Rolling hills and the new church of Breb

Breb is a small village in Maramureș in Romania.

Understand

The village of Breb sits below the Cock's Crest (Creasta Cocoşului) peak in the Gutai Mountains between 450 and 700 meters. There are 400 homes in the village and it is said to be the home to around 1,500 people. Breb is one the best examples of the peasant strip farming culture still alive in Maramures.

Get in

There is no public transportation that lists Breb as a stop, but you can get in from most any town on the route between Baia Mare - Cavnic - Ocna Sugatag - Sighet via mini bus. Leaving from Baia Mare, the sign will say to Borsa. Be careful about departure times: if the minibus is full, it will leave eaerlier than scheduled. Just look for those names on the route (displayed inside the front windshield), flag it down (which is common practice) and hop on. The price was 13 lei for Breb - Baia Mare (May 2019). Let the driver know you want to get off at Breb. From where the bus stops, it is at least a 15 minute walk into the village itself. You can find time schedules for the main stops on the route on autogari.ro, but Breb is not a listed stop so you cannot search for it. However, Ocna Sugatag it's generally around 10-15 minutes from Breb, so it is a good reference point.

It is also common to hitchhike to the village, although traffic can be light on the road. See Maramures#By_thumb.

Get around

The village is very small; walking is really the only comfortable way around.

See

Biserica de Sfinții Arhangheli Mihail și Gavriil

• 1 The Wooden Church of Breb (Biserica de lemn din Breb). While not listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site list, the wooden church in Breb is among the oldest of the preserved churches of Maramureș. It was completed in 1622. While the grounds are always open, don't expect to be able to enter the church itself if you just pop by, the priest will need to let you in and he is rarely there. Ask around in the village and maybe you'll come by him.  

Besides the old wooden church, there aren't really any specific sights to see in Breb besides the beautiful, timeless village.

Do

The best thing to do is to walk around the village. As you walk around you may have a strange feeling that you've stepped into a different time. You can watch villagers tend their fields, make hay, or make their way down the narrow roads in their horse driven carts like they've been doing for hundreds of years. You can also hike to the Cock's Crest (Romanian: Creasta Cocoşului). There are no marked trails until you get quite a bit along, but if you keep walking directly toward the right of the two most prominent peaks on the horizon you will find your way there. A hike there and back will take around 6 hours.

Eat

There is very little food available in the village, so it is recommended to pack all that you'll need with you. From the local farmers you can get delicious fresh milk and eggs, though. Also, there is a family in the village who will cook a hearty, traditional, all-inclusive dinner for you if you arrange a day or so ahead. Ask around and you will find your way.

Drink

There is no shortage of Ţuică, the local firewater, in Breb. It's a fruit brandy distilled from apples or plums. The stuff brewed in the village is usually over 50% alcohol, so watch out!

Sleep

• 1 Babou Maramureș Hostel and Campsite, Breb 149 (Once you've turned into Breb, you will see wooden signs directing you.), ☏ +43757494503, info@baboumaramures.com. open April-October. Babou Maramures is a hostel and campsite owned by a very friendly Dutch couple. The hostel itself is in a beautiful, newly remodeled traditional Maramureș house. It has a small, but usable kitchen and very modern bathrooms. Free wifi. 50 lei for a dorm bed with linen. Camping: adults 25 lei, children 10 lei, electricity 12 lei. Tent rental (double mattress, linen included) 75 lei.. (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 The Village Hotel, 349, Breb, Ocna Sugatag, ☏ +40 723 223 059. The Village Hotel is set in over one hectare of land in the heart of the village of Breb, in Northern Transylvania. There is a stream that runs though the center, surrounded by fruit trees and the organic gardens. You can experience the old ways of life in Breb and the surrounding Maramures villages for your entire holiday. From 68 lei. (updated Mar 2017)