Cultural Heritage and Textiles Tour & Workshops
22-28 May 2025 / 12-18 June 2025 / 18-24 September 2025 /9-15 October 2025
The multicultural richness of Sălaj County, located in Transylvania, is beautifully reflected in the stitching and embroidery techniques, architecture, social customs, and the coexistence of languages spoken by its Romanian, Hungarian, and Roma inhabitants.
Following the fall of Communism in Romania in December 1989, the subsequent two decades brought significant changes to cultural practices. Many people sold, burned, or discarded traditional clothing, associating these garments with poverty and the hardships of the past. This practice has made it particularly challenging to find certain traditional items, especially men’s traditional clothing.
In 2015, my mother and I embarked on a mission to rediscover and preserve these pieces of cultural heritage. We began by curating a collection of traditional textiles and clothing, starting with items from my grandmother’s dowry. This sparked a renewed appreciation for these treasures among the local community, many elderly women who had stored their dowries in attics began to try to convince their kids and nephews to see the value of their inheritance, by treating them with greater care.
Women of all ages are now proudly wearing their traditional clothes during big religious celebrations, and some have even revived the art of stitching and embroidery. These skilled women are now teaching younger generations, ensuring that the traditional stitching and embroidery techniques continues to thrive.
I am happy to invite you to my village to learn more about our culture. Throughout the trip, we will explore traditional textiles, embroidery, wooden churches, traditional houses and dowry rooms that tell personal life stories. You’ll also discover the charm of the county’s iconic tiny blue cottages, savor delicious local cuisine, and visit centuries-old painted wooden churches that serve as monuments to the region’s deep cultural roots.
I will introduce you to the places and people that hold special meaning for me. You will meet local elders—women eager to share their life stories and traditions, invite you into their homes, and show you their treasured textiles and dowry chests. These encounters will be immersive experiences, where you will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops, learning traditional embroidery and stitching techniques.
A special highlight will be our visit to several wooden churches, many of which date back centuries. We will be accompanied by a local guide and professor, who will provide insights into the history and cultural significance of these sacred places. These churches are not only architectural marvels but also repositories of collective memory. Although no longer in use, these churches continue to serve as an important link between past and present.
Hands-on Embroidery Workshops
Previous participants in this tour have greatly appreciated the hands-on nature of the activities, especially the practical aspects of the workshops. Based on their feedback, I have decided to dedicate an entire day to sewing and embroidery workshops. You’ll have the chance to learn directly from skilled artisans and take home the knowledge of these traditional techniques.
A Personal Experience
This tour is designed to foster genuine connections between you and the local community. I believe that meaningful travel is not about the number of places you visit, but about the depth of your experiences. To ensure that each participant has a truly personalized experience, I am offering only three spots on this tour. The small group size will allow us to connect more deeply with one another and the people we meet along the way.
I’m excited to share this journey with you and look forward to welcoming you to my village. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for further details.
Accommodation & Dining
For most of the tour, you will stay in a beautifully restored traditional house built in 1903. Renovated in 2015, the house is adorned with textiles and furniture from my grandmother’s dowry, creating a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. Each morning, we will gather in the kitchen to prepare breakfast together, using fresh, local ingredients sourced from the village market or nearby farms. For lunch and dinner, we’ll be treated to traditional meals prepared by the socăcițe, skilled local women known for their ability to cook large quantities of food for weddings, funerals, and other important events. Their dishes will give you a true taste of Sălaj’s rich culinary heritage.
1 / SCHEDULE - 22-28 May 2025 / 18-24 September 2025 -
Day 1:
We will meet in Cluj-Napoca and travel together to Sălaj
Walk in the village
Welcome dinner with traditional live music
Day 2:
Presentation of the local traditional costume and crafts
Visit our ethnographic collection
Visit the women in the village, their dowry rooms and personal textiles collections
Day 3:
Stitching workshop
Traditional embroidery workshop
Embroidery on sheepskin workshop
Day 4:
Visit three wooden churches in Sălaj County
Visit a reformed church with coffed ceiling
Day 5:
Visit an etnographic collection of textiles
Visit a personal textiles collection and a traditional blue house
Weaving demonstration
Day 6:
Visit the multicultural local market
Baking together a traditional cheese and herbs bread, guided by my grandmother
Ceramic decoration workshop
Day 7:
Slow morning in the garden and library
Visit a Hungarian dowry room from Țara Călatei (Kalotaszeg)
Return to Cluj-Napoca
2 / SCHEDULE - 12-18 June 2025 / 9-15 October 2025
Day 1:
We will meet in Cluj-Napoca and travel together to Sălaj
Presentation of the local traditional costume and crafts
Visit our ethnographic collection
Welcome dinner with traditional live music
Day 2:
Visit a woman from the village to show us her dowry chest and textiles
Visit Negreni / Feketău antique & flea market
Day 3:
Stitching workshop
Traditional embroidery workshop
Embroidery on sheepskin workshop
Day 4:
Visit three wooden churches in Sălaj County
Visit a reformed church with coffed ceiling
Day 5:
Visit an ethnographic collection of textiles
Visit a personal textiles collection and a traditional blue house
Weaving demonstration
Day 6:
Visit the multicultural local market
Baking together a traditional cheese and herbs bread, guided by my grandmother
Ceramic decoration workshop
Day 7:
Slow morning in the garden and library
Visit a Hungarian dowry room from Țara Călatei (Kalotaszeg)
Return to Cluj-Napoca
What We Offer
Accommodation for the entire trip
Transport during the 6 days
Two traditional meals/day, including ingredients for breakfast
Workshop materials
A local guide
Access to our library and workspace
Not included:
Transport to & from Cluj-Napoca before and after the tour
Travel & health insurance
Shipping of the ceramic item resulting the workshop (aprox. 2-4 weeks after)
Dates:
22-28 May 2025
12-18 June 2025
18-24 September 2025
9-15 October 2025
Your contribution:
€1600 per person - single room
€1500 per person - double room
Accommodation Details:
Stay in a 120-year-old traditional house in Marin, Sălaj
1 room with a double bed
1 room with 2 single beds
Shared kitchen and bathroom with the three-person group
To register, please fill in THIS FORM
For more details, please don’t hesitate to write us: office.madeinsat@gmail.com
