As Romania's most spectacular panoramic road, the Transfogaras High Road, or Transfăgărășan, passes a reservoir and other landmarks worth seeing on its way through magnificent mountain landscapes.
The Transfagaras High Road connects Transylvania with Wallachia in Romania and is considered the most spectacular panoramic road in the country. Also known as the Transfăgărășan, the road crosses the magnificent landscape of the Făgăraș Mountains between the cities of Făgăraș and Sibiu. It is extremely popular especially with motorcyclists and is one of our top 10 sights of Romania.
PICTURES: Panorama Road Transfăgărășan
Photo gallery: Panoramic Transfăgărășan Road
On the road on the Transfăgărășan
The Transfagaras High Road is 151km long and starts at Bascov in Wallachia. The most scenic part, however, only begins after about 60km at the height of Arefu. Due to unpredictable weather, the Transfagaras Highway is only open from 1 July to 31 October.
Tip: If you want to conquer the Transfăgărășan by bike, you should equip yourself with sufficient mosquito repellent beforehand.
Vidraru Reservoir
The start of the steepest section of the Transfăgărășan is marked by the Vidraru reservoir with its hydroelectric power plant shortly after Arefu. Bungee jumps are offered from the 166m high, 307m long and 6m wide dam wall, and excursion boats and fishermen cavort on the reservoir.
About 200m above the road is Poenari Castle, built in the 13th century by the ruler of Wallachia. You can climb the ruins via several staircases and enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the Carpathians from the top.
Balearic Pass
From Lake Vidraru, the now completely asphalted mountain road winds in long curves through the Transylvanian Alps to the Bâlea Pass at an altitude of 2042 metres.
Tip: The Urdele Pass on the panoramic Transalpina road (DN67C) is even 100m higher than the Transfagaras High Road, but is less known and therefore less frequented.
Highest and longest tunnel in Romania
The Bâlea Pass is also home to Romania's highest and longest tunnel, the 887m-long Bâlea Tunnel under Mount Paltinu.
Also called Bâlea is the nature reserve that reaches down into Transylvania and is also home to Lake Bâlea and the Bâlea Waterfall. A gondola lift also leads up from the waterfall to an ice hotel that is built every year.
Gateway of the encounter
At an altitude of around 1,600 metres, on a prominent rock, lies the "Gate of Encounter", where the two track construction teams from the north and south met in 1974. The road was officially opened on 20 September.
A few kilometres further on, at the "Pioneers' Gate", there is another memorial plaque commemorating the alleged 400 or so fatalities caused by the four-year construction of the elevated road. Four kilometres after the memorial, the Transfăgărășan joins the DN1 between Sibiu and Brașov, after crossing around 830 bridges and almost 30 viaducts.
