Poiana Mărului: Churches, Traditional Costumes and Customs

Culture and History

The historic church, influenced by the Brâncovenesc style, is a tourist attraction in Poiana Mărului. The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is registered as a historic monument dating from 1707 to 1777. In its courtyard stands a stone cross recorded as a monument dating from 1700. The Church Ensemble of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is dated to the 18th to 19th centuries.

The church ensemble also includes the parish house, recorded as having been built in 1892. Thus, several historical references stand side by side in one place: the historic monument church, the stone cross in the courtyard, and the parish house with its own construction date.

Landscape and Trails

Poiana Mărului lies in the basin of the headwaters of the Șinca stream, on the border with the upper basin of Țara Bârsei. Terra Borza Teutonica, the first extension of the main Via Transilvanica route, leads through this landscape. The route runs from Viscri through Poiana Mărului and onward to Bran.

In Brașov County, Via Transilvanica is recognized as a hiking trail of national recreational interest and includes the Poiana Mărului administrative territorial unit. The railway network is also accessible from Poiana Mărului in Zărnești, 5 km away.

Events and Traditions

A livestock breeders’ competition is one of the social and cultural events in Poiana Mărului. The local traditional costume tradition combines influences from the Făgăraș area, the Bran region, and the Câmpulung Muscel area. On June 24, the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist and the village church’s patronal feast, visitors to Poiana Mărului can see the traditional costumes worn by local residents.

Traditional customs and the local traditional costume can be experienced at traditional weddings and during the winter holidays in Poiana Mărului, including Christmas, New Year, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and Saint John’s name day. On Christmas Eve, the Ceata vătafilor, led by the great and the small vătaf, goes caroling through Poiana Mărului. Very old Christmas carols passed down by the ancestors are sung in Poiana Mărului.

On Boxing Day, the Ceata vătafilor organizes a hora in the village. Also on Boxing Day, after the church service, the “scoatul fetelor la joc” takes place. As part of the Christmas customs, the “Balul Vătafilor” is held in the cultural center in the evening.

Activities

One-day guided mountain biking and trekking tours from Zărnești follow the Zărnești–Bear Reserve–Vulcan–Poiana Mărului–Zărnești route. Visiting the Bear Reserve is optional.

Other destinations at a glance: Rotbav, Bran, Brașov, Vama Buzăului, Zărnești, Moieciu De Jos, Predeal and Tărlungeni.

Cuisine

A traditional house specialty called “zeamă acră” is served in Poiana Mărului. A potato and meat stew is also served as another traditional dish.

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