Traditional Households Straja

Step into the heart of Bukovina and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of Straja commune, a small corner of paradise where traditions are still alive. You have arrived in a place of legends, which tell that Straja was born from the desire of its inhabitants to watch over Putna Monastery.

History breathes along the 9 km that stretch across the unique village of the commune. Inhabited since the Stone Age, it has been a witness to the passage of time and the events that have marked it. The painting of the local church, made by Epaminonda Bucevschi, offers a small window into the past of this charming place.

Straja beckons you with many pastoral houses, with shingled roofs built in four slopes and bright windows that invite you to enter the soul of mountain life. Here, the constructions made of spruce and fir wood blend simplicity with traditional craftsmanship. You will discover the tranquility and peace of a well-maintained village with a strongly contoured cultural identity.

The diversity of households in Straja includes large land plots, semi-walled households with reinforced enclosures, or double courtyards. The houses are always set back from the street boundary, and the gates can be either as tall as the enclosure or monumental, with or without ornaments, shingled, but simpler than those in Maramureș.

Although not considered a tourist destination, Straja offers many options for leisure activities, and its inhabitants welcome you warmly. You will find that the craft of furrier is an ancient tradition here. Another old tradition preserved to this day is that of weaving traditional folk costumes, which stands out for its originality and simplicity, and the "Trăistuța de la Straja" is that element of authenticity that completes and highlights it. Another occupation of the people of Straja is woodworking in all its forms, necessary for constructions.

The beauty of Bukovina will leave you with unforgettable memories. Here, time seems to have found its place, keeping tradition and the authenticity of the place alive.

Located in the Rădăuți Depression, Straja commune stretches over a length of 9 km, being considered a medium-sized commune.

Straja borders Ukraine to the north, Putna to the south, Vicovu de Sus city to the east, and Brodina commune to the west. The locality is crossed from east to west by the Suceava River, being part of the Bukovina Obcini.

A series of high hills meet on both sides of the main watercourse (Prislop Hill, Padurețului Hill, Bâtca Hill, Stauinei Hill, Strâmturi Hill), the main peaks being Pițu Peak and Mare Peak.

Archaeological discoveries on the territory of Straja commune show that it has been inhabited since the Stone Age. The document proving the existence of the commune dates back to 1750. As part of Bukovina, it was under Austrian rule until 1918. Significant economic development was evident in the 20th century. During the two world wars, the commune suffered severe destruction.