A waterfall more than 25 metres high, a lake southeast of the town, and church and museum heritage in Rohia and Rogoz define the many facets of Târgu Lăpuș.

Gorge, Waterfall and Lake

Cheile Lăpușului is a narrow stretch of valley carved by the Lăpuș River into the crystalline schist of the Preluca mountain range. It lies within the administrative area of Târgu Lăpuș and extends between Răzoare and Remecioara to the confluence of the Lăpuș and Cavnic rivers. The gorge is part of the European network of protected areas and has Natura 2000 site status. Of its total length of 36 kilometres, 25 are designated as a nature reserve. Pișătoarea Waterfall is the largest waterfall in the gorge and is more than 25 metres high.

Lacul Lighet, southeast of Târgu Lăpuș, offers a different natural setting. The four-hectare lake was created in 1975 by damming the Nireș stream, also known as Lighet. Its depth ranges from 0.5 to 6 metres. The two landscapes are therefore quite different: the gorge is a river valley cut into the rock, while the lake was created by damming a stream.

Outdoor Routes and Planning

Seven themed trails are marked in the Cheile Lăpușului nature reserve. The moderately difficult, blue-marked Traseul Albastru starts in the centre of Târgu Lăpuș and heads towards Baia Mare. At Lacul Lighet, a blue trail sign directs hikers on this route to a cold spring. From there, you can return the same way or follow a path around the lake and then rejoin the marked trail. Route conditions and markings can change, so check them before setting out.

For planning purposes, a circular route through the Lăpuș Gorge in the surrounding area is a different proposition: it runs from Răzoare via Groape to Preluca Veche and back, covers 14–16 kilometres and takes approximately eight hours. Conditions may vary depending on the season. This approximate duration is clearly different from the Traseul Albastru, described as moderately difficult, for which no duration is given here.

Fishing at Lacul Lighet is managed by the “Cheile Lăpușului” Angling Association of Târgu Lăpuș. Fish found in the lake include carp, crucian carp, grass carp, silver carp, bleak, roach and perch. If you would like to fish there, check the arrangements with the association locally.

Monasteries, Churches and Regional Traditions

The Sf. Ana Monastery is located in the village of Rohia, one of the 13 villages in the municipal area of Târgu Lăpuș. It stands on Dealul Viei, amid a beech and oak forest at an altitude of about 500 metres. In 1926, parish priest Nicolae Gherman had it built in memory of his daughter Anuța.

In Rogoz, architecture and living tradition come together. At the wooden Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the ends of the roof beams are carved into stylised horses; this design is considered unique in Maramureș. According to tradition, the church was built in 1663 from two enormous tree trunks brought from Dealul Popii. Another tradition in Rogoz is associated with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday: families bring food, leave it on the table overnight, and give it to people in need on Good Friday.

The Rogoz Ethnographic Museum House contains traditional objects from the Țara Lăpușului region and also hosts events with traditional themes; the programme may change. Artisan Nicolae Șerban from Rogoz makes troițe, sculptures, totems, Maramureș gates and bas-reliefs. Two wooden crosses carved by Alexandru Perța Cuza stand along the path to the entrance of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Târgu Lăpuș.

Local commemorative heritage offers further points of interest: the Martyrs’ Monument, erected in 1936 in the central park, bears the names of the victims of the massacre of 5 December 1918. A memorial plaque to the Jews of Târgu Lăpuș commemorates the Jewish community and the persecution that marked the beginning of the Holocaust in the town on 4 May 1944. Târgu Lăpuș, together with seven other communities, is part of the formation of the ethnographic region of Țara Lăpușului.

Focus your hotel search on the themes you want to shape your stay. For days spent in nature, the gorge, marked trails and lake offer different points of reference; for a focus on cultural history, the sites and traditions of Rohia, Rogoz and Târgu Lăpuș are key. Check current trail conditions or event information in advance if they are important to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Staţiunea Borşa, Onceşti, Giulești, Moisei, Hoteni, Leordina, Remeţi, Strâmtura

Return to the main travel overview: Maramureş.