NATURAL DISASTER in Vaser Valley

Taking into account the dramatic situation created by the flood in Vaser Valley and its disastrous consequences, the steam train Mocanita will no longer be able to circulate for a period of time. We will let you know as soon as new information appear. Thank you for your understanding.

Trip to Barsana Monastery

You must visit this place !!!

Vaser Valley

Visit the Vaser Valley - Viseu de Sus, Maramures

How to arrive in Viseu de Sus

[ Click here to see the map zone of viseu de sus ]

By Train

There are good connections from the big cities of Western Europe via Vienna to Budapest (Hungary) where you sometimes have to change the train station (by underground or taxi – Attention: high fares!).The continuation of the journey to Viseu de Jos in Romania is a bit more complicated: Depending on the train connection, you have to change frequently and the departure times of the connecting trains are often uncoordinated. It is advisable to thoroughly study the timetables and to plan a possible overnight stay.There is a night train with couchette and sleeping cars from Bucharest to Sighet, which arrives in Viseu de Jos in the early morning. It is the most comfortable (and cheapest...) connection from the capital of Romania to Maramures! The night train also runs in the opposite direction.Three times a week, there is a train connection from Teresva or Rahov (Ukraine) to Sighet which may now also be used by foreigners since Ukraine abolished the compulsory visa for EU and Swiss citizens in 2005. From Sighet to Viseu de Jos, you can go by bus or by train and enjoy the charming scenery.

Timetables:http://www.bahn.de/ (Germany) http://www.cfr.ro/ (Romania) http://www.oebb.at/ (Austria)
The fast trains in Romania must be reserved and are subject to extra fares.
From Viseu de Jos to Viseu de Sus (about 4 km) you can take the bus or hire a taxi

Attention: Should you have to travel alone, be careful at the train stations in Romania, which are said to be rather dangerous at night.

By Bus

Modern, international buses (for example "Eurolines") connect most Western European big cities with Eastern Europe. In Romania, apart from Bucharest, the bus also calls at Oradea and Cluj daily. A largely privatized bus network connects the bigger and smaller towns but unfortunately there is no central information office. Daily there are several buses from Cluj and from Baia Mare (over Sighet) to Viseu de Sus, but the small town can also be reached from Oradea and Satu Mare. Changing the bus is uncomplicated because the bus stops are central and, as a rule, next to the train station.
Long journeys by bus are a bit strenuous

Departure times might change, therefore always inform yourself in advance (it would be best to ask the bus drivers who are very helpful)
The fares are very cheap, also for international connections
There are hardly any overcrowded buses (legal regulations!)

By Car

From Germany/Austria via the motorway Vienna – Nickelsdorf to Budapest (motorway M1). Either across the city towards Miskolc/motorway M3 (badly signposted) or via the southern bypass (M0) on the motorway M3 towards the East, exit Polgar – Nyreghyiaza – Mateszalka – Csengersima/Petea – Satu Mare.Alternative: Leave the M3 already in Füszesabony and drive via Tiszafüred – Hortobagy – Debrecen – Mateszalka, with a stopover in National park of Puszta Hortobagy (many private guest rooms).If you come to the Hungarian/Romanian border in the evening, it is adviseable to stay in Csenger (Hotel Schuster) or near the Romanian town Satu Mare. Horses and carts without light, pedestrians and bad street conditions make driving at night too risky in Romania.From Satu Mare either over Livada - Negresti Oas - Sapinta - Sighet or Livada - Baia Mare - Gutin-Pass - Sighet to Viseu de Sus. Both routes are particularly delightful!

Hungary's motorways are subject to a toll (toll sticker "Matrica")
Also in Romania a toll sticker is obligatory ("Rovineta")
Romania has in the mean time a good network of petrol stations Approximate travelling time without stopovers:
Vienna - Budapest 2 hours
Budapest - border Csengersima/Petea 5-6 hours
Satu Mare - Sighet - Viseu de Sus 4 hours
Crossing the borders takes between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on the density of traffic

By Plane

Apart from Bucharest Otopeni, also the airports Cluj-Napoca, Suceava, Sibium, Timisoara and Tirgu Mures offer international flights. Travel agencies or the internet inform you about the flight schedules.Low budget airlines:
TAROM http://www.tarom.ro/(german: http://www.tarom.de/)
MALEV http://www.malev.hu/
CARPATAIR http://www.carpatair.com/ If you come to Bucharest by plane, it is most comfortable to take the direct night-train (sleeping cars) to Viseu de Sus (see Journey by train). The continuation of the journey from Cluj to Viseu de Sus is possible by train (slow but charming scenery) or by bus. Time needed: 5 hours.

