Baia Mare
Baia Mare is the capital city of Maramureș County. It is located in Baia Mare depression, on the banks of Săsar river, at the foot of the Gutâi mountains.
Novelties on Baia Mare
Baia Mare was first mentioned as a city (civitas Rivului Dominarium), which dealt with the exploitation of non-ferrouos ore in 1329, in a document where King Carol Robert gave the local leader Corrardus a forest.
The first diploma which gave Baia Mare various privileges was given by King Ludovic in 1347. It establishes the boundaries of the city and gives its inhabitants various liberties: The freedom to choose their judge, jurors and parish, the freedom to judge various issues within the city internally, the freedom of customs, the right to one fair each year for 15 days straight and of free wine selling. There were also a special category of provisions aimed at mining rules and regulations.
Baia Mare is the birth place of the first publication in Romanian language “Gutinul”. It was socio-literary and economic weekly paper, which started coming out of print in 1889.
Baia Mare is the first Romanian city to receive a prize in the Philips competition City.People.Lights. In 2015, in the 25th edition of this competition held in Helsinki, Finland, it received the 3rd prize for the creative utilization of light as an instrument for urban regeneration.
Baia Mare has the first public planetarium from Romania (the only one in Transylvania) and the biggest mineralogy regional museum from Europe.
The first diploma which gave Baia Mare various privileges was given by King Ludovic in 1347. It establishes the boundaries of the city and gives its inhabitants various liberties: The freedom to choose their judge, jurors and parish, the freedom to judge various issues within the city internally, the freedom of customs, the right to one fair each year for 15 days straight and of free wine selling. There were also a special category of provisions aimed at mining rules and regulations.
Baia Mare is the birth place of the first publication in Romanian language “Gutinul”. It was socio-literary and economic weekly paper, which started coming out of print in 1889.
Baia Mare is the first Romanian city to receive a prize in the Philips competition City.People.Lights. In 2015, in the 25th edition of this competition held in Helsinki, Finland, it received the 3rd prize for the creative utilization of light as an instrument for urban regeneration.
Baia Mare has the first public planetarium from Romania (the only one in Transylvania) and the biggest mineralogy regional museum from Europe.
What can you do in Baia Mare?
If you like legends and stories, this county is perfect for you! You can ask locals and guides of the Village Museum about the most famous ones related to the outlaw Pintea the Brave.
The Village Museum presents four ethnographic areas from Northern Romania, Chioarului, Lăpușului, Codrului and Maramureșului. Each of these has a well highlighted specific of its own given by its architecture or its types of households. We have farmer households in Lapușului County, vineyard households in the sub-area Baia Mare, fruit-growing households in Maramureș county etc. You can also be wow-ed by technical installations such as whirlpools and water-powered mills.
The Village Museum presents four ethnographic areas from Northern Romania, Chioarului, Lăpușului, Codrului and Maramureșului. Each of these has a well highlighted specific of its own given by its architecture or its types of households. We have farmer households in Lapușului County, vineyard households in the sub-area Baia Mare, fruit-growing households in Maramureș county etc. You can also be wow-ed by technical installations such as whirlpools and water-powered mills.
If you’re interested in history, economics and architecture you should check out the following places:
The Ștefan tower is the bell tower of the former church “Holy King Ștefan of Baia Mare”. It was built in the XVth century, under the initiative of prince Ioan de Hunedoara to mark the victory of Ialomița (1442) against the Ottomans.
The Mint was built between 1734-1737 and in the past, was an important destination for the town; it acquired precious metals, minted and changed coins. It is now the headquarters of the Maramureș County Museum History section.
Butchers’ Bastion built in 1469, earned its name from the fact that it was built for defending the city from potential foreign attacks. This guild was the biggest and the most powerful one out of all the guilds from Baia Mare. The bastion was also called the Munitions’ Bastion, because this is where the soldiers held their guns and gunpowder.
The Cathedral The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a place of worship built by Greek-Catholics from Baia Mare in between the years 1905-1911. Along with the Episcopal Palace of the Greek-Catholic Episcopate of Maramureș and the former confessional school, it was declared a historical monument.
The Ștefan tower is the bell tower of the former church “Holy King Ștefan of Baia Mare”. It was built in the XVth century, under the initiative of prince Ioan de Hunedoara to mark the victory of Ialomița (1442) against the Ottomans.
The Mint was built between 1734-1737 and in the past, was an important destination for the town; it acquired precious metals, minted and changed coins. It is now the headquarters of the Maramureș County Museum History section.
Butchers’ Bastion built in 1469, earned its name from the fact that it was built for defending the city from potential foreign attacks. This guild was the biggest and the most powerful one out of all the guilds from Baia Mare. The bastion was also called the Munitions’ Bastion, because this is where the soldiers held their guns and gunpowder.
The Cathedral The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a place of worship built by Greek-Catholics from Baia Mare in between the years 1905-1911. Along with the Episcopal Palace of the Greek-Catholic Episcopate of Maramureș and the former confessional school, it was declared a historical monument.
Baia Mare should be an absolute delight for you if you are a Geology or Astronomy nerd.
The Mineralogy museum, unofficially called the Museum of mine flowers is the largest regional museum from Europe, many of its exhibits being considered unique pieces and world heritage values. Allow yourself to be delighted by the enchanting mine flowers which are mineral samples harvested from underground consisting of more minerals and grow in spectacular flower-like shapes, in wonderful combinations of colours.
The Baia Mare Planetarium (inaugurated in 1969) offers you the opportunity to explore three different lines of activity: The Planetarium, the Astronomic Observatory and the Solar Chamber. The Astronomical Complex halls, with an area of 120 m2 host a permanent exhibition related to the apparent movements in the sky, the structure of the Solar System and the Universe and aspects of field work. The Solar Chamber has a surface of over 100 m2 and is still being prepared as an Astronomy and History of Astronomy exhibition. It will also show Romanian contributions to the outer space research.
The Mineralogy museum, unofficially called the Museum of mine flowers is the largest regional museum from Europe, many of its exhibits being considered unique pieces and world heritage values. Allow yourself to be delighted by the enchanting mine flowers which are mineral samples harvested from underground consisting of more minerals and grow in spectacular flower-like shapes, in wonderful combinations of colours.
The Baia Mare Planetarium (inaugurated in 1969) offers you the opportunity to explore three different lines of activity: The Planetarium, the Astronomic Observatory and the Solar Chamber. The Astronomical Complex halls, with an area of 120 m2 host a permanent exhibition related to the apparent movements in the sky, the structure of the Solar System and the Universe and aspects of field work. The Solar Chamber has a surface of over 100 m2 and is still being prepared as an Astronomy and History of Astronomy exhibition. It will also show Romanian contributions to the outer space research.