The Transfagarasan
The Transfagarasan is the second-highest paved road in Romania
Daniel Onea, 05.06.2014, 13:30
Transfagarasan, one of the most spectacular roads in Romania, crosses the highest mountain chain in the country, the Fagaras, as the name indicates. It is as much a delight for families of tourists as it is a challenge for drivers. The landscapes are breathtaking, and the places that offer accommodation in the area have started diversifying their services greatly in the last few years. Though this is a family destination, it is only recommended to experienced drivers. You are invited today on a trip on one of the most interesting roads in the country.
Corina Savu, who manages a company running three hotels and a chalet in the Transfagarasan loves the area, and speaks fondly of the 92 km road with 27 bridges and viaducts, as well as the longest tunnel in the country:
“The Transfagarasan is the most spectacular road in Romania, and among the amazing roads of the world. It is not a classification we made, it was established at the international level. This is an extraordinary area. As evidenced by the name, the road traverses Fagaras Mountains, the tallest in Romania. They reach an altitude of 2042 m in the area of the Balea glacial lake. Here we can also find the longest tunnel in Romania, 897 meters long. It was built between 1970 and 1974, and we believe even today it would be difficult to build. This is a wonderful road, with unique tourist attractions: glacial lakes, waterfalls, the Vidraru lake and dam, and, last but not least, it runs by Poenari fortification, which is tied into the Dracula myth.”
The Transfagarasan opens starting in May, when snow removal becomes practicable. The landscapes are wonderful even snowed over. In our experience, it is no riskier than similar roads in other parts of Europe. Corina Sava told us that the authorities keep the road closed a part of the year for safety reasons:
“There are clearly defined dates, the tunnel is closed between November and July, it is open all summer long, until October. We hope this year, since it is the road’s 40th anniversary, to reach an understanding with the authorities and keep it open longer, and have it closed only during winter as such.”
Starting in 2005, in the Balea Lake area, 2,034 m in altitude, every year a hotel is hewn out of the ice, as the only ice hotel in Romania, and even Eastern Europe. It is round, with eight double rooms, a bar and a restaurant. As the first such construction in Eastern Europe, its success was sure fire. Around 8,000 domestic and international tourists have come to see the unique construction on top of the Carpathian Mountains. Not long after, they built the ice church, open to worshippers of all creeds. This makes for a wonderful route where you will have no trouble finding accommodation and meals, with a variety of attractions. Here is Corina Sava once again:
“New hotels have been built, three and four stars. It is a wonderful area, which can offer the highest level services to visitors. We have activities around Lake Vidraru, in the forests around Transfagarasan, we have adventure parks. Vidraru Lake has a small base for cruises on the lake. We have small boats and catamarans for that. You can also dine at Vidraru Lake, depending on the season you can fish, and there are many other activities. The adventure park offers tourists ziplining, suspended cable bridges, and other mountain activities.”
Dumitru Grecu, who runs a four star hotel in the Transfagarasan, presented us with an accommodation offer:
“We built a hotel on the structure of an older accommodation unit, now it is a four star hotel, where the tourists can spend a beautiful vacation. Even if the weather is not appropriate for trekking, they can enjoy the pool, the spa, they can bowl or play pool. We also have ambient music evenings. Weather permitting, we can have paintball, ziplining, or off road. We have a sports area where you can play tennis, volleyball or mini-football. We also take tourists out on the lake by motor boat, by hydrobike or simple boat on Vidraru Lake. Now it is extraordinary, the water is clear, you can also fish.”
The price for one room in a two star accommodation unit starts at 100 lei, around 25 Euro. In the hotel introduced by Dumitru Grecu you pay 250 lei for a double room, breakfast included and spa access. Also, keep in mind that in the summer and on weekends prices are higher, and most of the rooms are booked a couple of weeks in advance. We asked Dumitru Grecu about his foreign tourists:
“We have them in the hotel right now. Last evening we received several foreign tourists. They just came to have a meal here, and they couldn’t leave, that is how beautiful the area is. We had tourists from France, the Arab Emirates, Australia, the US, but most of them are from Europe, basically we have people here from all over the world. In our hotel’s guest book they wrote that the area is delightful. Our hotel is on a promontory on the lake, offering a great view of the Fagaras Mountains too. Our kitchen is greatly appreciated by tourists as well. We have on the menu both traditional dishes and more sophisticated, international cuisine dishes.”
The Transfagarasan also sports a bicycle route. At the same time, it plays host to various racing and off-road competitions. Other attractions are the traditional activities associated with raising sheep. So there it is, a destination for those with a love of adventure, but also a great family destination. In the hope we have convinced you that a vacation on the Transfagarasan is just the thing for you, see you next time with a new destination.
