Baia Mare sits at the gateway to one of Europe's most preserved rural landscapes. The wooden churches of the Maramureș villages — eight of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites — lie within an hour's drive and are the main reason many travellers stop here at all. Villages such as Bârsana, Budești, Desești, and Ieud reward a full day's circuit. The Rodna Mountains to the east offer serious hiking in summer. The ruins of Chioar Fortress, perched on a hill southwest of the city, make for a short half-day excursion.