Săliștea de Sus: Wooden Churches and the Maramureș Village Museum

The specific cultural landmarks in Săliștea de Sus include the “Sfântul Nicolae” wooden church of Nistorești and the “Sfântul Nicolae” wooden church of Buleni. The Nistorești wooden church was built in 1680 by a wealthy family descended from a certain Nistor. It is built from fir wood sourced from the place called “Gruiul Rusului”. In addition, the Nistorești wooden church is the only place of worship in Maramureș with two bell towers. The two churches bear the same name and are associated with the Nistorești and Buleni districts.

According to tradition, the “Sfântul Nicolae” wooden church of Buleni in Săliștea de Sus was rebuilt in 1724 after the Tatar attack of 1717. The wooden church is dated to 1717–1724; the year 1736 is also recorded as an additional date. The dates are therefore directly connected with the history of the Buleni church and supplement the rebuilding after the 1717 attack with a further historical classification.

The Maramureș Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației also contains specific links to Săliștea de Sus. Casa Țicală (Chiș) from Săliștea de Sus is part of the Maramureș Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației and dates from the last quarter of the 17th century. Casa Iuga de Săliște in the Maramureș Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației also comes from Săliștea de Sus and is dated to the late 17th century. The historic houses connect the place names with individual buildings whose origins date back to the 17th century.

Casa Barcan is displayed in the Maramureș Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației and is associated with Săliştea in Maramureș County. Alongside Casa Țicală (Chiș) and Casa Iuga de Săliște, this means that the museum contains another house connected with Maramureș. For visitors interested in traditional architectural forms and the history of individual places, the museum therefore represents an independent cultural attraction outside Săliștea de Sus.

Săliștea de Sus is also part of a 150-kilometre route from Baia Mare to Borșa via Cavnic, Bârsana, Săliștea de Sus and Moisei. In the stated sequence of the route, the town is therefore located between Bârsana and Moisei. Another described excursion includes travel to and from Borșa Fântâna, a visit to the two “Sfântul Nicolae” wooden churches in Săliștea de Sus, and the return to Baia Mare via the Iza Valley. The entire excursion lasts 10–12 hours.

Săliștea de Sus has the last wooden school in Maramureș. The town also has two mineral springs, one of which is saline. A fixed date in the annual calendar is 6 December: on this day, the patronal feast of “Sfântul Nicolae” is celebrated in Săliștea de Sus alternately in the Buleni church and in the church in the town centre. Thus, alongside the historic wooden buildings, a school, mineral springs and a specific feast day are also available as points of reference in the town.

Further destinations for travel planning: Coltău, Onceşti, Borşa, Suciu de Sus, Recea, Strâmtura, Coruia, Sighetu Marmaţiei.

To the main travel overview: Maramureş.