merry cemetery of sapanta

Humor is the main actor of this unusual cemetery. On each cross there is a phrase or a poem regarding the dead person and way it died. The best thing is to have somebody translating for you, sometimes the wordings are really funny and irreverent, almost profane, which I personally love.This strange tradition started in 1935 and took off in the '60s, so there is nothing ancient, but it's absolutely worth.

We were lucky because it was a really nice sunny day so it was amazing just to walk around and read what it says on the tombstone and to try and relate to that persons' life story. Spent more than 2 hours walking around. Anyone who hasn't already been there, I recommend you to plan a visit.

One of the best place to visit when you plan a tripp in The N-V of Romania. It is funny, it is beautifull. You can find there nice objects of art made at the country. Part of them can be old. You can find there also albums of Roamnia. It is nice to visit also with children. They can understand that even dieing is sad, the most important is how you live, to try to value every moment of life and every person you meet.

Spend around an hour reading the funny sentences on the people's tombstone. Fascinating and Original. Found one funny epitaph online. just to give you an idea about what you might find in there. Under this heavy crossLies my poor mother in-lawThree more days she would have livedI would lie, and she would read (this cross).You, who here are passing byNot to wake her up please tryCause' if she comes back homeShe'll criticise me more.But I will surely behaveSo she'll not return from grave.Stay here, my dear mother in-law!

We are not normally cemetery visitors, but this popped up on a list of "Most Beautiful Cemeteries in the World" right before our trip to northern Romania. Not only is it beautiful, but also fun. What a wonderful idea to tell so much more of a life's story on a grave marker. Left feeling like we knew some of those buried there.

Totally original! Makes you think hard about life and death. And how powerful the old beliefs are! In this case, the beliefs are 2000 plus years old

I never heard about another mery cemetery that's why I consider the idea FANTASTIC! or FUNTASTIC! The texts are in Romanian only but if you get a guide who will translate them for you, you might get the idea. Many of them might lose the humor and rhyme during translation, but you will realise that the whole idea is based on joy of life.

It's located way up near the Ukraine border but it is well worth it. What a cool idea to make a Merry Cemetary not focused on the sadness of death but instead on the comedy and joy of life.

Merry Cemetery of Sapanta is really an unique cemetery in Romania. Take time to read the stories from the graves.

to help future travalers you should know that Merry Cemetery of Sapanta is located in Sapanta, and not Baia Mare as posted here. there are about 80 km away from each other. thank you

This cemetery is unique, special, surprising! There are stories that must be read. The entire life written in few words.

This is a fun cemetery, if you are in the area worth visiting. Every tombstone has a poem written about the burried.

Sapanta is in the middle of nowhere near the Ukrainian border. The drive in from the west through the forest is really nice. The cemetery's tombstones are painted wood and tell the story of each of the deceased. Two artist succeeded each other in carrying out this original and unique piece of art. The guardian at the entrance is the son (or grandson, I can't remember) of the second painter and is extremely proud and kind.

This cemetery is unique. You can spend hours reading the text on the headstones and never stop laughing.

If possible, one should try to see this. It is different than any other cemetery we have ever encountered. To get the greatest impact, it helps to have have someone who reads Romanian with you (one of our guides did). The church (under renovation when we visited) at the site will be a "must see" when it is completed. The fescoes (icon-like) and the spires areimpressive. The only downside (sadly to be expected) is the souvenir stalls cluttering the area.