Discover Romania


3 Wonderful Roads

 

Romania’s spectacular highways are roads which take you closer to the sky, revealing nature’s greatness and wilderness. Making way through lofty crests, they combine the adrenaline of the stunning serpentines with the enchanting sceneries and the picturesque harmony of mountain villages. True challenges for the drivers, the highways at the altitude offer an invigorating state of mind and the occasion to explore unique places. So get ready for the road; we will present three fascinating highways, perfect for a memorable weekend!

Transalpina

TransalpinaThe highest tourist route in Romania, the Transalpina crosses the Parâng Mountains along 150 kilometers, between SÓ‘liÅŸte town in Sibiu and Novaci town, in Gorj County. On this highway, the green of the grass and the blue of the sky combine in a picture of breathtaking beauty mantled in the murmur of the forest and the cheerful chirping of the birds.

From Novaci, the Transalpina sweeps among stately fir trees and oaks up to Rânca, where the view opens towards the alpine meadows dotted with rocks. At over 1600 meters altitude, the resort is an ideal layover in any season. In winter you can ski or snowboard on one of the four slopes, and in summer you can choose between paragliding and cycling on off-road routes. From Rânca, the highway climbs to the highest point of the route – Urdele Pass (2145 m); here, on 'the roof' of Gorj County, the world lays at your feet and the immense abysses around are simply breathtaking. The white rocks at ObârÅŸia Lotrului mark the beginning of a smooth descent to Lake OaÅŸa, a clear water mirror which reflects the sky. Before ending the adventure on the Transalpina we recommend you make a short layover at SÓ‘sciori, Cugir and Câlnic fortresses to learn bits of history concerning the place.

Those who want to spend a longer holiday in the area can opt for the Åžureanu ski domain or for Transalpina Ski Resort, an oasis of good spirits set in a fairytale-like environment. The 'highway in the clouds' is a 3-4 hour route and you need a car with high ground clearance and a full tank to drive through it. All throughout winter, the portion between Rânca and ObârÅŸia Lotrului is closed due to the large quantities of snow. The Transalpina is imposing, challenging and full of surprises; it demands attention, patience and skill, offering moments of relaxation in exchange, energy and amazing sceneries.

Transfăgărăşan

TransfagarasanThe Transfăgărăşan is considered one of the most impressive highways in Europe, a proof of human power and skill. It traverses FÓ‘gÓ‘raÅŸ Mountains on a length of 92 kilometers, connecting CârÅ£iÅŸoara (Sibiu County) and Bascov (ArgeÅŸ County) villages. The mountain landscapes revealed along the route are simply delightful, especially in clear days.

Starting from CârÅ£iÅŸoara, the road abruptly and sinuously climbs up to Bâlea Cascade, a noisy waterfall rolling over the rocks from a height of 60 meters.

The show is complete and you can barely bring yourself to leave the bright and stormy avalanche of water behind, but remember that the massif has other surprising attractions for you to discover. One of them is Lake Bâlea, full of snow banks in winter, and surrounded by rich vegetation in summer which has turned the lake into a scientific reservation. Close by you can ski on the natural slopes or you can spend a night in the ice hotel, the most unexpected attraction of this area.

Leaving the Lake behind, the TransfÓ‘gÓ‘rÓ‘ÅŸan takes you to Vidraru Dam, a grandiose place surrounded by the mighty crests of the FÓ‘gÓ‘raÅŸ. The bravest tourists bungee-jump from the highest launching track and those who want to relax on the lake rent hydrobikes and boats. In both cases, the panorama is overwhelming and it’s worth admiring in peace. The last portion of the track reveals the picturesque ArgeÅŸ gorges and Poenari Fortress, one of Å¢epeÅŸ’ refuge places.

A trip by car on the TransfÓ‘gÓ‘rÓ‘ÅŸan is an exciting ride on the mountains, full of endless curves and contradictory sensations. Before heading for the road, you need to know that this highway is completely open only from July to October and that in winter only the CârÅ£iÅŸoara-Bâlea Waterfall sector is open.

Transrarău

TransrarauThe TransrarÓ‘u introduces you to the wonderful stone world with fairytale landscapes in the RarÓ‘u Mountains. Shorter than the other two alpine highways, it measures 10 kilometers between Chiril village on Valea Bistritei and Pojorâta on Valea Moldovei. The secular forests and the idyllic meadows harmoniously succeed in serpentines close to Peak RarÓ‘u, at an altitude of 1651 meters.

The route begins on BistriÅ£ei Valley, a very attractive area, where you can admire the Zugreni Gorges. Making way through the rocky walls, the water forms quick whirlpools, small cascades and islets, one of them housing Zugreni chalet. There are picnic spaces here, but you can also practice fishing, zip lining and rafting. If you don’t want to linger too long you can continue your journey through the thick coniferous forests, with GiumalÓ‘u’s crests on the left and SlÓ‘tioarei woods on the right up to RarÓ‘u Peak. From a height, the splendor of Pietrele Doamnei is generous, luring you to a mountain climb, and the smooth hills, the golden haystacks and the sheepfolds form a charming décor. You can enjoy it early in the morning if you’re staying at the RarÓ‘u Chalet. Up to Pojorâta, the TransrarÓ‘u leaves behind valleys and vast plateaus, Fundul Corbului Saddle, a belvedere point from where you can see Å¢ara Dornelor, and a few tourist layovers.

The TransrarÓ‘u is a road for all travelers and you can experience it by car, on two wheels or on foot. In any case, the route takes you to picturesque places, where nature has kept its wilderness and authentic charm. On the crests of the RarÓ‘u, don’t hesitate to spend the night in a tent and take advantage of the quietness and the fresh air in the mountains.

If we have convinced you it is worth traveling on Romania’s spectacular highways, get ready to charge your batteries in an adventure full of adrenaline. When you come back, we will be waiting for your holiday impressions on our Facebook page.

[An article written by Andreea Bertea]