Marmaros

Marmaros, known in Hungarian as Máramaros, is a historic region in the eastern Carpathians that has been identified with the Máramaros (Máramarossziget) area for centuries. The term most commonly refers to Máramaros County, an ancient administrative unit of the Kingdom of Hungary. The county existed from the medieval period until the post-World War I border changes, and after the 1920 Treaty of Trianon its territory largely became part of Romania.

In contemporary terms, the historic region is largely associated with northern Romania, particularly the area now covered by Maramureș County. The historic capital was Máramarossziget, today Sighetu Marmației. The region sits at the northern edge of Transylvania and is characterized by mountainous terrain and varied river valleys, with a long tradition of rural settlement and woodcraft.

Culturally, Máramaros/Maramureș is renowned for its distinctive folk traditions, wooden architecture, and pastoral way of life. The area is famous for its wooden churches and timber-frame houses, many of which reflect a continuity of rural craftsmanship dating back centuries. The Wooden Churches of Maramureș have been recognized by UNESCO for their architectural and cultural significance.

Etymology for Marmaros/Máramaros lies in the Hungarian name, used in historical cartography and administration; the exact origin of the toponym is not definitively settled. Today, the name Marmaros is most often encountered in historical discussions or in reference to the cultural region of Maramureș in Romania.