CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TEXTILES TOUR
SĂLAJ COUNTY / TRANSYLVANIA / ROMANIA
4-11 OCT 2024
I invite you to join me on a 8-day journey through Sălaj County, a hidden gem nestled in Transylvania. This region, often overlooked by travelers, is offering an authentic glimpse into Romania’s culture. Our journey will take us on a quest to discover traditional textiles, embroidery and ceramics, dowry rooms that tell stories of Romanian families. You’ll also discover the charm of the county’s representative tiny blue cottages, explore antique flea and local markets, savor delicious local cuisine, and visit centuries-old painted wooden churches.
As we wander through the landscape, I’ll introduce you to the places that hold special meaning for me. You’ll have the opportunity to meet some of the elders in the community, women who hold a special place in my life. These encounters will be more than just visits; they will be immersive experiences where you’ll engage in five hands-on workshops, learning traditional crafts and skills directly from those who have mastered them over a lifetime. Whether you’re stitching an intricate embroidery pattern, learning a new dance step or decorating a piece of pottery, you’ll be connecting with our heritage in a deeply personal way.
Our exploration of the wooden churches will be particularly special, as we will be accompanied by a local guide and professor who will provide expert insights into the history and significance of these sacred structures. These churches, some of which date back centuries, are not just places of worship but also repositories of the community’s collective memory.
Accommodation during the tour is an experience in itself. For most of the tour, you will stay in a beautifully restored traditional house, originally built in 1903. This house, lovingly renovated in 2015, is adorned with items from my grandmother’s dowry, creating an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and cozy. Each morning, we will gather in the kitchen to prepare breakfast together, using fresh, local ingredients sourced from the village market or nearby farms. Lunches and dinners will be prepared by socăcițe—the skilled village women responsible for cooking large quantities of food for important events such as weddings and funerals. Their dishes will give you a true taste of Sălaj’s culinary heritage.
This tour is designed to foster genuine connections between us and the local community. It is my belief that meaningful travel is not about the number of places you visit, but the depth of the experiences you have. To ensure that these connections are meaningful and that each participant has a truly personalized experience, I am offering only three places on this tour. This small group size will allow us to connect more deeply with each other and with the people we meet along the way.
I am looking forward to sharing this beautiful journey with you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for more details.
SCHEDULE
Day 1
We’ll meet in Cluj-Napoca and travel together to Sălaj
Visit a local textile collection
Walk in Marin village – get to know the landscapes
Dinner with local women and a traditional dance lesson
Day 2
Visit a local textile collection and traditional Romanian house
Visit an outdoor village museum with traditional houses and a textile collection, both in a village near Marin
Weaving demonstration and learning / workshop
Day 3
Visit several wooden churches in Sălaj county
Traditional brunch
Day 4
Visit a local’s dowry room and personal textiles collection
Visit a traditional embroidered sheepskin waistcoats craftswoman in a village near Marin
Embroidery on sheepskin workshop
Day 5
Visit a mixed culture market of local farmers
Visit a Reformed church with coffered ceiling
Visit a local Hungarian pottery
Ceramic decoration workshop
Day 6
Visit the biggest flea multicultural market in Eastern-Europe – Feketău / Negreni
Day 7
Traditional sewing demonstration and learning / workshop
Cooking together with the locals for a complete local gastronomy experience
Day 8
Breakfast and leaving for the airport in Cluj-Napoca
*accommodation in a 120 years old traditional two rooms cottage in Marin, Sălaj: 1 room with one double bed + 1 room with 2 single beds + shared kitchen and bathroom between the three people in the group.