Discover Oncești: Wooden Church, Mountains and Cetatea Oncești

Onceşti combines traces of history with a landscape of mountain peaks and a route to Cetatea Oncești. The “Maramureșul Istoric: Cetatea Oncești” route starts in Oncești and leads to Cetatea Oncești. Dacian and medieval remains meet there. Visitors can also see the remains of a medieval tower with a square floor plan and a sandstone wall, the extraction of which created a grotto.

Cetatea Oncești thus brings together various forms of architectural heritage: the visible remains include both the square medieval tower and the sandstone wall with the grotto created from it. The route leads from Oncești to this historic destination, linking the locality with the Dacian and medieval remains preserved there.

Culture and history

The wooden church from Oncești was moved to the Muzeul Satului Maramureșean in Sighetu Marmației in 1974 and restored there in 1975. It is one of the oldest wooden churches in Maramureș. Preserved features include a wooden structure interlocked on two levels, an imperial door, a deacon’s door and very small windows.

The church therefore preserves not only its classification as one of the oldest wooden buildings of this kind in Maramureș, but also several clearly recognizable architectural features. Its history includes the move to Sighetu Marmației, the restoration the following year and the structural and furnishing elements that remain preserved.

The local craft tradition includes Maria Godja from Oncești. The folk artisan makes traditional Moroșeni garments, including Cojoace, Chităre, Cămeși, Trăistuțe and Brâie. The area around Oncești also contains several cultural institutions and memorial sites: the Memorialul Victimelor Comunismului si a Rezistentei Sighetu Marmaţiei is regarded as a museum, as is the Muzeul de Stiintele Naturn Sighetu Marmaţiei. The Casa Memorială Doctor Joan Mihalyi de Apsa Sighetu Marmaţier is regarded as a historic site. In addition, the Bustul Eroului Revolutiei de la Una Mie Opt Sute Patruzeci şi Opt lon Buteanu Sighetu Marmaţiei is classified as a monument.

The cultural spectrum thus ranges from religious wooden architecture and traditional clothing to museums, a historic site and a monument. The institutions and sites mentioned are located in the area around Oncești and complement the historical traces directly associated with the locality and Cetatea Oncești.

Landscape

The peaks Vârful Sefirul and Vârful Osului are located in the immediate vicinity of Oncești, while Vârful Vălenilor and Vârful Dumbrăviţei lie in the wider surrounding area. A Borcut spring is located about 30 minutes from the starting point of the Oncești route.

Date and access

Every year, “jocu' satului” takes place in Oncești on Easter Monday. The route can be reached by bus, by an intercity minibus from Baia Mare in the direction of Valea Izei–Bârsana–Borșa, or by private car.

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More destinations

More destinations: Recea, Coltău, Săpânța, Satu Nou de Jos, Vișeu De Jos, Târgu Lăpuș, Deseşti, Poienile Izei

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