Tuesday, October 7th, during the General Conference of the European Travel Commission hosted in Brasov, Zarnesti-Piatra Craiului and Mara Coslau – Creasta Cocosului – Maramures were officially recognized as the first Romanian eco-tourist destinations, in accordance with all of the requirements of the European Union. Creasta Cocosului – Maramures, the new Romanian eco-friendly destination, offers visitors the cleanest air, the warmest people and a splendid display of nature’s best.
Mara Coslau and Creasta Cocosului maintain the Maramures colourful, spiritual traditions alive. Existence here seems to be frozen in time and the tourist can enjoy a return to a time when the world moved at a quieter pace. Ever since 2000, the region in the Oriental Carpathians (located in the north-western region of the Gutai Mountains, between the cities of Baia Mare and Baia Sprie) has been protected by law. The Creasta Cocosului Reservation is situated at an average altitude of 1200 meters, its mountain peak being 1450 meters high. From a certain angle, the mountain ridge looks like a rooster’s comb – or so the locals thought when they named the place.
The General Conference of the European Travel Commission was held in Brasov this year. International tourism – related issues were addressed. Among them, Mara Coslau and Creasta Cocosului (alonside Zarnesti-Piatra Craiului) were recognized as areas of ecotourism. The president of the European Travel Commission, Peter de Wilde, expressed is opinion that Romania should invest intensively in roads and bicycle tracks; he feels the country should also put efforts into the preservation of traditional villages, which represent a priceless cultural heritage.
The easiest way to reach Creasta Cocosului is by car (if you don’t have one, you can rent a car). In the vicinity of the reservation, you can visit the wooden Church St. Paraschiva in Desesti (built in the 18th century and included in the UNESCO world heritage sites), the protected area Cheile Tatarului and the Ignis Mountains.