On our travels between Vama and Vișeu de Sus we stopped at several quirky places, and the Roots Museum, or Muzuel Râdâcinilor, was certainly one of them.
A huge sign on the main road indicated a track where we found a simple wooden house with the shingles painted vividly in orange and yellow.
The museum was the idea of Stefan Grec, a 75-year-old former forestry worker, who over time found diverse tree roots, which he began to shape into artworks (hence the museum’s name). Mrs Grec explained the collection in Romanian and our guide interpreted.
We learned they had lived in the house for 40 years and as there was no electricity, power was normally generated by a water wheel. Unfortunately, this wasn’t working, and we viewed the exhibits by torchlight.
Many of the roots were carved into grotesque figures but we also spotted serpents and dragons. Some had been given ‘humorous’ names such as ‘John the Great the Great’ and ‘The Mouth of the World’.
In addition, the Grec’s had a passion for anything old, and the two rooms were stuffed to the gills with an eclectic collection which included items related to World War II, clothing, money, quartz, dolls and toys, clothing and hats, animal skulls including wild cat, religious items, skis and snowshoes, clocks, and pottery.
Outside were some of Mr Grec’s larger carvings, but as it was raining, we didn’t tarry too long.
For the privilege of visiting this museum we paid 10 Lei or £1.60.
