Moisei: Wooden Church, Places of Remembrance and Nature

Moisei lies in the Maramureș Depression, at the foot of the Rodna Mountains and in the floodplain of the Vișeu River. Two distinct points of interest may help you decide what to explore on your trip: the town’s cultural heritage and its natural setting. The church, monument and House of the Martyrs offer different perspectives; the route to Izbucul Izei and the Izvorul Izei Cave lead to other topics. You can compare Moisei with your interests in architecture, the culture of remembrance or nature.

Wooden Church and Church Painting

The wooden church “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” is part of the former “Izvorul Negru” monastery complex. It is the only wooden church in Maramureș with an exterior hexagonal polygonal apse. Both terms refer to the same part of the building: “hexagonal” describes the number of sides, while “polygonal” describes its many-sided shape. This makes the distinctive feature clear: it lies in the exterior design of the apse, not solely in the use of wood.

A center for church painting had existed at the Moisei monastery since the 17th century. This historical context adds the history of sacred art to the ways of seeing the town. Alongside the church, carved wooden gates are among the local features you can admire in Moisei. The painting center draws attention to a different aspect from the visible forms of the church and gates: the history of church art.

Remembrance in Moisei

The Monument of Moisei by sculptor Vida Géza consists of twelve stone figures: two human faces and ten figures wearing traditional masks from the region. The combination of faces and masks sets this arrangement of figures apart from church motifs.

The House of the Martyrs of Moisei stands at the end of the municipality in the direction of Borșa. It commemorates the events of October 14, 1944, when 29 Romanian patriots were murdered there by Horthy’s troops. Here, the focus is on a specific event, while Vida Géza’s monument stands out for its arrangement of figures.

The Monument to the Heroes of Moisei stands on a hill and is reached by climbing 44 steps. Take these steps into account when planning your visit.

Landscape and Route

The route from Dealul Moiseiului to Izbucul Izei follows the upper course of the Iza through Rodna Mountains National Park, within the municipality of Moisei. An older route description gives the distance from Dealul Moiseiului to Izbucul Izei as about nine kilometers along a badly damaged forest road, which it says is passable with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Check the road conditions before setting out.

The Izvorul Izei Cave is also close to Moisei. It is 2,500 meters long and has an elevation difference of 100 meters. These are two different kinds of information for finding your bearings: the route details its course and road conditions, while the cave details its length and elevation difference.

Discover more destinations: Coltău, Petrova, Suciu de Sus, Lăpușel, Călineşti, Ocna Sugatag, Vișeu De Sus, Mittelstadt

For the full travel overview: Maramureş.