Discover Desești: Wooden Church, Poetry and Protected Areas

Desești brings together a historic wooden church in the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble, a poetry series held since 1979, and protected natural areas within the administrative territory of the commune. The connection between church, traditional house building and restoration remains tied to specific forms of wood use.

Other destinations include Săpânța, Recea, Satu Nou de Jos, Lăpușel, Poienile Izei, Vișeu De Sus, Ocna Sugatag and Târgu Lăpuș.

Culture

The “Cuvioasa Paraschiva” wooden church in Desești was built in 1770. Its interior paintings date from 1780 and are attributed to the fresco painter Radu Munteanu and his assistant Gheorghe. The church is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble “Wooden Churches of Maramureş”. A virtual tour of the “Sf. Paraschiva” wooden church in Desești is available on the UNESCO church portal. The tour offers additional access to the church and its interior paintings without mixing the historic architectural form with modern use.

The use of wood also extends beyond the church building. In Desești, the tradition of using wood for houses and outbuildings has been preserved. Vasile Pop continues this tradition by restoring wooden churches. Thus, construction methods, traditional house building and restoration belong to the same cultural narrative, without the individual forms losing their own significance.

Poetry

The “Serile de Poezie Nichita Stănescu” have been held in Desești since 1979. Since 2000, the “Nichita Stănescu” Grand Prize has also been awarded as part of this series. The event’s timespan can be seen in its 43rd edition: it took place from 14 to 16 October 2022 in Desești. For a visit related to the poetry series, the respective event dates and times should be checked before travelling, as the literary programme is tied to specific dates.

Nature

The Creasta Cocoșului nature reserve lies within the administrative territory of Desești commune in the Gutâi Mountains, between the basin of the Cavnic River and the valley of the Mara River. Controlled tourism and educational activities are permitted in the Creasta Cocoșului special protection area within the administrative territory of Desești commune.

The Iezerul Mare bog lies in Hărnicești in Desești commune and covers 5 hectares. It lies on the Igniș–Mara pyroxene andesites; the peat layer there is an average of 7 metres thick. Iezerul Mare was designated a protected natural area in order to preserve the natural elements typical of active bogs. When visiting protected areas, the applicable guidance and permitted activities should be checked in advance.

Hiking

A hiking route from Desești via Culmea Pietrei to Iezerul Mare follows an old path at the Pietrei summit and passes through the Iezerul Mare bog. For such a route, current trail and weather conditions should be checked before setting out; the route description leads over several named landscape features and ends at the bog.

For the overarching travel overview: Maramureş.