.

The museum also includes elements of folk costumes, traditional Sălişte costumes known throughout the country and other exhibits that give life to the people from here, their preoccupations and traditions of yesteryear.

The “Birth of Saint John the Baptist” Church in Grui

Built in 1742, the current church was originally a monastery, a fact recorded in the 1820 inscription.

The building was partially painted, in two stages: between 1787-1790 by unknown craftsmen and in 1820 by the painter loan Popa from Săliște.

The saint, after which the church bears his name, is carved in solid oak and placed at the entrance.

Dacian fortress from Tilișca (Mint of ancient Dacia)

Located on the Cățânaș – Tilișca hill, it is the only Dacian fortress researched in Sibiu County.

Local legends seem to be inspired by a reality of the time. The fortress on Cățânaș Hill, together with those from Grădiștea Muncelului and Lundești (Hunedoara) and the one from Poiana (Galați), was one of the Dacian fortresses in which coins were inscribed, necessary for trade.

Following the archeological excavations from Tilișca, several Roman denari (originals and Dacian imitations) were discovered, as well as 14 stanțe (molds) used for inscribe the Roman denarius. It is not surprising that even today there are people who go on Cățânașului Hill and look for the treasure hidden by the Dacians.

In 2007 (and after) an attempt was made to introduce the Dacian fortress from Tilișca in the national tourist circuit. The route was established, signs were put up, but also some placards with the description of the objective.

So, if we aroused your curiosity, do not hesitate to add this destination to your next tourist route.

Until next time, be grateful and enjoy your journey !

Denisa Costic

The post Recreation, nature, authenticity – Săliște, Sibiu, Romania appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

The locality is located in the Cibin depression, 17 km west of Sibiu, at an altitude of 483 m and is crossed by the Cibin river, the Negru River (Săliște) and the Orlățel brook.

The year of the first written attestation is 1319, with the Latin name ecclesia de monte Civinii praepositurae Cibiniensis, meaning “the church under Mount Cibin of the Prefecture of Sibiu.” Later it appears attested as Warolyafolwa, meaning “the village under the Citadel.”

The Hungarian name refers to the Orlat Fortress, which was in the Middle Ages a Hungarian royal fortress. The Saxon name (Bleschderf, meaning Valah Village) of the village suggested the hypothesis that this is an ancient Romanian village with the character of continuity of habitation from the Daco-Roman period.

Every legend gives birth to another legend … so it happened in Orlat, where the elders of the village still tell about how the giants would have arranged the surrounding mountains, forests and valleys, giving birth to a wonderful landscape.

The elders also tell how, a long time ago, when the village was attacked by invaders, people hid in the mountains. After the attackers left, the leaders of the community went down to the village, and after making sure that the danger was removed, they shouted to the mountain people to “scream in the valley”. The verb “to scream” then meant “to descend”.

Located at the meeting of the mountains and the plain, Orlatul has had a strategic position over time. The Romans built watchtowers on the surrounding hills; in the 1st-2nd centuries there was a pre-feudal fortress here, and in the 13th century a medieval fortress was built.

Moreover, between 1764-1851 in Orlat was the headquarters of the command of the 1st Romanian Border Regiment, which defended the border of the Habsburg Empire between Haţeg (Hunedoara County) and Zărneşti (Braşov County).

The inhabitants of Orlat practiced handicrafts, in the 16th century they laid the foundations of the first manufactures, and in the 19th century in Orlat there was a factory of cloth, paper and wood exploitation.

As in any village in Mărginime, you can visit the Orthodox church in Orlat, built at the end of the 18th century in neoclassical style with baroque influences and neo-Byzantine fresco. And because there was a border regiment in Orlat, for the Roman Catholic officers the church of the “Germans” was built, dedicated to St. Teresa of Avilla.

Also in Orlat, you can visit a multitude of tourist attractions, such as:

• Orlat train station – entrance gate to the commune and starting point of tourist itinerary. Built in 1897 with the railway Sibiu – Vinţu de Jos;
• The Trinity on the Short Fortress (Acropolis of Orlat) – monument raised in memory of the Romanian heroes sacrificed on these places in September 1916;
• SALGO fortress (reconstruction attempt) – built in the 15th century the 13th on Zidul hill;
• Holy Trinity Monastery – works were started in The interior painting executed in neo-Byzantine fresco was completed in 2000;
• Former Border Guard School of the 1st Romanian Border Regiment (1764 – 1851) – currently the Orlat commune museum operates here;
• The Roman Catholic Church;
• Heroes Monument – erected in memory of the heroes of Orlat commune, fallen in debt in the two world wars;
• The Parish House – the writer priest Ion Agârbiceanu lived here between 1910-1916 and 1918-1919;
• Nicholas Church – built between 1792 and 1796.

