Baia Mare is situated in in northwestern corner of Romania. This is the largest city in the region of Maramures. Baia Mare developed around gold and iron mines, hence its name the "Big Mine". The architectural character of city is strongly Austrian and it was during the later Austrian period that a unique community of artists developed. Artists from central Europe flocked here and were in close contact with the leading artists of the day. Even today there is a large concentration of artists.

In June 2004, we visited Baia Mare on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Maramures Museum of History and Art. The festivities were grand and about 250 were in attendance. The three-day event consisted of an opening reception where all local authories spoke and an all male chorus sang traditional songs; a conference on the history, art, archaeology and museology of western Romania; tours of all local museums, including the ethnographic museum and modern art museum; an all/day excursion to a Bronze Age cemetery with the remains of tumuli and wooden churches at Tirgu Lapus and Surdesti. The latter, reconstructed in the early 18th century has the tallest steeple of all wooden churches in Romania - standing at 54 m. the carpenters joined all wooden components through a system of joints and did not use nails.

We wish to thank our hosts at the Museum!