Vişeu de Sus

Vişeu de Sus www.cffviseu.ro

• Vaser Valley - The Vaser River is 62 kilometres long, forming a spectacular canyon-like valley, where cliffs alternate with fir and beech forests, clearings and mineral water springs.

The only logging train hauled by narrow gauge steam engines (760 mm) still in use in Europe, crosses the Maramureş Mountains in the middle of one of the most wild and beautiful Romania's landscapes, and the only means of transportation in the valley. Built between 1930-1932 for transporting wood, the train is still used for the original purpose, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world. The journey is long and with several fuelling stops. The train can also fall off the rails, but at the slow speed of 10 km/hour that poses no danger. The passengers (who are experienced in the matter) help get the train back on the rails using anything they can lay their hands on: cut pieces of wood, chains, axes, or hooks.

The main line is 43 km long (Viseu de Sus-Comanu), with other two branches (Novat Valley-13 km long, and towards Stevioara-3 km), and usually takes (just until Faina, the main station, situated at 32 km from Viseu), between 3 and 4 hours. A journey with the Mocanita is like going back in time: on the valley is not cell phone signal (there are working only radio stations), there are no shops, and provisions of food and other consumables have to be made before departure. Also there is no certainty about the departure and return hours. The Vaser Valley is on the border zone with Ukraine, and a valid identity card or passport has to be brought along.

You can sleep in a train! Single 75 Ron with breakfast. www.cffviseu.ro

• The gateway of Maramures coming from Transylvania. Straight train links from Bucharest, Cluj and Timisoara. A very funny small train going to the former mines in the mountains and back is the main tourist attraction of this town. • Toma P.