Romania Cycling Tours

Most of us will know of the legend of Vlad the Impaler and Bran Castle in Transylvania. However, the real medieval story is just as fascinating.This classic Transylvanian cycle route takes you across this mounatin pass, with epic views as the road snakes and twists through the trees.

Route Information

Bran is the medieval home of Vlad the Impaler, and the imposing castle is well worth a visit after the route has been tackled. The road climbs steeply, with forests and meadows on either side, before descending on tight and twisting hairpins to Rucar. After a brief stop for coffee, reverse the climb and finish at Bran for history and cake.

Stats: 70.55km and 1,486 metres of ascent

Refreshments & Where to Stay

Nearby Brasov has all that you need for your stay, and you can fly in to Sibiu and it’s international airport. There are lots of accommodation choices at all prices. There’s also a wealth of great coffee shops and restaurants to eat at too, and lots to explore on foot. The historic centre has superb hotels and AirBNB choices to suit all budgets. Bran itself is a good mountain town, with cafes and accommodation choices. Take in a few more classic Romanian road cycling climbs while you’re here too.

Bran Castle

Rucar in Transylvania

Character

The Rucar-Bran Pass is one of the 5 top road cycling climbs in Romania, taking riders through the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. The route starts at Bran Castle, home of the legendary Vlad the Impaler of Dracula fame, and climbs to a high point overlooking Rucar, descending on tight and technical hairpin switchbacks. Care should be taken on the descents.

Route

1. There’s not a whole lot of route descriptions required here. In effect, head out of Bran on the DN73 road towards Rucăr. Climbing begins gradually, but steep ends after about 3km.

2. The high point is reached at approximately 16.5km, when the road then sweeps down through hairpin bends towards Rucăr.

3. At Rucăr take a coffee before returning over the classic climb, back to Bran and some Transylvania history.

This is a route into the high mountains, so take the right kit for your bike and for you, including a weatherproof jacket for changes in temperature. The road is busy at weekends, so take care with other road users and cars.

Click below for GPX file & accommodation

Brasov to Rasnov

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Trans Bucegi Highway Cycling Route

May 1, 2020/in Bike Routes, Bikecation, Bikecation Locations, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European Cycling Routes, Great Road Climbs, Road Cycling Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania Road Cycling /by Pedalnorth Website

Trans Bucegi Highway Cycling Route

Heading out from historic Peles Castle near Brasov, this short road cycling route in Transylvania is a real classic. It takes the road up to the mountain plateau above Sinaia and Busteni, and is a cul de sac road, meaning that the only purpose is to simply climb the road for the views and experience – which is definitely reason enough.

Route Information

Busteni and Sinaia are both good mountain sports resorts in Transylvania. This short but classic road cycling route will test the best riders, being one of the top road cycling climbs in Romania. Climb from historic Peles Castle, onto the road, and then keep going up until you reach the plateau and the mountain cabin.

Stats: 57.4km and 1,539 metres of ascent

Refreshments & Where to Stay

Nearby Brasov has all that you need for your stay, and you can fly in to Sibiu and it’s international airport. There are lots of accommodation choices at all prices. There’s also a wealth of great coffee shops and restaurants to eat at too, and lots to explore on foot. The historic centre has superb hotels and AirBNB choices to suit all budgets. Busteni itself is a good mountain resort, with cafes and accommodation choices. Take in a few more classic Romanian road cycling climbs while you’re here too.

Photo by Majkl Velner on Unsplash

Peles Castle, Transylvania – photo by Majkl Velner on Unsplash

Character

The Bucegi Highway is one of the top 5 road cycling climbs in Romania, being the third highest road climb. Transylyvania is a road cycling climbers heaven, and this classic route will test the very best riders. Climb up, have a coffee and cake, then descend back to Peles Castle.

Route

1. From Peles Castle, ride down to the main highway and turn right. Warm up the legs and after 4.4km turn right onto Strada Badea Cartan, then right at the end of this road onto the DN71 and head upwards on Calea Moroiena, leaving behind the houses and apartment blocks for trees and mountain views.

2. At 7.8km cross the bridge at the Valea Dorului and continue upwards on the sharp hairpin bends. You know that this is now a mountain road, as the switchbacks come one after the other.

3. At 11.4km, a junction in the trees to the right with numerous signs (including one to ‘Hotel Peskra’) leads to the Trans Bucegi Highway itself. Turn right into this narrow hidden road (DJ713) and get ready for some epic climbing on good tarmac. At 12.7km you pass by a hotel complex and keep climbing in the majestic forest.

4. A sharp hairpin bend at 16.8km is a point where the forest starts to give way to the open mountains. At 19.6km a large religious cross can be seen on the side of the road. Shortly after this, take the road as it goes off right (Drumul Babelor) towards Piatra Arsa Cabin at 28.7km, when the tarmac and climbing finally stop.

