Vadu Izei in the Maramureș Basin

Geographical Location

Vadu Izei is located in northern Romania and in the Maramureș Basin, in Maramureș County. The municipality lies at the confluence of the Iza and Mara rivers. This location connects the place name with a clearly identifiable landscape between the river area and the basin.

Nature

In Vadu Izei, the Iza River is part of the Valea Izei–Dealul Solovan Natura 2000 site. The designation of this site is RO SCI 0264. Some of the river terraces also belong to it, as do the Maramureș Hills in Vadu Izei. The protected natural area therefore includes bodies of water, river terraces and the municipality’s hilly surroundings.

The ROSPA0171 Valea Izei și Dealul Solovan bird protection area protects 19 bird species. The “Ursoi” geological protected area safeguards tuff concretions of volcanic origin. These tuff concretions formed around a plant-based core. “Ursoi” is classified as a protected area in IUCN Category III. For visitors, several clearly defined natural features come together here: the river area with its terraces, the Maramureș Hills, the protected bird species and the distinctive geological form of the tuff concretions.

Culture

The Casa Muzeu “Vasile Kazar” is a traditional wooden house from the 18th century and a historical monument of national interest in Vadu Izei. The building therefore represents the historic wooden architecture that can also be seen elsewhere in the municipality.

Vadu Izei has old wooden gates and old wooden houses. A small stone wall stands on Osoi Hill. It served as a shelter for monitoring the traffic routes. The traditional building forms and the small structure on the hill are among the tangible traces through which the history of the place can be read.

In Vadu Izei, Borlean Ioan is associated with the craft of making reverse-glass icons. Bledea Liviu is associated there with the craft of carving traditional gates. Moldovan Maria is associated in Vadu Izei with the craft of making Cergi. Borlean Ileana is associated with the craft of making carpets from plant material. Each of the people mentioned represents an individual craft expression, ranging from icon making and woodwork to textiles.

At the grounds of Pensiunea La Moară la Niculai, tourists can observe traditional activities directly. These include work involving a Vâltoare, cauldrons for Ţuică, as well as a fulling mill and a water mill.

Cycling and Roads

A cycling tourism route runs between Oncești, Vadu Izei and Valea Stejarului. County road DJ 186 connects Vadu Izei with Săcel. National road DN 18 runs between Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației. For orientation around Vadu Izei, both a specific cycling route and two named road connections are therefore documented.

Other Places

If you would like to see other places in the same higher-level destination, you can find Petrova, Ieud, Leordina, Băile Borşa, Săcel, Vișeu De Sus, Sarasău and Cavnic here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Maramureş.