Backpacking in Romania: Touring Marginea Black Ceramics Factory
Seeing real life hard workers in action on my travels is something I like to do, away from the “Disneyland” experience of touring custom made attractions. Welcome to Southern Bucovina, which to no confusion or intention is in northern Romania. My train journey up was bliss, I loved my hostel the Dor de Bucovina hostel and I set about exploring the sights in this region. They are many and close between. While I’ve written about the salt mines of Cacica and the monastery at Moldovita, it’s time for a hard working factory vibe here as I headed to Marginea.
The town of Marginea in Bucovina, Romania: famous for black pottery.
Where is Marginea?
It’s in the Southern Bucovina region. It’s in the region known as Southern Bucovina so it’s not too far from the Ukraine border. Marginea has a population of 8,552.
The Road to Marginea.
Getting to Marginea
Tourism hasn’t taken off in Romania the way it should have done, which means getting to Marginea is not that easy. I’m just telling you how it is. The best way to do it realistically is to hire and car and drive there yourself. This is actually probably the best way to see Romania. However, I got a double train up to this region. I first got a train from Bucharest to Suceava, then a train to Campulung Moldovenesc (where I stayed in the Dor De Bucovina hostel). From there I actually went on a tour of some monasteries in the region which was organised for me. So if you are not driving, you can ask tour operators in Campulung Moldovenesc to add Marginea into your itinerary for the region. Please don’t miss it if you’re in the area.
Outside the Black Ceramics factory in Marginea.
What is there to see at the Black Ceramics Factory?
Basically I’ll split it into three main things:
1. Factory at Work, Real Life Marginea
You walk into the actual factory and watch the guys making the ceramics live there and then. This is the highlight and I’ll share my cool photos with you below.
2. Souvenir Shop
As a light travelling backpacker, I opted for postcards only but the range of souvenirs here is vast for such a small unknown gem of a place. Of course the best thing to take home would be a pot or something made of black ceramic – much cheaper to buy it here direct from the factory. Here are some of the photos from the souvenir shop.
3. Old Style Romanian Country House
Outside the main ceramics factory in front of the car park is an old style Romanian country house, and it’s painted black and white, with blue doors.
So that was over and out in at Marginea. It reminded me of the Silver Factory tour in Kota Gede Indonesia, as it was quick but entertaining and worth a trip.
A quick trip to the Black Ceramics Factory in Marginea.
With that hat-trick under your belt, you can head on out. There is no real need to stay overnight in Marginea though I’d imagine that would be fun! Here are my videos from Marginea:
I was going to say this story reminds of the time you went to China to see where real “China” is made. Totally forgot about the Silver Factory tour in Indonesia! Anyways, it wasn’t clear to me in your post. Did you add this to your organized Monastery tours in Campulung Moldovenesc? Or did you rent a car for the day to drive here? Curious to know how much car rentals are in Romania and what the driving is like if that is what you did in this case.
Ray recently posted…Lacrosse – Canada’s Game
Hi Ray, Yes it was very similar except this is way less touristy – I was the only tourist they saw the entire month probably. Hiring a car would be a good idea though I was there on a day tour organised for me thanks to the staff at Pura Vida hostels as I was writing about them and doing some work with them. Safe travels. Jonny
That black pottery looks really nice! It always surprises me to see such nice coloring on things like that. When I was in my ceramics class, we made pottery. It could have turned out as good looking as we wanted, but the second we tried to paint it, that was the hardest part. Not that actually making it is easy by any means.
Hi Guy, thanks for the comment. Yes the black pottery is excellent – real experts here in this part of Romania. Safe travels. Jonny