About the village
Breb is one of the most picturesque villages in Maramureș, set on the hills below the Gutâi Mountains, a few kilometres from Ocna Șugatag. Tall carved wooden gates and traditional farmsteads still line its lanes, and together with Budești, Breb has the largest number of woodcarvers in the area. It is also home to weavers of traditional Maramureș shirts, wool workers and families who weave baskets from hazel rods.
The wooden Church of the Holy Archangels has a tower dated 1531, the oldest surviving tower of any wooden church in Romania. In summer, on three Sundays in August, Breb, Sat Șugatag and Hoteni hold the barn dance (jocul la șură), with local fiddlers and the whole village dancing.
What to do from here
The marked trail to the Rooster's Crest starts in Breb and passes Morărenilor Lake and the Chendroaiei Ponds. Morărenilor Lake, formed by a landslide, lies at 853 m and makes a good half-day hike on its own. By bike, the Rails Trail starts at Breb's old church and runs to Hoteni and Sat Șugatag, and the Hoteni Lakes are right at the entrance to the next village.
For workshops and demonstrations, see visits to the traditional craftsmen. Below you will find the guesthouses in Breb.
Hiking trails from here
- Breb – Morărenilor Lake – Rooster’s Crest hiking trail — 8.5 km, 3–4 hours, red cross waymark, medium difficulty.
- Breb – Gutâi Peak hiking trail — 8 km, 3.5–4 hours, blue triangle waymark, medium difficulty.
- Ocna Șugatag – Hoteni Lakes – Breb hiking trail — 9.9 km, 2–2.5 hours, red cross waymark, easy difficulty.
- Breb – Borcut Budești hiking trail — 8.2 km, 4–4½ hours, red hiker symbol waymark, easy difficulty.
- Breb loop hiking trail — 5 km, 2.5–3 hours, red hiker symbol waymark, easy difficulty.
