Carved wooden gates of Maramureș
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The local craftsmanship can be best observed in the monumental Maramureș gates, guarding the entry to the houses. Supported by four columns, they feature traditional ornamental motifs, including the sun and the twisted rope - both symbols of life and continuity. Some of the most beautiful wooden gates are found in the villages of Vadu Izei, Desești, Giulești, Budești, Sârbi, Bârsana and Oncești. The villages of Bârsana and Oncești have, perhaps, the greatest number of impressive gates.
Wooden churches of Maramureș
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As it has for hundreds of years, social life in Maramureș continues to revolve around the village church. The Wooden Churches of Maramureș - in Surdești, Plopiș, Rogoz, Ieud, Poeinile Izei, Bârsana, Budești and Desești - have been recognized by UNESCO as some of the most important sites of world heritage. Unique in shape and ornamentation, they have characteristic high roofs and tall, narrow, pointed steeples, often collectively describer as ‘the Gothic style of Maramureș.’
The primary wood material used by the artisans who built them was local oak, which has survived the elements with sturdy elegance until today. The interior walls of the churches were painted by local artists, with biblical scenes often juxtaposed against the familiar landscape of the village.
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