Viseu Valley

Viseu Valley spans a 60 kilometers stretch of scenic countryside and villages known for their traditional folklore and historical value. The area is inhabited by Romanian, Germans and Carpatho-Russians. One of the most stunning valleys in Romania, the Viseu Valley is famous for its rare beauty.

This small village is 52 kilometers from Vadu Izei.

The Tavorul Negru Valley near Moisei is home to a monastery built in 1600 named for the Virgin Mary. The church was painted in 1699 but it is now in severe disrepair, although above the altar there are still rare, and valuable icons. In 1911 a new church and a house with seven rooms for the resident monks were built. "The Sleeping of the Holy Virgin" as it is know, holds its annual celebration and pilgrimage on the 15th of August.

From the road, at right, at the locality exit, on a little hill, there is statuesque ensemble dedicated to memory of 29 patriots from Maramures, who were killed by the people of Horty, in the autumn of 1944. The monument is Vida Geza creation and contains 12 pillars - stylized figures and a sanctuary tombstone.

Viseu de Sus is a tranquil, busy small city at the end of the Vaser Valley. It has only one bridge that cars can use. All other transport and business is conducted on foot – over fragile suspension bridges that only one person - and barely, at that - can cross at a time.

Up there, in the mountains of Maramures, the Viseu railroad was built along the Vaser's river valley between 1930 - 1933, with the initial purpose of carrying the wood from the deep forests. Eventually, nowadays, it became one of the most important tourist attractions of the area. The train is called 'mocanitza' and it's particularity, besides its antic look is it's narrow gauge. Stop reading for a second and try to imagine an ancient train, steaming its way across wooded cliffs, passing through endless tunnels which seem to separate different realities and taking you through breathtaking landscapes.

Borsa is situated at Maramures' eastern extremity, 80 km from Vadu Izei and next to the Prislop Pass in the Rodna Mountains. In 1774 Borsa was a commune and a parish, but the parish was divided into two parts. In 1653 the two sections united into one parish lead by Popa Ioan. The parish church was painted in 1775 by an anonymous artist.

Borsa is best known for its alpine tourism. There is skiing at Borsa and also places to rent equipment for various winter sports activities. Just above Borsa's alpine resort lies the National Reservation, Pietrosul Rodnei, a pristine alpine wilderness rising to an altitude of 2304 meters.