Sapinta's Merry Cemetery and other Romania Things to Do Tips

Sapinta (or Sapanata) is a small town in northern Romania and has quickly become one Romania's most popular destination with a unique and touching site: "The Merry Cemetery". The Maramures region has always been known to be a heaven for woodcarving treasures. In Sapinta, a tradition started just before World World II by woodworker Ion Patras, these colorful graves ornated with a medallion representing the dead, accompanied by an epitaph sometimes moving, sometimes witty, sometimes full of anger... will make you see death in another way. To know more about the Cemetary, check out my travelogue.

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Address: Sapinta (or Sapanta), Department of Maramures

Timisoara is without the shadow of a doubt, the most Western city in Romania, geographically and in spirit. Located in the Banat region, near the Hungarian border, this bustling town was where the revolution of 1989 started in the Protestant Church of reverend Laszlo Tokes. The city has a mixed population : Romanians and Hungarians for the most part but also Serbs, Slovaks... All living in harmony which is a big feat in a country where strained relations between ethnic groups is very common. Timisoara was one of the first to go head on toward the Western way of life and you'll notice it just by walking down the street. It has many gardens and has a vibrant cultural life. On Victory Square (Piata Victoriei), you will notice (if they are still there, it didn't seem to be permanent) crosses with the name of the people who died during the Revolution and the showpiece of this long square is the Metropolitan Cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral built between 1936 and 1946 following the design of architect Ioan Traianescu. It mixes the Byzantine style often seen in Orthodox church with the more typically Roamanian Moldavian style.

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Just 30 minutes away from Timisoara lies Arad, the other big city in the area.
Arad seemed in dire need of reconstruction when we were there but we didn't get to spend too much time in town as we visited the Arad Vineyard.

Romania is not really known for its wine but grapes and wine have always been a big part of people's life here. In the countryside, wherever the climate is suitable, you'll find that almost every house has its own grapes and make their own wine.
This part of Romania, known as the Banat, is quite hilly and suitable to grow grapes. A short ride out of town is the Arad vineyard. A very French looking Manor welcomes us and the Maitre-de-chaix and his wife will do the honor of the winetasting.
White, red, "cooked wine" (a specialty of the area, a very sweet wine suited for aperitif or after dessert)... It was a pleasure.
The Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot were quite good. Especially the Merlot that was expectionnaly velvety.
I decided to bring back a bottle for my dad who is a wine-lover. Needless to say we were quite merry on our way back (expect for our designated driver, that is ).

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Address: Outside of Arad.