Brusturi – Nature and Cultural Heritage in the Finiș Commune

Brusturi is one of the settlements administered by the Finiș Commune. The ROSCI 0042 Codru Moma protected area covers a total of 24,631.60 hectares, of which 6,672.74 hectares are located within the Finiș Commune. It lies in the Codru-Moma Mountains, which form part of the Apuseni Mountains. Brusturi is therefore situated within a commune that encompasses part of a much larger protected mountain area.

Nature and Landscape

The Finiș Commune lies at the foot of the Codru-Moma Mountains, in a landscape of high hills and low mountains. In the Finiș area, the Finiș Valley and small watercourses have shaped a varied landscape with steep slopes, low plateaus, and wooded ridges. The terrain is therefore defined both by its valley areas and by its higher-lying landforms. Forests and pastureland together cover more than 70 percent of the area of the Finiș Commune.

The natural resources of the Finiș Commune include the Finiș River and its tributaries. Brusturi is considered one of the three source areas of the Finișul Mare stream. The Finișul Mare stream is a tributary of the Crișul Negru. Thus, the water system extends from the source area near Brusturi through the Finiș area into the Crișul Negru river system.

Nature and Activities

The varied natural landscape of the Finiș Commune provides favorable conditions for rural tourism, hiking, and outdoor activities. The protected area contains a single zone with designated camping and caravan areas, known as the Brusturi Zone. The Brusturi Forestry District is located in a wide clearing; La Cruce is 8.5 km away. The place name is therefore used here both for the designated zone and for the forestry district.

Culture and History

Schitul Huta was founded in 1998 in the area of the Finiș parish. The church of Schitul Huta was built in 1927 and restored in 1973. Schitul Huta is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and Saint Theodora of Sihla. Its foundation, the construction and restoration of the church, and its dedication are all clearly dated features of this religious site.

The Wooden Church of Brusturi

The wooden church known as Biserica de lemn din Brusturi is an 18th-century architectural monument. It was built in 1785 from oak wood by a craftsman named Meșter Toadere. From 1961 onward, the wooden church from Brusturi was kept in the courtyard of the Muzeul Țării Crișurilor in Oradea and was later moved to the center of Băile Felix, where it is located today. Its name preserves its connection with Brusturi, while its present location is in Băile Felix.

Routes to Brusturi and Schitul Huta

Access to Brusturi branches off from DJ 764 via local roads that are unpaved or only partly modernized. Access to Schitul Huta leads from Beiuș via county road DJ764F in the direction of Finiș for 4 km, followed by another 12 km along a forest road. On the way to Schitul Huta, the forest-road section is therefore three times longer than the section along the county road.

To the main travel overview: Finiș Commune.