Also in Orlat, there is a fortress that is said to have been documentary attestation for the first time in 1319. It is the Short Fortress, a monument that bears more legends than the years it has.

Most of them talk about Dacian gold. It is said that on the hill behind the fortress, Decebalus hid a hard-to-estimate treasure, which many would have tried to find. In the 17th century, surveys were even made here by a company from Sebeș, specialized in such works.

The legend gained more credibility after a letter was discovered in the archives in Târgu Mureș, about a treasure discovered in the Cindrel Mountains.

The letter mentions a room full of human skeletons, through which you had to pass before reaching the room where there was a statue of Decebalus made of solid gold and other extremely valuable objects as well as silver and precious stones. The legend remains a mystery, however, because the gold from Orlat was never found, at least not officially.

For hiking, a walk on the Plateau of the Citadel Hill is ideal, to admire a superb panorama over the whole commune and its surroundings.

Did you know that…?

• Orlat operated the first paper mill in the country and in Southeast Europe? The technology of processing linen and silk paper was brought from German cities; Conrad Haas (1507-1579) drew his first missile sketches on “de Orlat” paper.
• Was the prose writer Ion Agârbiceanu a priest at the church of St. Nicholas in Orlat? He often received here the visits of the writers Ion Slavici and George Coşbuc.
• In Orlat, the writer Liviu Rebreanu wrote “Ciuleandra”, “Crăişorul”, but also a part of the novel “Ion”.

Well, Orlat is a village endowed with a rich history, a village with unique places with a strong significance, with hardworking and modest people, a place worth visiting.

Until next time, be grateful and enjoy your journey!

Denisa Costic

The post UNKNOWN LEGENDS FROM ORLAT, SIBIU, ROMANIA appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

Sibiel, located on the lower course of the river of the same name, sheltered as a cauldron at the foot of the Cibin Mountains, appears for the first time in the documents of the time, in the fourth century, being certified documentary in 1384.

The village has continuously evolved throughout history, reaching today an emblematic village of reference in Mărginimea Sibiului, with thrifty people and proud to have managed to take abroad, Romanian traditions, habits and dishes.

A typical Romanian village, Sibiel retains a mixture of historical imprints, which give it a special air. The old, traditional houses, many of a bright blue, remind that they were raised by Saxon craftsmen. The houses have high, shingled roofs with beams joined in a triangle or trapezoid. Saxon craftsmen, brought from neighboring towns, also once, covered the streets with river stone.

In Sibiel, a series of crafts preserved from generation to generation have been preserved: blacksmithing, horseshoes, carpentry, woodworking, weaving, but also the preparation of apple and wine brandy or the baking of bread and sponge cake on the hearth. Agriculture, fruit growing and animal husbandry are also part of the daily routine of the villagers, but representative of the locality is the painting of icons on glass.

In Sibiel, agrotourism has been practiced since 1970, a period when Romanians did not even have the right to dream European. It all started on the initiative of a man with a big soul, the priest Zosim Oancea, who, after a long period spent in communist prisons, came to the parish of Sibiel in 1964 and remained here until his death, at the age of 94.

The idea to set up such a museum came to the priest Oancea while he was walking with the Epiphany through people’s houses. When he entered the rooms, he saw all the walls adorned with icons on the glass. This is how he started collecting icons, since 1969, at first, from the people of the village, then they were donated from other areas of the country. On these pieces of glass, the locals told their life.

It is said that in a recorded interview, priest Oancea told about the art of painting the icon on glass, which existed only in Transylvania, Bucovina and Banat.

Thus, icon by icon, the great work of art from Sibiel was built, which attracts a lot of tourists, eager to discover the beautiful exhibits from the “Sistine Chapel from Sibiel”.

Sibiel had long been visited by hundreds of tourists. Due to the lack of tourist reception structures, which offer tourists hot meals and accommodation, they only came on a day trip, which turned out to be a very short time to discover all the beauties of these beautiful surroundings.

