JOYFUL CEMETERY

A strange name for a cemetery, but a fitting one indeed: a masterpiece of naive, colorful and poetic art, the joyful cemetery(cimitirul vesel) of Săpânța attracts thousands of tourists every year. Its originality lies in its 800 or so bright-blue painted crosses, embellished with many other colors and motifs, personalized for each of the village's deceased: they are most often sculpted and decorated to illustrate their trade (woodcutter, weaver, ploughman...) or some other emblematic activity in their lives (drinking, praying...). Some represent the circumstances of a tragic death: by drowning, in a car or subway accident. The crosses are accompanied by short biographies written in the first person, recounting the major episodes in the life of the deceased, his or her joys and sorrows, qualities and faults... texts filled with humor and tenderness. To get the most out of them, we advise you to be accompanied by a Romanian-speaking guide or friend, even if the drawings are quite explicit. These folk art jewels are the work of a certain Stan Ioan Pătraş. Born in 1908, this local craftsman began carving and painting crosses in 1935. He died in 1977 and is buried here, his tomb topped by a cross decorated... by himself. Since his death, his disciples have carried on the tradition. You can also visit his house, which has been converted into a memorial, where you can also see some of his furniture. It is located in a street behind the cemetery.