More details – History Present

In addition to the beautifully carved and painted crosses, there are also humorous texts that describe, in the most amusing way possible, the life of the deceased.

The Vesel Cemetery has become a brand of Maramureș, but also of Romania, part of the universal heritage, bringing Săpânța commune worldwide recognition.

In 1935, the wood sculptor Stan Ioan Patras had the idea of establishing a different kind of cemetery, unique in Romania and in the world, which would reflect the life and personality of the deceased in a more cheerful presentation. The initiative had the effect of establishing the Happy Cemetery in Sîpânta. Each cross has a carved image at the top that evokes an important moment in the life of the deceased. Below this image, short poems or rhyming texts humorously describe, in the vernacular and in the first person, the life of the person lying there, what was his job, what were his vices or when and under what circumstances he died.

After the death of the creator of the cemetery, Stan Ioan Patras, in 1977, his work was continued by his apprentice, Dumitru Pop. The house that belonged to Stan Ioan Patras is currently a museum and is located 600 m from the Vesel Cemetery.

Present

In total, over 800 handmade crosses can be admired in the Vesel Cemetery in Săpânta, which has been transformed into an open-air museum.

The cemetery is open to visitors daily, in all seasons, as long as natural light allows tourists to admire the famous crosses.