Thus appeared the tourist guesthouses, with hospitable hosts, who always welcome you, in their traditional costumes, in black and white, elements that give the port elegance, sobriety, but also a special uniqueness as is the nature of the villagers.

Today, some locals have remodeled in the traditional style even the old houses of hundreds of years, to offer tourists the overall picture of the life of the Romanian peasant, a unique, authentic experience.

Visitors can taste the beauty of ancient customs by living with the villagers, the charm and deep mystery of the event or various religious rituals, discovering the beautiful culture and traditions of the region.

If you go for a walk in the village, you come across a small house by the road, made of wood. Inside, the walls are decorated with all kinds of traditional objects that arouse your curiosity, but the surprise is to discover the weighing. Here, in the past, the villagers weighed hay, various agricultural products, animals. This type of weighing is one of the few left in the country due to collectivization.

The locals have a holy respect for traditional goods and this can be seen in their care for places of significance to the village. The fire station on Râului Street is another example of preserving some goods that belong to the community.

Thus, the inventory of the shed includes old equipment, mostly from the end of the 19th century: hand pumps, horse-drawn tumults, water tanks and other “museum pieces”.

The blacksmith shop (covăcie, as it is called here), the last one in the village, has its gates always open for the curious, and the blacksmith Ion Petra greets you with his work apron, being happy and grateful when someone crosses his threshold.

In addition to raising animals, the villagers are known in the area as skilled fruit growers. I know how to take good care of a tree and graft good varieties. The first apple plantations in the area were made in 1862.

In the orchards in the Sibiel-Fântânele area, over 40 varieties of apple and 10 varieties of hair are still preserved. You pick a browned apple, then sit on the freshly mowed grass, what more could you want?

A traditional orchard is an increasingly rare place and differs from organized, industrial orchards. This type of orchard has rare trees of different varieties, so that the villagers can eat the fruit in stages.

The collection of icons on glass, along with the natural beauties, the geographical location, the traditions, the culture, the nature together with the simplicity and the hospitality of the villagers are just some of the treasures that this holy place, Sibiel, entices you.

If you are a lover of tradition, culture, history, nature, an experience spent in Sibiel will help you rediscover the nostalgic universe of the Roman peasant.

Until next time, enjoy your journey and be grateful !

Denisa Costic

The post PLACES WHERE TIME STANDS STILL EP.1 – SIBIEL, SIBIU, ROMANIA appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

Lake Bâlea, which provides the raw material for the construction of the ice hotel, is located at an altitude of 2034m. It has an area of 4.6 ha and a maximum depth of 11.35 m.

Starting with 2005 in Bâlea, in the Făgăraș Mountains, you can sleep in a more special hotel. Here, both building materials and furniture and decorations are made of ice and snow.

Every year, the structure of this hotel, the design and the decorations, differ depending on the chosen theme. For example, some of the themes in recent years have been: the underwater world, frozen love, musical genres, zodiac signs, etc.

Near Lake Bâlea, passes the high altitude road, Transfăgărășan, one of the most beautiful roads in the world. In winter, the road is covered with a layer of snow that sometimes reaches up to 2m.

The most convenient and recommended way to get to the Hotel of Ice, is by cable car. Boarding is near the Bâlea Cascada Hotel. This hotel can be reached by car in winter, the road is periodically cleared of snow, but above the Hotel Bâlea Cascada, Transfăgărășan road is closed for the winter months, so it is recommended to go up by cable car, or walk (but you have to consider the long distance and the level difference).

Once you reach 2040 altitude, the view you are about to discover is divine. You also need to be careful with your clothes, as the weather changes from time to time.

The ensemble of ice buildings consists of the main hotel building, the igloos with accommodation rooms and the ice church. The hotel has a central room from where you can enter the 12 accommodation rooms. In the same central room you will find the hotel bar and restaurant.

You have the opportunity to spend the night in a unique and welcoming atmosphere, in rooms with walls and furniture hand-carved by ice artists.

However, you do not have to worry about the low temperature if you stay here, because optimal accommodation conditions are ensured. Although the bed is made of ice, above it are positioned mattresses and sleeping bags that ensure an optimal temperature. Each room has a double bed, a table and chairs, furniture specific to a classic bedroom. Of course, for those who can not cope with the low temperature in the cold rooms, there is also the option to stay at Cabana Bâlea Lake, where they can warm up, sleep and eat, being also the main place where the reception of Hotel of Ice  guests, takes place.

