These two rural Maramures valleys have some of the country’s prettiest villages, which retain their pastoral traditions. It is not unusual to come across the locals on carts, dressed on feast days in colourful costume. With fine carved doorways, the houses and wood churches like those of Budesti, Calinesti and Sârbi add to the area’s charm. Young swains looking for a soulmate should not miss Giulesti’s so-called “saucepan trees” which supposedly indicate to young women whom they should marry.