Every motorcyclist asked about the best motorbike roads in Romania, no doubt will think of Transalpina (DN67C) and the Transfagarasan Road (DN7C) – the two highest, extremely scenic roads in this country, running through the Carpathians: the Parang Mountains and the Fagaras Mountains. But if you ask which one is better or more beautiful, the biker is very likely to have a difficulty to point the favourite one. Indeed, Transalpina attracts with its wild nature, unpredictability, mystery and surrounding space, while Transfagarasan captivates with its diversity, colours, richness of flora and fauna, landscapes like from a fairytale.
Fortunately, both of these routes are located only about 70 km from each other, allowing you to ride through them practically from day to day. And such solution seems to be the only right one. The “beauty contest” we just solve then ourselves, according to our own feelings and emotions, which certainly are going to be intense in both of these places.
The Transfagarasan Road enchanted me. Without hesitation I acknowledge it as the most fabulous route in Romania. Our memorable ride started from the northern side, up through the spectacular serpentines, just ahead of wave of clouds rushing on us and then through the tunnel to the other side of the mountains range, like to the other side of the mirror… I decided that the best way to tell about it is presenting the journey with pictures and music in a film.
So I invite you for a few minutes to the colours of the Fagaras Mountains:
Info about the route:
| Distance | 115 km |
| Start / finish | Cartisoara – Curtea de Arges |
| Surface | Asphalt, in some places of lower quality |
| Accessibility | Usually drivable from the 1 of July to 31 of October |
| Hazards | Donkeys and wild horses that can run into the road ;) |
| Attractions on the way | Balea Lake, Poenari Castle (used to belong to Wlad Palownik, known also as Dracula), dam on the Arges River (160 m), the longest Romanian tunnel (884 m, closed in winter), 5 viaducts |
| Max altitude | 2 034 m a. s. l. |
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The achievement of civilization… an escape from civilization
The Transfagarasan Road, unlikely to the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, was not created in a fit of enthusiasm of a romantic, crazy ruler, who wanted to live like in a fairy tale, at the top of the mountain with a view to the Alps. Nope, ultimately it was not supposed to be the most beautiful avenue in Romania, but the route of military importance. Its role was to allow the Romanian troops for a fast transportation from one side of the mountains to the other, in case of invasion of the Soviet forces. Hard construction works began in 1970, on the orders of Romanian leader, Nicolae Ceauşescu and it lasted four years. This investment consumed billions of money, millions of pounds of dynamite and killed dozens of soldiers working there. It is also said that the Transfagarasan Road was supposed to be a manifestation of strength and technological progress of the country. In time, it was decided to transform it into a two-lane national road DN7C.
Today the Transfagarasan Road brings joy and delights our senses with splendid landscapes and surrounding nature. How not to enjoy the winding and scenic road that lets us quickly and comfortably transfer into the eye-pleasing and heart-warming land of the Romanian Carpathians? We get on a motorbike, in a car or even on a bus to picnic in a minute on a green glade with a view of wild horses grazing on the mountain slope. Immediately everything tastes better. We praise the smooth asphalt, ability to drink freshly brewed tea at a roadside shelter or accommodation, worth every penny for the view outside the window. And I think to myself: this is beautiful, but I hope these facilities of civilization won’t go any further…
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