Sibiu and Transgarafasan Highway

Route

My favorite climb is on the Transfagarasan road to Bâlea Lake. This spectacular ribbon of road was built between 1970 and 1974, and has some of the most historic tourist attractions in Romania nearby. The fortress of Poienari at 1480 metres was built in the 13-14th centuries, extended later by Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula. Next is the famous Vidraru Dam, one of the largest dams in the world and in several movies. The glacial lake of Balea,freezes in the cold season, when a church and a hotel made of ice are built each year.

The road itself is approximately 90km long, and it’s a great attraction for tourists, due to it’s breathtaking landscapes, being totally sublime and spectacular for visiting. The route is very special, due to the scenery encountered, with so many dangerous curves that twist and turn and challenge you, high level differences, cliffs and gullies as well as steep waterfalls. The road climbs to an altitude of 2,042 metres (6,699 ft), making it the second highest mountain pass in Romania after the Transalpina.

Riding from the centre of Sibiu, taking in the road and the lakes and forests, makes a great ride of over 140 km, very challenging for a real two day adventure, as part of a Romania Bikecation.

It’s a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. The road is usually closed from late October until late June because of snow. Depending on the weather, it may remain open until as late as November, or may close even in the summer. However, whenever you visit it, the scenery will always be beautiful – it’s my spectacular home, my Romania, so visit soon.