Mătișești between Nature Reserve and Woodworking Tradition

Nature

Izbucul Mătișești is located within the village of Mătișești at an elevation of 1,100 metres, in the headwaters of the Albac River. The national protected area belongs to IUCN Category III. It is classified as a geological, speleological and botanical nature reserve. The elevation and the headwaters connect the name Mătișești with a specific natural area at the source of the Albac.

Peștera Dărninii is located on the right slope of the upper Albac Valley. The mountain Dealul Fericet is situated near Mătișești. The mountain Dealul Soba is also situated near Mătișești. Mount Oasa is located in the vicinity of Mătișești. The cave Peştera Scărişoara is also found in this area. The natural features thus extend from the upper Albac Valley across several mountains to named caves.

Culture

The Horea commune has traditions of woodworking and agrotourism. The Gorunul lui Horea monument is located near Mătișești. The Biserica Mătişeşti church is also located near Mătișești. The Biserica Ortodoxă Nouă Horea church is likewise situated nearby. The Mânăstirea Albac-Rogoz monastery is located in the vicinity of Mătișești. Woodworking and agrotourism therefore stand alongside churches, a monument and a monastery as specific cultural themes.

The summer altar of the wooden church in Mătișești contains original icons, old religious objects and a piece of the Horea oak from Țebea. The Muzeul Etnografic al Lemnarilor displays objects that were used in the “Cel mai bun lemnar” competition as part of the woodworking fair in Mătișești. The altar preserves several religious mementoes, while the museum displays objects that were used in the “Cel mai bun lemnar” competition as part of the woodworking fair in Mătișești.

Events

The Zilele Lemnarului festival in Mătișești-Horea is documented for the period from 15 to 17 August 2019. Ziua Lemnarului takes place every year in the village of Mătișești. For events with fixed dates, the current dates should be checked before travelling.

Routes

In the Horea commune, 30 kilometres of communal roads are considered accessible for tourism. The Munții-Noștri route crosses a road that descends from Poiana Horea to Mătișești. On the route from Izvorul Horea to Mătișești, a winding road passes through the village of Mătișești. The two named routes involve Mătișești in different ways: once as the destination of a descending road and once as a village crossed by a winding road. For roads and routes, current road conditions and traffic information can be checked before departure. When planning a journey along a winding road, current traffic information and the relevant road conditions should also be taken into account.

Other places include Arieşeni, Pleși, Răchita, Pleșcuța, Sălciua de Jos, Brăzești, Alba Iulia and Sohodol.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alba.