Săpânța between folk art, monastery and waterfall

If you’re looking for a hotel in Săpânța, you can plan your trip around the themes that define the place: Cimitirul Vesel and its carved epitaphs, Casa Memorială „Stan Ioan Pătraș“, Săpânța-Peri Monastery and Cascada Șipot. The range extends from folk art and local history to an excursion to a waterfall.

Art and local history

Cimitirul Vesel was the life’s work of sculptor, painter and folk poet Ion Stan Pătraș; his students continued the artistic work. The carved epitaphs provide information about people, professions and activities, as well as village life, traditions and customs. Individual lives are thus presented alongside a picture of village life as a community.

Dumitru Pop (Tincu) draws on the original decorative forms and distinctive color scheme introduced by Stan Ion Pătraș at Cimitirul Vesel, reinterpreting them in his own way. Alongside the continuation of the artistic work, the cemetery can also be seen as a place where traditional motifs are given new form.

Casa Memorială „Stan Ioan Pătraș“ comprises the artist’s house, the stable and the workshop in the courtyard. Inside, you’ll find traditional furniture, household textiles and a significant collection of objects made by Stan Ioan Pătraș himself. The house, stable and workshop complement the view of his art with the rooms and objects associated with the artist.

Săpânța-Peri Monastery

The present-day Săpânța-Peri Monastery was founded in 1997 in the immediate vicinity of Săpânța. Construction took place between 1998 and 2003, not far from the Tisa River. The church tower reaches a height of 75 metres and is a distinctive architectural feature of the complex.

The monastery’s history goes back to an earlier site: the former monastery was destroyed in 1703. Reconstruction took place towards the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, not far from the original site, which is now in Ukraine. The history of the present-day monastery thus encompasses both its more recent construction and the memory of the former site.

Cascada Șipot and the routes to get there

A large plunge pool stands out below Cascada Șipot. It was formed by the erosion caused by the falling water. The hollow is therefore a distinctive feature of the landscape at the waterfall: it shows how the water has shaped the rock over time.

A tourist route leads from Cariera Capul Feței through the Nadoșa Valley to Cascada Șipot. It is about 5 to 6 kilometres long; the walking time for one way is about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. The route description dates from 2014, so check current trail conditions before setting out. The waterfall can also be reached by off-road vehicle. There is a car park immediately above it, from which you can walk down to the waterfall. The terrain can be slippery when wet.

Săpânța can be reached from Sighetu Marmației or via Negrești-Oaș. Transport options and road conditions can change; check your current travel plans before setting off.

For the hike, the approximate walking time for each direction and the route length are useful details for planning; for getting to the waterfall, an off-road vehicle, the car park and the descent that follows are relevant.

Discover more destinations: Ieud, Sarasău, Bârsana, Suciu de Sus, Săcălaşeni, Remeţi, Vișeu De Jos, Strâmtura

For the broader travel overview: Maramureş.