Discover Târgu Lăpuș

Târgu Lăpuș offers several starting points for planning your trip: Cheile Lăpușului gorge and its marked trails, Lacul Lighet lake, and cultural sites in the town and its surrounding villages. This lets you consider nature and history as different focal points for your stay.

Gorge, Waterfall and Lake

Cheile Lăpușului is a narrow stretch of valley carved by the Lăpuș River into the crystalline schist of the Preluca mountain range. It lies within the administrative area of the town of Târgu Lăpuș and stretches between Răzoare and Remecioara as far as the confluence of the Lăpuș and Cavnic rivers. The gorge is part of the European network of protected areas and has Natura 2000 site status. Of its total length of 36 kilometers, 25 kilometers are designated as a nature reserve.

The gorge is home to Pișătoarea waterfall, the largest waterfall there; it is more than 25 meters high. Lacul Lighet is located southeast of Târgu Lăpuș. The lake was formed in 1975 by damming the Nireș stream, also called Lighet. It covers four hectares and ranges in depth from 0.5 to 6 meters. These details give you an idea of the varied landscapes around the town: a narrow river valley, a waterfall and a reservoir.

Marked Trails and Activities

Seven themed trails are marked in the Cheile Lăpușului nature reserve. The moderately difficult, blue-marked Traseul Albastru begins in the center of Târgu Lăpuș and heads toward Baia Mare. At Lacul Lighet, the blue trail marker points to a cold spring. From there, you can retrace the same route or walk around the lake on a path and then return to the marked trail. Markings and trail conditions may change, so it is advisable to check locally before setting out.

For a longer outing in the area, a circular route runs from Răzoare through Groape to Preluca Veche and back. It is 14 to 16 kilometers long and takes approximately eight hours. Its distance and estimated duration set it apart from the seven themed trails in the gorge; conditions may vary depending on the season.

Fishing at Lacul Lighet is managed by the “Cheile Lăpușului” fishing association from Târgu Lăpuș. The lake is home to carp, crucian carp, grass carp, silver carp, bleak, roach and perch, among other species. If you want to fish, check the conditions with the association in advance. This ensures that fishing regulations are also taken into account when planning your visit.

Monastery, Museum and Wooden Church

The Sf. Ana-Rohia Monastery is located in the village of Rohia, one of the 13 villages within the town limits of Târgu Lăpuș. It sits on Dealul Viei, amid a beech and oak forest at an altitude of about 500 meters. In 1926, priest Nicolae Gherman had the monastery built in memory of his daughter Anuța. The site thus brings together a specific history of its origins and a setting in wooded surroundings.

In Rogoz, the Ethnographic Museum House preserves traditional objects from the Țara Lăpușului region. It also serves as a venue for events with traditional themes. At the wooden church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the ends of the roof beams are carved in the shape of stylized horses; this design is considered unique in Maramureș. According to tradition, the church was built in 1663 from two enormous tree trunks brought down from Dealul Popii.

A local tradition in Rogoz is also tied to specific days: on Maundy Thursday, families bring food and leave it on the table overnight. On Good Friday, they give the food to people in need. This annual practice offers visitors insight into time-honored customs alongside the region’s buildings and collections.

Memorial Sites in Târgu Lăpuș

The Martyrs’ Monument, erected in 1936, stands in the central park. It bears the names of the victims of the massacre of December 5, 1918. There is a plaque in Târgu Lăpuș commemorating the town’s Jews. Persecution of the Jewish community began there on May 4, 1944, marking the beginning of the Holocaust in Târgu Lăpuș. Along the path to the entrance of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, there are also two wooden crosses carved by Alexandru Perța Cuza.

The Regional Context

Târgu Lăpuș, together with seven other municipalities, contributes to the formation of the ethnographic region of Țara Lăpușului. This regional context adds a broader cultural perspective to local impressions of the gorge, trails and cultural sites.

Discover more destinations: Petrova, Coruia, Desești, Vadu Izei, Săpânța, Botiza, Seini, Săliștea de Sus

For the broader travel overview: Maramureş.