Groups

Organized visitor groups can rent their own special steam train on the “forest” railway. Composition of the train, date, departure time, route and (photo-) stops can be freely chosen! There is an especially lovingly renovated "traditional train", which consists of original wooden-passenger trains with open platforms. If requested, the train is catered for and/or on the way, a Picnic/Barbecue outside can be organized.An unforgettable experience and a great change on every tour of Romania! Please contact us (order form) or ask for a non-binding offer.

More details on http://www.viseudesus.ro/

Train regulations

Rules for travelling by the “forest” railway Viseu de Sus for non-company persons:
Passengers need a valid ticket, which can be bought at the “forest” railway station.
Travelling by the trains of CFF Viseu de Sus takes place at every passengers own risk; the company R.G.Holz doesn’t assume any responsibility at all.
Passengers must obey the orders of the guard; if necessary, he has the right to refuse the continuation of the journey.
Passengers are only allowed to travel by the special passenger trains; staying on platforms, wood-trucks and so on is forbidden.
Jumping on and off the train during the journey is strictly forbidden.
At the stations staying in areas of loading and forestry work is forbidden.
Departure times, routes and stops of the trains are subject to needs of forestry only and can hence be changed at short notice. Visitors have no right to transportation certain times.
The Vaser Valley is a frontier area; therefore always have your passport or your identity card with you.

More details on http://www.viseudesus.ro/

Trains for tourists

Who wants to visit the “forest” railway of Viseu de Sus, wants to go to "Wassertal" by a train, driven by steam. The old steam machines,however, are only seldom in use and today, diesel-locomotives dominate. But for the pleasure of train-enthusiasts and tourists a train with steam locomotive operates daily from about mid May to September. It is a tourist and passenger train with a look-out car in the summer holidays.Steam-driven tourist train Departure: 8:30 am at the station (Ecotours-bureau) Viseu de Sus Route: Viseu-Faina-Viseu OR Viseu-Poiana Novat-Viseu Return Viseu de Sus: in the eveningSeason: Daily, except on Sundays and on public holidays from about mid May to September (without guarantee!) Price: Return ticket € 8.-, reduction for teenagers; children under the age of 8 free (Wochenkarte für beliebige Fahrten während sieben Tagen Euro 25.-)Important: Bookings for groups of more than 10 persons are essential.Several times a year special "Level steam weeks" are offered in co-operation with the organization "Help for the Wassertalbahn", where steam locomotives are used instead of diesel locomotives. These "special weeks for railroad friends" are announced on http://www.wassertalbahn.ch/ and on the homepage of Ecotours S.R.L.

More details on http://www.viseudesus.ro/

Timetable

The "Wassertalbahn" drives daily and all year round, except on Sundays and public holidays, but without timetable.In general one to two trains leave the company area in Viseu de Sus in the early morning with empty wood-trucks and return in the evening, heavy-loaded with uncut timber.These "production trains", which are mainly driven by diesel locomotives, have a passenger car for the forestry workers-if necessary. Travelling by this train is possible in principle, but there is no claim of transport for common passengers. Therefore, Ecotours S.R.L. has introduced special trains, which are driven by steam-locomotives, for tourists and train enthusiasts (see "Trains for tourists" and "Groups").

More details on http://www.viseudesus.ro/

General Information

The “forest” railway CFF Viseu de Sus, well-known as the "Wassertalbahn", is a private, company railway, no public train. Its purpose is the transportation of wood and the carriage of forestry workers to their work places in Wassertal. "Non-company persons" are also given the opportunity to travel by it.There is a regular passenger train, driven by a steam locomotive, for the numerous visitors. Visitor groups charter for themselves their own special steam trains.The train-tourism is organised by Ecotours S.R.L. by order of the owner of the railway, the R.G.Holz Company S.R.L.

More details on http://www.viseudesus.ro/