Maramures

Maramures County, situated at the Northern border of Romania adjacent to the Ukraine, consists of the old "lands" of Maramures, Chioarul, Lapus and Baia Mare Depressions. Currently, the population consists of Romanians, (81%); Magyars (10.5%); Ukrainians (6.8%); Gypsies (1.3%); and Germans (0.6%).

Maramures County has 62 hunting grounds with a surface of 587,000 ha. There are also eight zones of natural reserves.
The county is rich in ethnographic and folk elements. The folk art preserved here is in very original forms, i. e., houses, wooden gates, tools, textures, pottery, and wooden churches uniquely built and reflecting regional characteristics.
The villages situated in the Iza, Mara, Viseu and Tisa Valleys retain their original structures and features, forming real open-air museums. Unique in the world is the Merry Cemetery from the village of Sapanta.

Moldavia

With its forest-clad hills and tranquil valleys, Moldavia is rich in folklore and natural beauty but boasts a turbulent history.

Crossing into Bucovina in northern Moldova, you will find remarkable 16th Century Byzantine churches that have retained the original, exquisite colours and motifs in their interior and exterior paints.

Apart from the religious art and monasteries, Moldavia is well worth visiting for its folklore, picturesque villages, bucolic scenery and colorful inhabitants.

The northern tip of west Transylvania is dominated by the Apuseni Mountains .In the heart of these mountains lies the Padis plateau , a heavily karstic area offering hikers numerous trails to the treasure trove of fantastic caves and grottos that lie west on the Banat-Transylvania border.

At the southern foot of the Apuseni Mountains is the Aries Valley , running west from Turda toxards Abrud.