Sighetu Marmaţiei: Memorial, Museums and Historic Sites

In the historic centre of Sighetu Marmaţiei is the Memorialul Victimelor Comunismului şi al Rezistenţei de la Sighet. A free car park is available to visitors behind the Memorial on Gheorghe Șincai Street.

Culture

The Memorialul victimelor comunismului şi al rezistenţei Sighet is a site recognised as an ensemble of national interest. It comprises the former Sighet prison, the Cearda cemetery and the associated grounds, and is located in the municipality of Sighetu Marmaţiei in Maramureş County.

The “Muzeul Satului Maramureşean” is located on Dealul Doboieş, about 3 km from the centre of Sighetu Marmaţiei, at the exit towards Vadu Izei. The “Muzeul Satului Maramureșean” preserves significant monuments of Romania’s vernacular architecture. Most of these structures can be reliably dated to the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries through inscriptions engraved or carved into wood.

The Casa Memorială Elie Wiesel is housed in Elie Wiesel’s birthplace; he was born there and lived there until the age of 15. The nearby surroundings of Sighetu Marmaţiei also contain the “Muzeul de Stiintele Naturn Sighetu Marmaţiei” museum and the “Memorialul Victimelor Comunismului si a Rezistentei Sighetu Marmaţiei” museum.

The nearby historic site “Casa Memorială Doctor Joan Mihalyi de Apsa Sighetu Marmaţier” is also located in the surrounding area. The monument “Obeliscul Eroinel Leövey Klára Sighetu Marmaţiei” is likewise situated there.

The Reformed Church of Sighetu Marmaţiei was completed in its present form in 1892. A stone-built section of the main tower, with a carved portal and a double window above it, dates from the 13th century.

History

Sighet Prison was built in 1897 by the Austro-Hungarian authorities. Between May 1950 and July 1955, it served as a high-security prison. On 5 and 6 May 1950, more than one hundred dignitaries from all over Romania were brought there.

The Memorialul Victimelor Comunismului şi al Rezistenţei Sighet was initiated by Ana Blandiana in 1992 and developed over the following decade together with Romulus Rusan and a team of historians, architects, builders and designers. In 1998, the Council of Europe placed the Memorialul de la Sighet alongside the Memorial of Auschwitz and the Peace Memorial in Normandy among the most important sites of continent-wide remembrance.

The Memorialul Victimelor Comunismului şi al Rezistenţei includes an underground chapel topped by an impluvium. The “Cortegiul Sacrificaților” is a group of 18 human figures created by the sculptor Aurel Vlad.

Nearby is the “Cimitirul Săracilor”, an architectural memorial ensemble for political prisoners who died or were executed in communist prisons and camps or during deportations, as well as for partisans killed in fighting with the Securitate.

Traditions

The “MARMAȚIA” Festival of Winter Customs and Traditions has been held annually in Sighetu Marmaţiei for more than 50 years. The “MARMAȚIA” Festival of Winter Customs includes performances of winter customs, Christmas carol concerts, exhibitions, symposia and a national conference on winter customs and traditions.

The different topics can be considered separately when planning: memorial sites, historic buildings, museum content and an annual recurring festival each offer their own focus.

Surrounding area

In the wider regional surroundings of Sighetu Marmaţiei are the peaks listed as “Vârful Tganului” and “Vârful Văcarului”. The mountain listed as “Gora Obchina” is also located in the wider regional surroundings. The peak listed as “Piatra Negru” is also situated there.

Grădina Morii Park is designated as a starting point towards Dealul Cetății Solovan–Agriş.

Further destinations in the catalogue: Băile Borşa, Călineşti, Poienile Izei, Bârsana, Vișeu De Sus, Mittelstadt, Baia Mare, Ruscova.

To visit the “Sinagoga Sefarda”, enquire at the headquarters of the Jewish community.

To the higher-level travel overview: Maramureş.