FERM 2025 | Field Visits: National Museum of Painted Eggs and the Living Heritage of Ciocănești

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Section:

Field Visits – Lessons from the Practical Experiences of Small Producers

Participant:

Representatives of the National Museum of Painted Eggs, Ciocănești

Presentation Objective:
“The Cultural Heritage of Ciocănești – The Art of Painted Eggs and Ethnographic Traditions”

Ciocănești, the only open-air museum village in Romania, was one of the destinations for field visits organized within the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 (FERM), held between July 9 and 13 in Vatra Dornei. Delegations had the opportunity to discover the unique cultural heritage of the area, from the art of painted eggs to the traditions preserved in the Ethnographic Museum of the locality.

The Art of Painted Eggs – A Symbol of Continuity

At the National Museum of Painted Eggs in Ciocănești, forum participants attended detailed presentations on the traditional technique of egg painting. Using the “chiștița” – the tool used for drawing with wax – eggs are decorated in successive layers of color, each hue and pattern carrying a particular meaning.

“We only work with traditional eggs made in our area. In the commune, we have over 20 folk craftsmen who pass this craft both within their families and to schoolchildren,” emphasized the museum guide.

Cultural transmission is vibrant: children and young people in Ciocănești are encouraged to learn the art of painted eggs, either through optional school classes or via competitions organized during local festivals.

Ethnographic Museum – A Journey into Old Bucovina

Delegations also visited the Ethnographic Museum in Ciocănești, where the museum director, Marilena Niculiță, presented exhibits depicting the life of Bucovina communities in the past.

On the ground floor, visitors can explore traditional workshops – carpentry, blacksmithing, mining, or pottery – as well as a room dedicated to painting with traditional motifs. Upstairs, the museum houses a peasant room, exhibitions of textiles, costumes, and folk masks, as well as an impressive collection of decorative motifs inspired by the ornaments of Ciocănești houses.

“We wanted to showcase to tourists the most representative motifs from the village houses. Although many dwellings are now modern, locals have preserved at least one room with traditional specifics,” explained Marilena Niculiță.

Ciocănești – Museum Village and Model of Development Through Tradition

Ciocănești is unique in that every house is decorated with traditional motifs, transforming the locality into a true open-air museum. This visual and cultural identity gives the village exceptional tourist appeal and serves as an example of how heritage can become a driver of sustainable development.

For participants at FERM 2025, the visit offered not only a cultural experience but also a case study on leveraging traditions as a resource for community, tourism, and education.

Conclusion

By including cultural visits in the program, the Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2025 demonstrated that economic development cannot be separated from identity and tradition. Ciocănești, with its museums and people who continue the crafts, provided a lesson on how cultural heritage can be put at the service of the future.

Moreover, the experience showed that heritage valorization is not limited to preservation but involves active integration into education, tourism, and community life. The example of Ciocănești highlights the importance of a development model in which tradition and modernity go hand in hand, providing both economic benefits and a strong sense of belonging and identity for future generations.