And as traditional food cannot be lacking in a respectable hotel accommodation, a restaurant is also present in this hotel. Food is served on ice plates and drinks in ice glasses.

The ice church built next to the hotel completes the ice building complex. The model of the church is taken from the old Church of Mălâncrav. The altar is decorated with high-relief ice sculptures.

The price for visiting the Hotel of Ice is 10 ron. You can visit it between 9am and 5pm. Outside visiting hours, the hotel serves guests who wish to spend the night here.

At the top of the Făgăraș Mountains, at over 2,000m altitude, you will find the largest layer of snow for the longest period of the year. If you are eager to have fun and adventure with friends, the right place is in Winterpark with Snowmobile, Rafting and Tubing! If you are a lover of winter sports, cross-country skier or experienced climber, in good weather, the alternatives of mountain trails are countless.

Such an experience, is worth living at least once in your life! Feel like in a fairy tale in this place of story, unique in Romania and enjoy the moment.

Until next time, be grateful and enjoy your journey!

 Denisa Costic

The post Hotel of Ice, Romania – A unique destination in the realm of ice appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

Regardless of the season, the Păltiniş mountain resort offers mountain lovers countless experiences, being surrounded by dense and cool forests, spectacular mountain peaks and vast pastures.

The beauty of the picturesque landscapes of Păltiniș quickly became known both within the country’s borders and in central Europe, especially in Hungary and Austria, where the resort is said to be “the most beautiful place in the mountains east of Karlovy Vary“.

If you are fond of hiking, then Păltiniș is the ideal destination, with many places worth exploring. For example, a walk on Bătrâna Peak or Cindrel Peak is the perfect choice.

The beautiful landscape of nature, the glacial lakes, the fresh mountain air and the cold spring water, will surely make the lived experience, a pleasant and exciting one. After a day spent in the mountains, nothing can be more pleasant than a campfire or a relaxing dinner at one of the cottages in the resort.

Possibilities for fun are also for lovers of cycling or extreme sports.

Even in winter there is no place for boredom in Păltiniş: tobogganing, ski slopes of medium and light difficulty, artificial snow, and even a snow fun park. The Păltiniş area is a good place for cross-country skiing, precisely due to the gentle slopes and the lack of avalanche danger.

In Păltiniș you will find the right slopes for all winter sports enthusiasts, both for those who are experienced and for those who are trying to ski for the first time.

The most sought after ski spot in the area is Arena Platoș, which is located on the Poiana Poplacii plateau, Cindrel Mountains, one kilometer before entering the Păltiniș resort, where the altitude measures 1400 meters. The ski and snowboard complex Arena Platoș Păltiniș first opened its gates 10 years ago, in 2010. The resort has approximately 3.5 km of slopes, divided into different categories of difficulty and level.

The ski and leisure complex is composed of five slopes arranged with cable transport facilities, center from which you can rent complete equipment for skiing, snowboarding and sledding, snow cannons, ski and snowboard courses and bars where hot drinks can be served after the ski sessions. Here is the most modern fun-park in Romania with nocturne illumination, one built on four platforms, each counting different elements of low, medium and advanced difficulty.

Arena Platoș was conceived from the beginning as a sports and health complex intended primarily for families. The ski school is one of the best in the country, with well-trained teachers, who love what they do and who get involved for their clients, in order to have very good results.

At the same time, there is a Ski Kindergarten for the little ones, so that they can experience this beautiful sport from an early age. The little ones have two slopes for beginners where they can discover the secrets of skiing and, a season ago, the Alley with Stories was prepared for them, a promenade, where the little ones can meet figurines from their favorite cartoons. Inside the School, beginners also benefit from two treadmills, which facilitate their learning of white sports.

Păltiniș Resort and its surroundings stand out for the beauty of its fairytale landscapes, for its excellent ski slopes, but also for some interesting tourist attractions.

Among these tourist attractions are the Păltiniș Hermitage (a beautiful wooden church built in 1930, where the body of the philosopher Constantin Noica rests), Cindrel Natural Park, Iezerul Mare Lake, Iezerul Mic Lake and Iezerele Cindrelului Reservation.

