About the village
Desești sits at the foot of the Gutâi Mountains, right on the DN18 national road between Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației, which makes it easy to find and a good stop for anyone arriving by car or bus. It has a petrol station — rare among the villages of the area — and a tourist information centre.
The wooden Church of Saint Paraskeva in Desești is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Coming from Baia Mare, turn left in the village centre onto the lane that climbs the hill; the key is kept by the parish priest. In autumn the village hosts a poetry evening dedicated to Nichita Stănescu.
What to do from here
From Desești you quickly reach Mara, where the routes to the Tătarului Gorges and the Rooster's Crest begin. The Igniș – Mara bike trail passes through the village, along the Mara Valley. See also the other wooden churches of the area and how to get here by public transport.
Hiking trails from here
- Desești loop hiking trail — 6.3 km, 3–3.5 hours, red hiker symbol waymark, easy difficulty.
