Other · Romania · Maramures
Merry Cemetery of Sapanta
A cemetery of brightly painted wooden crosses with humorous epitaphs.
Paid entry about 45 min
For storytellers
Why Merry Cemetery of Sapanta matters
Instead of sombre stones, the graves here have blue wooden crosses with colourful paintings and short poems about the people buried beneath. Many are funny and affectionate. It reflects a local view of death as a part of life, and it's one of Romania's most unusual sights.
Talking points
- Crosses are painted with scenes from each person's life.
- A local carver started the tradition.
- The poems are written in rhyme.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.