5. Roll down the gravel road to the cabin for coffee and cake, enjoy the magnificent views of the Bucegi Mountains and then reverse the route, making the most of the 24km+ descending, taking care on the sharp hairpin bends.

Click below for GPX file & accommodation

Brasov to Rasnov

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Busteni Forests MTB Route

April 30, 2020/in Bikecation, Bikecation Locations, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European Cycling Routes, European MTB Routes, MTB Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania MTB Routes /by Pedalnorth Website

Busteni Forests MTB Route

This short mountain bike route into the forest close to the Transylvania mountain resort of Busteni, has some testing technical trails and is perfect for a spring or summer spin.

Route Information

Busteni is a perfect mountain sports resort in Transylvania. This short mountain biking route has lots of technical features and some great descending in the trees to keep you interested.

Stats: 30km and 1,688 metres of ascent

Refreshments & Where to Stay

Nearby Brasov has all that you need for your stay, and you can fly in to Sibiu and it’s international airport. There are lots of accommodation choices at all prices. There’s also a wealth of great coffee shops and restaurants to eat at too, and lots to explore on foot. The historic centre has superb hotels and AirBNB choices to suit all budgets. Busteni itself is a good mountain resort, with cafes and accommodation choices.

Character

This is a short but testing forestry mountain bike trail near Busteni, with some great technical sections and lots of descending. It’s a useful spring and summer mtb route for a morning or afternoon ride, before relaxing in this unique area of a Europe – transfixing Transylvania.

Route

1. Heading out from the Gondola station at Busteni,follow the gpx as it guides you on the trail above the town, heading toards the Malaiesti Cabin, ignoring track junctions left at 4.9km and stay heading towards Poiana Coștilei.

2. The steep start eases at 5.9km for a short distance, before ascending again. At 8.8km stay right and sweep away from the high valley, then turning left at Poiana Pichetul Rosu (Red Piquette Glade) 9.9km and climbing as the trail twists towards the cabin.

3. The high point is reached at 12.9km and you begin descending to the cabin, but take care to stay on the right trail, avoiding (obviously!) the climbing ladders and boarded track in this area on the more technical hiking trails.Head down towards the Ghimbasel River, crossing this and passing close to the Cabana Diham at 19.3km.

4. Now follow the forest track that heads thrugh trees and picks up the Valea Cerbului River, as the trail descends back to Busteni.

Click below to download GPX file

Brasov to Rasnov

Brasov to Rasnov Cycle Route

April 29, 2020/in Bikecation, Bikecation Locations, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European Cycling Routes, Road Cycling Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania Road Cycling /by Pedalnorth Website

Brasov to Rasnov Cycle Route

A short but steep climbers route, deep in the Transylvania hills, from historic Brasov to Rasnov, with time for a coffee and cake, before returning over the tree lined highway.

Route Information

Brasov and Rasnov are both steeped in history, and surrounded by beautiful mountain roads. This short road cycling route in Romania, links the two historic cities, with a high mountain road cycling climb in Transylvania.

Stats: 44km and 1,056 metres of ascent

Refreshments & Where to Stay

Brasov has all that you need for your stay, and you can fly in to nearby Sibiu and it’s international airport. There are lots of accommodation choices at all prices. There’s also a wealth of great coffee shops and restaurants to eat at too, and lots to explore on foot. The historic centre has superb hotels and AirBNB choices to suit all budgets.

Character

This is a tough climb, but with amazing views of the mountains all around you. The climb twists and turns to Rasnov, with some sharp switchbacks to be careful of on the descent. Staying in historic Brasov also allows you the freedom to enjoy the history and scenery more on foot, relaxing in this unique area of a Europe – transfixing Transylvania.

Route

There isn’t a lot of directions required for this route really. In general, head out of Brasov on the DN1E highway, which climbs to Poiana Brasov, then descend to Rasnov.

Enjoy a coffee and cake, then maybe explore the historic citadel at Rasnov, before climbing back to Poiana Brasov and returning with a good few climbing kilometres in your legs. It’s a good short route for a morning or an afternoon ride, and the highway is beautiful and scenic, being surrounded by the sublime forested mountains of this historic corner of Transylvania and Romania.

A post ride option could be a tourist trip to nearby Bran Castle, home of the fabled Dracula.

Click below for GPX file & accommodation

Brasov to Rasnov

Route Cue Card

TAKE A BIKECATION VACATION IN TRANSYLVANIA

click here for great cycling holiday ideas

Paltinis Forest MTB Trails

April 29, 2020/in Bikecation, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European MTB Routes, MTB Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania MTB Routes /by Pedalnorth Website

Paltinis Forest Mountain Bike Route

Twisting trails in the trees

Paltinis is a superb mountain resort, close to Sibiu in Transylvania. There are hotel and mountain lodge accommodation options, and the forests here have endless cross country mountain biking trails to explore.