Venture with confidence and discover how many beautiful places you can visit even in the cold season, how many sports you can practice even in the snow and how good you can feel, outside in the fresh, cold, mountain air, doing what you love.

Until next time, be grateful and enjoy your journey !

Denisa Costic

The post Păltiniș, Romania – A beautiful mountain resort appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

With the arrival of the winter holidays, the superstitions of the Maramureș villagers and the customs preserved from their ancestors appear. The people of Maramureș are those authentic Romanians, who wear the folk costume with pride, which is indispensable on holidays, which prepare tasty traditional dishes and which will always make you feel joy in your soul when you are around them.

As Christmas is an important Christian holiday, the people of Maramureş celebrate it and honor it with great joy. The habits such as cutting the pig, caroling and Viflaim are just some of the practices that give the start this holiday.

Pig slaughter is a custom sacredly respected by the people of Maramureș, which takes place on December 20 ( with the name of Ignaț). The saying goes that merciful people, with a weak heart, are not allowed to get involved in the slaughter of the pig, because the animal will feel the mercy of the man and will suffer more. In the villages of Maramureș, the animal’s blood is used to mark children in order to become stronger and healthier. The blood of the slaughtered animal is also collected to the last drop and mixed with corn flour. This mixture is kept throughout the year, and when someone feels bad, the mixture will burn to heal that person. 

On Christmas Eve, groups of children and young people gather who, as evening falls, start caroling the households. The houses must be lit, and with the gates open, because that’s the only way carolers will know where they are welcome. The little ones go from house to house with Capra (goat) or Steaua (star), the hosts honoring the carolers with traditional dishes, apples, nuts and money. Tradition says that there should be no house that has not been caroled. The carol lasts until the next day, when all the groups of carolers meet at the church.  

After the end of the Liturgy on December 25, men must play Viflaim, the most important and popular custom practiced in Maramureș. Viflaim is a scene that represents the first days of Jesus’ life. This acting takes place in front of the church, and everyone must know their role very well so that there are no mistakes. Even after hundreds of years, this custom is strictly observed in the lands of Maramureș. Viflaim is the culmination of Christmas, where the whole village gathers, showing respect and joy for this holy custom.

Superstitions are present in the lives of the inhabitants of Maramureș. At Christmas they don’t sweep, wash clothes or borrow anything. The animals are pampered, receiving a lot of food to saturate, including a piece of leavened dough to protect them from disease, according to superstitions. It is also said that on Christmas morning it is good to wash your face with spring water in which a silver coin is placed.

The habits and good will, will continue until the New Year, this period being a fairytale on this authentic and beautiful realm, the villagers spending and celebrating with honor the holy holidays.

Article by Denisa Costic

Sources:
https://www.travlocals.com/st_location/maramures/
https://discover.turistintransilvania.com/ro/traditiile-de-craciun-din-transilvania-de-la-post-si-pana-la-colindatul-pe-sate-3163/

The post Winter traditions in Maramures, Romania appeared first on Trail Trips Romania.

With the arrival of the winter holidays, the superstitions of the Maramureș villagers and the customs preserved from their ancestors appear.

The people of Maramureș are those authentic Romanians, who wear the folk costume with pride, which is indispensable on holidays, which prepare tasty traditional dishes and which will always make you feel joy in your soul when you are around them.

As Christmas is an important Christian holiday, the people of Maramureş celebrate it and honor it with great joy. The habits such as cutting the pig, caroling and Viflaim are just some of the practices that give the start this holiday.

Pig slaughter is a custom sacredly respected by the people of Maramureș, which takes place on December 20 ( with the name of Ignaț). The saying goes that merciful people, with a weak heart, are not allowed to get involved in the slaughter of the pig, because the animal will feel the mercy of the man and will suffer more.

In the villages of Maramureș, the animal’s blood is used to mark children in order to become stronger and healthier. The blood of the slaughtered animal is also collected to the last drop and mixed with corn flour. This mixture is kept throughout the year, and when someone feels bad, the mixture will burn to heal that person. 

On Christmas Eve, groups of children and young people gather who, as evening falls, start caroling the households. The houses must be lit, and with the gates open, because that’s the only way carolers will know where they are welcome. The little ones go from house to house with Capra (goat) or Steaua (star), the hosts honoring the carolers with traditional dishes, apples, nuts and money.

