A guest post by Corina from Another Milestone.

Transfagarasan (DN7C) became famous after it was voted the most beautiful road in the world by Top Gear TV Show. Because of its new title, it attracts a lot of tourists every year. Sometimes it is crowded, especially during weekends, but that inconvenient is fixed by the beauty of landscapes and attractions seen on the way.

Transfagarasan starts in Bascov, near Pitesti and ends in Carta, on the road from Brasov to Sibiu. It connects Wallachia (Muntenia, the Southern part of Romania) and Transylvania, crossing the highest mountains in the country: Fagaras Mountains. These mountains named the road Transfagarasan – “over Fagaras”.

A little history about Transfagarasan

Romania had several routes that connected Wallachia and Transylvania, but they were built on rivers and they were easily blocked in case of foreign invasion. So, Ceausescu – the famous dictator that met his end in December 1999 after the uprising – decided to create another link over the mountains.

The road was built in the ’70 by soldiers from the Romanian Army. Today, it spans over more than 90 km / 56 mi. It is the second highest road in Romania (after Transalpina) and its highest point is at over 2,000 m/ 6,561 ft. The initial plan included a 7 km/4.3 mi tunnel that would have avoided the alpine area and would have made it accessible the whole year.

But due to costs, they chose the option that reaches the pick. The not-so-good part of this choice is that during winter the road can’t be used because it is covered in snow. But in summer, well in summer it is amazing!

Driving on Transfagarasan

Whether you come by car in Romania or you rent one here, you can enter Transfagarasan from Pitesti or from the road between Sibiu and Brasov.

Transfagarasan has only one lane on each side and very tight curves. You don’t need to be an experienced driver, but you must pay attention because the views will attract your eyes.

If you are short on time, you can see Transfagarasan as a day trip from Bucharest.

Where to stop on Transfagarasan?

Not only driving on Transfagarasan makes the trip special. On the way, you will find several attractions and points to stop that will make your experience unforgettable.

If you start from Bascov, near Pitesti, on your way you will be able to visit the following:

Curtea de Arges Monastery

A Romanian legend says that to build a house, a church or any other construction you must put life in it. The bigger the sacrifice, the more beautiful the result will be.

Curtea de Arges monastery is one of the most beautiful churches in Romania. It is said that 500 years ago when it was built, its creator put his wife and unborn child in the wall to obtain such unique architecture. But that is just how the legend goes.

The true fact about Curtea de Arges is that due its beauty, the church was chosen by the first Romanian King Carol I to be the royal necropolis. Inside you will see the tombs of all Romanian kings.

Poenari Fortress

Until you will reach the peak, on the left side of the road you will see the ruins of a fortress: Poenari fortress. Poenari is regarded as the real Dracula castle because Vlad the Impaler, the Romanian ruler who inspired Bram Stocker’s character, the bloody vampire Dracula, ruled from here.

To explore the fortress and admire its surroundings, you must climb 1480 stairs through the forest. Sometimes, because of the bears around, the citadel is closed for visits. But you can see it from below.

Do you want to see the house where Vlad was born? Then visit Sighisoara, the marvaleous Medieval Citadel.

Vidraru Dam

Vidraru Lake, a reservoir created on Arges river, appeared after Vidraru Dam was built. You can stop the car before the dam and take a walk on it until the iron man on the other side. There you will have the best view of the lake!

For mountain lovers, just before the dam starts a 4-hour mountain trail called Valea lui Stan, with iron ladders, a small canyon, and numerous waterfalls.

Balea Lake

The most beautiful part of Transfagarasan starts at Cabana Capra, where the road enters the alpine area. The breath-taking pictures you will see all over the Internet are taken in this area.

At the highest point, you will cross an 800-meter tunnel (the longest tunnel in Romania) and you will arrive at Balea Lake, a glacier lake with a chalet. Next to the lake, from the rocks, if you are lucky, you will see the whole Transylvania at one glance. That is a view you will remember a lifetime!

During winter, in Balea you can find a glacier hotel if you want to sleep on ice.

Balea Waterfall

Once you start descending towards Transylvania, after a few curves you can stop at Balea Waterfall. If you want to see it closer, you can take a one-hour walk through the forest. Or you can just admire it from the road and move on.

Exploring the rest of Transylvania

Transfagarasan ends in Carta village. From there, you have several options: continue your way in Transylvania, go to Sibiu, stop in Brasov.

If it is just a day trip from Bucharest, come back to the capital.

When can you drive on Transfagarasan

The road is open only from July 1 until November 1. During winter it is buried deep in the snow, but if you want to see it, you can take the cable car from Balea Waterfall up to Balea Lake.

A ride on Transfagarasan is an unbelievable experience. You need to see it once to fall in love forever with it. And you will also grant it the title “most beautiful road in the world”!

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About the Author:

Corina writes on her blog Another Milestone about family travel in Europe, for working moms that want to wander, for fathers in search of new destinations and for curious children. She lives in Bucharest and also does travel consulting and design for those who want to visit Romania. Follow her on Facebook.

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