Traditional households in Ciocănești

If you want to discover the joy of simple life, we invite you to the commune of Ciocănești in Suceava County, 20 km away from Vatra Dornei resort. The commune consists of the villages Ciocănești and Botoș, embracing the lively waters of the Bistrița Aurie river.

This settlement received its name from the river. In times of need, prominent figures, from the founders of Moldova to Stephen the Great, found skilled hands here. Moreover, this place harbored craftsmen known as "weapon makers" for their expertise.

Stephen the Great was proud of them, and they were proud of the history created by their lord, so proud that a statue of Stephen the Great and Saint stands in the center of the commune.

The gift of their hands followed the people of Ciocănești when Leontina Țăran started the tradition that made them famous - renovating houses in the style of egg painting. Here you can see houses with unique traditional patterns, which over time have developed a special plastering and carving technique. The patterns and colors used tell their own story.

Thus, this settlement became a museum commune in 2004. No belt is identical to another, and each tells the story of those who lived in them and cared for them, of the householders who love beauty. Now, 600 homes in the locality are heritage houses.

The very existence of such a settlement is an invitation. An immersion in the authentic essence of people, place, our folk culture, material, and spiritual.

The commune of Ciocănești preserves rich and unaltered ethnographic and folkloric assets, testimonies of the ancient occupations of the inhabitants of these lands, about customs and traditions, songs and dances, the art of traditional clothing, and artistic crafts.

The folk costume is specific to the ethnographic area of the Dorna Country, distinguished by the women's blouse with gathers, the headscarf with geometric motifs, the woven apron, and the vest embroidered with floral motifs. The men's costume is distinguished by the white shirt with white silk embroidery, woolen leggings, and leather belt, embroidered with colored beads. A common piece for both men's and women's attire is the embroidered waistband with colored floral motifs.

Another centuries-old custom is that of "rafting" on the Bistrița Aurie river. There are few raftsmen left in the commune who try to pass on the art of building sturdy rafts with four and three boards, each board being made up of 20-30 logs. These are driven just as the old raftsmen used to transport wood from the forest to Bicaz or even further. It is an experience worth trying at least once, a unique alternative to spending leisure time, getting to know old occupations, Romanian traditions, and culture from Bucovina.

In 2023, "Ciocănești Soup" was recognized and registered as a mark of authenticity at the national level.

The museums in the locality, particularly interesting tourist attractions worth visiting, are the National Museum of Painted Eggs and the Ethnographic Museum, as well as the Weaver's House in Botoș.

For a half-day hike of almost 5 km, we challenge you to walk to the peak of Botoș, to the "Little Athos" of Bucovina. A place with a high energetic vibration, where monks await you with open souls to leave your thoughts and sorrows behind.

The Suhard Mountains are an equally spectacular destination, traversed by travelers who want to discover less traveled paths.