Transalpina (DN 67C) 
Photo credit (c): SIMION MECHNO/AGERPRES ARCHIVES

“The County of Sibiu is crossed by the highest national roads of Romania and the most spectacular we’ve got. It’s about the Transfagarasan, recognized as the utmost spectacular mountain road in Europe, and the Transalpina. Also from the road transport infrastructure we should talk about the A1 speedway, which is going to link the Black Sea (eastern Romania) with the West of Romania and which is operational on 40 km in the Sibiu County (…) the maximum distance from Sibiu to any corner of Romania being of up to 400 km, all this infrastructure will attract investors and develop tourism. The Sibiu County draws most of the tourists of Romania, after Bucharest, all year long, not only seasonally”, the deputy-chairman of the Sibiu County Council Ioan Banciu explained for Agerpres.

According to him, the tourist area of the Fagaras Mts., the one crossed by the Transfagarasan displays a significant development. Here, the Sibiu County Council has invested massively ensuring a modern Salvamont (mountain rescuers) station with permanent patrols and more importantly upgraded access roads to make the connection with the Transfagarasan.

“Our intention is to develop the Fagaras, Balea, Valea Porumbacului northern area. The possibility to place some slopes at 2,000+ metres altitude shows that it will be a zone of future in developing the winter sports “, Ioan Banciu added.

Transfagarasan (DN 7C) 
Photo credit (c): SORIN LUPSA/AGERPRES ARCHIVES

The Transfagarasan, re-discovered by the Romanians especially after the British with the Top Gear have promoted it as the most beautiful road in Europe is full of tourists in this season. This road was built to connect the two historical Romanian provinces, Transylvania and Wallachia, the first crossing of the Fagaras Mt. taking place on September 20, 1974. After a titanic 4-year work, the 5,000 constructors most of them military have succeeded to put into use the road which will be known and well-known by anyone who sees in the photographs or with one’s own eyes the meandering sinuous curves to the steep mountain ridges.

The road also known as the DN 7C (DN means National Road, while 7C is a variant of a communal road) is 151 km long; it starts from Kilometre 0 in Bascov (Arges County) and ends in the Cartisoara commune (Sibiu County), where it unites with DN1 (E68).

Breathtaking landscapes — the serpent-like road, the Balea fall and the glacial lakes — the 2,034m altitude the road is reaching in the proximity of the Balea glacial cirque, the crossing of the longest route tunnel in Romania (887 m) make the Transfagarasan the track preferred by drivers, cyclists, motorists and amateurs of mountain wanderings. Not randomly the Top Gear specialists called it ‘a fabulous road, the most amazing we’ve ever seen!’

Transfagarasan (DN 7C)
Photo credit (c): SORIN LUPSA/AGERPRES ARCHIVES

Capable to be breathtaking even to the most skeptical, the Transfagarasan crosses the Golul alpin Fagaras Mountains National Park and the Fagaras Mountains and the Fagaras Piedmont Natura 2000 sites. With a bit of luck of good weather, one could still spot chamois jumping among the rocks or could admire meadows full of mountain peony crowning in the summer a spectacular flora.

The marked mountain trails’ network eases the access of the mountaineers to the highest peaks of Romania’s Carpathians — Moldoveanu (2,544 m) and Negoiu (2,535 m). Next to wandering, in summer one could practice alpinism, cycling, riding, paragliding, the flying fox, sport fishing or sport hunting.

The various offering of tourist services and amusement are extra reasons to choose this area as a holiday destination. The tourist infrastructure — lodges, hotels and guesthouses — with 900 places and categories of comfort from 1 star to 4 stars/flowers compete in offerings and various services.

Descending the northern side, to the foot of the Fagaras, one could reach the Cartisoara village, one of the ‘most beautiful villages of Romania’, the birthplace of Badea Cartan, the memory of whom operates today the Ethnographic Muzeum with the same name. The locality is proud with its two churches made of stone, erected at the beginning of the 19th century, whose painting bears the signature of the Grecu family of painters, well-known in the entire area for their personal, moralizing way of interpreting the Biblical scenes and the society and transpose them into icons.