Tradition says that there should be no house that has not been caroled. The carol lasts until the next day, when all the groups of carolers meet at the church.  

After the end of the Liturgy on December 25, men must play Viflaim, the most important and popular custom practiced in Maramureș. Viflaim is a scene that represents the first days of Jesus’ life. This acting takes place in front of the church, and everyone must know their role very well so that there are no mistakes.

Even after hundreds of years, this custom is strictly observed in the lands of Maramureș. Viflaim is the culmination of Christmas, where the whole village gathers, showing respect and joy for this holy custom.

Superstitions are present in the lives of the inhabitants of Maramureș. At Christmas they don’t sweep, wash clothes or borrow anything. The animals are pampered, receiving a lot of food to saturate, including a piece of leavened dough to protect them from disease, according to superstitions. It is also said that on Christmas morning it is good to wash your face with spring water in which a silver coin is placed.

The habits and good will, will continue until the New Year, this period being a fairytale on this authentic and beautiful realm, the villagers spending and celebrating with honor the holy holidays.

Until next time, enjoy your journey!

Denisa Costic

Sources:
https://www.travlocals.com/st_location/maramures/
https://discover.turistintransilvania.com/ro/traditiile-de-craciun-din-transilvania-de-la-post-si-pana-la-colindatul-pe-sate-3163/

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Porumbacului Valley, houses a castle built exclusively of natural materials, crowned by the heights of Negoiu peak – the second highest peak in Romania (2535 meters).

The story of the Clay Castle began 6 years ago, when two corporates from Bucharest, husband and wife, decided to move somewhere in the country, in a quiet place. A story place, where they also can have a story house. That’s how they came up with the idea to build a clay castle, similar to those in fairy tales, thus wanting to translate the stories of childhood into reality.

Fairy Valley Clay Castle is made entirely of clay, the walls are built of a mixture of clay, straw, water and sand (everything being made by hand), and the towers are made of stone.

Finishing each room with exclusively natural plasters, generates a unique design. Modeled with organic cob shapes, the castle fits perfectly into the enchanting landscape of nature, and the dynamism is given by the roof inspired by the mountain tops. To preserve the specificity of the place and the narrative line, all materials and finishes used are natural, non-toxic.

The Fairy Valley, like any other fairytale place, has a legend. The legend of this place says that the land on which the castle is located was inhabited by magical creatures – fairies – who “still protect the place” that was once their home.

It is said that long ago, in these surroundings lived some fairies, who were also in harmony with humans. The fairies lived in a forest, near a river, so people decided that this enchanted place should be called the Fairy Valley.

Only that , one day, this harmony was shattered by a kite that had set its eyes on these lands. The villagers and the fairies, however, did not let themselves be driven away and thus allied themselves, in order to drive the kite from their land. Each fought with what he could, some with axes and forks, others with magic wands. The fight was a hard one and lasted 3 days and 3 nights.

In the end, the kite was chased away, to everyone’s delight. But the forest suffered. Burned and destroyed, the forest could no longer be a home for fairies, so they decided to start looking for a new home. They said goodbye to the people, saying that they would definitely return when they could live in the valley again.

Thus, in the spring of 2014, a family displaced in the Valley, conquered by the charm of the place, by this magical land, of wild nature, has built with love, a castle that could be once again, a home for fairies. Together with skilled and industrious craftsmen, they managed to build a fairytale place, calling it the Fairy Valley Clay Castle.

Here, people come to admire the beauty of the castle and its surroundings and to spend special time with the family in a fairytale land.

A walk through the green garden of the castle, along with the sublime beauty of nature, the pungent smell of haystacks, the enticing scent of flowers, along with an bio picnic in a fairytale setting by the river, makes this visit to the castle a beautiful unforgettable experience.

Handmade and created from natural materials (such as clay), the souvenirs from the Fairy Valley Clay Castle, are magical parts of this place.

Here, both adults and children can relax and have fun at the same time, through various activities. Workshops and events are organized for the little ones, creative, educational activities, so tourists can remember fondly, every moment spent in a magical place, with the family!

This place is permanently bathed in the gentle rays of the sun and in the infinite pastel of flowers, which regardless of the season delights you with the beautiful image of nature.

Visit the Fairy Valley Clay Castle, and enter in the fairytale world of little magical beings!

Until next time, be grateful and enjoy your journey !

Denisa Costic

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