Relaxing drive from Satu Mare to Sighetu Marmatiei

Facts:

Location: Romania, Europe

Length: approx 108 km

Duration: 2 hours

Wide: 5 m standard 2 lines

Surface: asphalt

Surface quality (out of 5): 3

Highest point: 600 m

Operating times: all year

Name: Romanian National Road no. 19 (DN 19)

Route: From Satu Mare to Sighetu Marmatiei, through Livada

Album: The Doors, Waiting for the Sun

Description:

This road is for the dreamers, this relaxing drive is best enjoyed with good music and a friendly companion. With the exception of several localities that you will drive through, the road is generally cutting through beautiful plains of crops and forests. On the way, you will have the chance to admire the rustic architecture of the houses in the North of Romania, see the exterior household of the villagers and also the expanding towns, with the new buildings. If you’re a nature person, you can take some breaks to repose.

Check out the in Oasu Nou, it has an amazing, romantic view. In Teceu Mic, just on the left side of the road, you can see the Tisa River, which separates Romania from Ukraine. Providing you’re travelling during summer, have a rest and inhale the water scent that will relax you just around here: 48.002934, 23.565164 . If you are not alone, you can also stop for a picnic in the forest. Be careful to find spots where the street is larger so you can safely park your car. Also, don’t walk too much into the forest so you won’t get lost.

Photo credits: http://www.turism-taraoasului.ro/en/complex-mujdeni-2/

The asphalt is generally good, some portions of the road have been recently reconditioned, but there are some occasional small holes in the street between the localities. The road is mostly linear, but there are some potentially dangerous curbs on the way, especially after Negresti-Oas. The borders of the road are not well-built, so the aggregate in the asphalt has disintegrated and there are break stones on the side that could affect your driving. Therefore it’s better to slow down when there are oncoming cars, instead of approaching the border of the street. The maximum speed is 90 km/h, but it must be adapted to the weather conditions and the curbs.

Photo credits: Google Maps

There are several churches and monasteries on the way, for example The Resurection of the Virgin Mary Church (Biserica Nașterea Maicii Domnului), which is an orthodox church. Also, you can visit The Huta Monastery (Manastirea Huta), The Ukrainian Church of Remeti (Biserica Ucraineană din Remeţi), but you definitely shouldn’t miss The Merry Cemetery in Sapanta  (Cimitirul Vesel), where the tombstones of the dead are painted in bright colors and funny epitaphs are written, describing amusing details of their past lives.

Photo credits: http://omofon.com/cimitirul-vesel-din-sapanta-locul-unde-se-rade-in-fata-mortii , Google Maps, totb.ro , mapio.net, Google Images (Tofei Andreea)