The spectacular Transfagarasan annually challenges the professional athletes to test their abilities within the international competitions: the Cycling Tour of Sibiu, Red Bull Romaniacs.

The following events much awaited by the public are the Cuca Festival (August 29-31) and the Cultural Days of the Sibiu County (September 27-28).

“Dear travelers, the alpine road is only opened four months per year from July 1 to October 31. Timer is on. Don’t forget the proper outfit and the cameras. In the country of the clouds you will spend a holiday you will have to tell about”, says Simina Manea, the AJTS manager.

Transfagarasan (DN 7C)
Photo credit (c): MARIOARA PAULESCU/AGERPRES ARCHIVES

According to her, “the official statistical data indicate the doubling of the number of visitors in the first quarter of 2014, as compared to the same period of 2013. The degree of tourist attractiveness of the area is also proven by the increase by 50 pct of the accommodation and by 10 pct of the hotel tax’ receipts.”

Remarkable achievement of the communist era, the Transfagarasan has entered a rehabilitation stage this year, with the intention to exactly could be circulated more months per year. Discovered and rediscovered by the Romanians, and in particular by the foreigners, this road was declared in 2012 the most beautiful road in the world by the CarsRoute magazine. The US-based said publication has carried out a top 15 of the world roads which need to be travelled by any earth inhabitant, the renowned Romanian road being followed by the Stelvio of Italy and the Lysebotn of Norway, according to auto.ro.

In 2009, Top Gear with the BBC has also placed the Transfagarasan on the first place among the most beautiful roads in the entire world.

In competition with the Transfagarasan, the Transalpina crosses the Sibiu County too. Many legends are about the Transalpina. The link with the Transalpina in the Sibiu County is done on a county road modernized by the County Council, its most spectacular segment being Jina — Sugag.

“After modernizing the Jina — Sugag road, many tourists have travelled on this segment. This road offers a great opportunity because it passes through a reputed area, Marginimea Sibiului. Even if it has not an official name, the Cheese Road /Drumul Branzei passes through Marginime, this being the area with the shepherds the most known in Romania. The Sibiu cheese is a national brand, not only local”, Ioan Banciu said.

Transalpina (DN 67C)
Photo credit (c): SIMION MECHNO/AGERPRES ARCHIVES

About Transalpina they say it has been built firstly by the Roman armies themselves on their way to the Sarmizegetusa Regia fortress (the strategic 4th Corridor).

A shepherds road, the Transalpina has been crossed the long of the centuries by the shepherds who took off for transhumance over the mountains, to the Danube’s plains. In the ’30s, after a visit in the region and at the insistence of the locals, King Charles II has had the road paved with stone. Ever since, the road linking the Salistea Sibiului to Novaci (the Gorj County) is called ‘The King’s Road’.

During the WW II the German armies have revamped the road, a strategic access way to and from Transylvania. In the past two years, the Transalpina road (DN 67C, the road that links the Sebes city, Alba County of the Novaci commune, Gorj County on about 130 km) was partially covered with asphalt and opened to the tourist access. Thus, the road crossing six mountain massifs? Cindrel, Sureanu, Lotru, Parang, Latoritei, Capatanii ? has become the highest road in the entire Carpathians.

The King’s Road starts at Saliste, passes through the Tilisca, Poiana Sibiului, Jina shepherds’ villages and descends 7 km till Dobra (the commune of Sugag) where it meets the DN 67C. From here, the road climbs slightly, passes nearby the Tau and Oasa dams in order to reach the Obarsia Lotrului (thye place where the Lotru is springing). The segment between Obarsia Lotrului and the Ranca resort is the most impressive: narrow serpentines are meandering softly in an overwhelming landscape through its spectacular; sheepfolds are gathering spread on both sides of the slopes.

The maximum altitude the road is reaching is 2,145 m in the Urdele Pass. It is the point where one can see the skies mating the earth. The road continues on the ridge of the mountains and slightly descends to the Novaci commune (Gorj County).AGERPRES