Larisa Chinces at Brasov

Route Information

Stats: 37km and 1400 metres climbing (Medium Route)

Refreshments & Where to Stay: Paltinis is a small mountain resort with good but limited facilities. Nearby Sibiu is a superb base for the mountains, and has all options for accommodation and places to eat and relax.

Character

This area is wild and beautiful, with natural rugged single and double track trails in the forests. The route is a short journey onto the forest, mixing technical rocky and rooty trails with the wide forest tracks, providing you with some great trail riding.

Route

1. This is a route into mountain forests, so you really do need to follow the gps file to stay safe. There are some technical sections and you need stay on course.

2. Set off into the forest on the trail heading eastwards, riding along the easy to follow trail for 3.2km, where a track on the right should be taken into the trees.

3. The track descends to the 5.6km point, passing and ignoring a track junction on the left at 6.1km, as the trails swings right. It eventually meets old buildings in a clearing at a high point – 9.4km, near Varful Oncesti (on maps).

4. A sharp swing around left (hairpin style) at 10km, leads to a T-junction of tracks at 11.4km – turn left onto the wide track marked Trancindrel, staying on this track until 13.6km, then taking the right forking trail, until 16.6km where a track descends and swings around the hillside back towards the Trans Cindrel at 19.6 (go left).

5. At 21.9km take the rising track that swings left, staying on the Trans Cindrel, which passes by our earlier tracks from the ride out and start to descend after 24km.

6. At 33.7km a track off to the right in the trees, climbs back up to Paltinis and the finish.

Click below to download GPX file

Brasov South West Hills Short MTB

April 28, 2020/in Bikecation, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European MTB Routes, MTB Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania MTB Routes /by Pedalnorth Website

Brasov SW Hills Short Mountain Bike Route

Larisa Chinces at Brasov

Ladies long sleeve cycling jersey by Cycology

Route Information

Stats: 28.6km and 995 metres climbing (Medium Route)

Refreshments & Where to Stay: Brasov is excellent for all of your needs, and you can book a great place to stay and enjoy the superb trails nearby. It’s a great short mountain bike route, taking in local hills, and you’re never far from villages.

Character

This area is wild and beautiful, with natural rugged single and double track trails in the forests. The route is a short journey onto the hills around Brasov, with some good twisting fun trail riding.

Route

1. This is a route into mountain forests, so you really do need to follow the gps file to stay safe. There are some technical sections and you need stay on course.

2. Climb out of Brasov, taking trails to the right of the DN1E road, towards the equestrian (riding) centre at Spiritul Calor. Then take the trail beneath Braniste as it skirts the edge of the trees.

3. You reach a small group of houses/ lodges at 13km, where the trail then thens left and flows towards the gravel road Strada Vanatorului and continues to the DN1E again.

4. Turn right and after only 300metres take the track on the left into the forests – Drumul Vechi Poienii. This twists and turns as it descends to the 19.4km point, eases off for a short distance, then climbing again steeply to the 22km point just below Stechil summit.

5. Turn down left here and descend all the back to Brasov for 5.5km. Time now for cake and coffee.

Click below to download GPX file

Brasov Hills Short MTB

April 28, 2020/in Bikecation, Cycle Tourism, European Bikecation Locations, European MTB Routes, MTB Routes, Romania Cycling Tours, Romania MTB Routes /by Pedalnorth Website

Brasov Hills Short Mountain Bike Route

Photo by Bogdan Lapadus on Unsplash

Route Information

Stats: 30km and 1519 metres climbing (Medium Route)

Character

This area is wild and beautiful, with natural rugged forest single track trails in the forests. The route takes in tracks that roll and climb with some technical sections, but lots of speed, close to historic Brasov.

Route

1. This is a route into mountain forests, so you really do need to follow the gps file to stay safe. There are some technical sections and you need stay on course.

2. Head out of Brasov on the road, before joining a track on the right after 3.6km. This climbs through trees to the village of Poiana Brasov, where you drop left onto Strada Poiana lui Stechil, taking the track at the end and on the right.

3. Stay on this track until the high point at 11.9km, before descending into the trees in the direction back towards Brasov, passing by some exceptional viewpoints along the way.

4. At the 16km point, the track swings left and continues to descent through tress along the ridgeline, twisting its way downwards.

5. At 18km, just below the summit of Stechil, the tracks twists and descends more steeply for just over 3km, taking you to the edge of the city. You can now either ride into Brasov, or take a few extra kilimetres , riding to the high point of the wooded park just south of the city edges, before dropping down back into Brasov for cake and coffee.

Click below to download GPX file

Avrig near Sibiu, Mountain Bike Route

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