On the Transalpina in Ranca
Transalpina is the road located at the highest altitude in Romania
Daniel Onea, 03.10.2024, 13:54
Transalpina is the road located at the highest altitude in Romania, which is why it earned its reputation as “the road above the clouds”. On the way to the ridges of the mountains, we arrive at one of the recognized ski resorts. A holiday destination throughout the year, Rânca can also be a starting point for numerous hikes.
The main attraction of the Rânca resort of local interest is skiing, as we learn from Nicu Mitroi, the administrator of the ski area.
“Skiing has a main advantage also, because the resort is located at 1,600 meters, on a plateau that many specialists in Europe have compared to Cortina d’Ampezzo, in Italy. Located at an altitude of 1,600 meters, the ski slopes extend up to 2,000 meters above sea level. The ski slopes in the Rânca resort have a total length of seven kilometers, they are served by three chairlifts, a four-seater chairlift with automatic snow removal, and two fixed chairlifts, one four-seater and one three-seater, as well as two ski lifts. The five cable car installations have eliminated boarding queues from the resort since last season.”
In the Rânca resort, tourists have access to five slopes: four on Mount Corneșu and one on Mount Papușa. The slopes on Mount Corneșu are equipped with cable transport facilities, such as teleski or babyski, and one of the slopes has night lighting and a sound system. Tourists can also practice skiing and snowboarding on the slope of Păpușa Mountain. Separate areas are also available for activities such as tobogganing.
“We have the lowest prices in Romania and we have maintained these rates over time. The amount of natural snow is abundant in the area, especially south of the Southern Carpathians, where the cold air currents from the north meet the Mediterranean currents and a consistent layer of snow falls. However, we have acted and have artificial snow for the maintenance of the slopes. In the second half of November, we make a consistent layer of ice, so that artificial snow and natural snow have continuity throughout the winter. We open the ski season at the end of November and close it at the end of April.”
The Rânca resort is located on the Transalpina, known as the “road among the clouds” due to its altitude. Asphalting works began in 2009, only by 2012 it was 99% paved, but it has a rich history. According to some sources, the road was first built by the Roman legions during the wars with the Dacians, which is why it appears on some maps as the IV strategic Roman corridor. It is certain that the road was rebuilt in the interwar period and put into use in 1938, when it was inaugurated by King Charles II, which is why today it is also called the King’s Road. History also records a rehabilitation during the Second World War, when the Germans needed this access road for military reasons. Nicu Mitroi, the administrator of the Rânca ski area, returns with a brief history.
“The main attraction in the Rânca resort is the Transalpina road, which is the highest road in the country. It reaches a height of 2,145 meters, in the Urdele pass. This road was modernized during the interwar period, during the reign of the king, at the initiative of the prime minister, Gheorghe Tătărescu. It was built on a transhumance path, used since the time of the Romans. This connected the Dacian fortresses in the Șurian Mountains and Traian’s Bridge over the Danube, near Drobeta Turnu Severin. Novaci is an area rich in shepherding. The Transalpina road was built on the transhumance path, which, in turn, as far as we know, was made by the herd of sheep, led by a donkey loaded with a burden. Donkeys, when climbing to the ridge, never exceed a slope of 15 degrees, circle the path, and follows the crest of the mountain to the top.”
Currently, the Transalpina is an area that attracts many tourists with its rich offer of activities: hiking on mountain trails, cycling, ball sports, enduro, trips around the area’s caves and monasteries, paragliding, or zip-lining. There are also many tourists who seek to relax in the oxygenated air, on sunny meadows or in the shade of fir trees, admiring spectacular landscapes.
Transalpina offers a quick access to the ridge area, and from here, tourists can easily go hiking on the Parângului ridge, on a well-marked route. From the ridge you can reach the area of the most spectacular glacial lakes in Romania. For mountaineering and rock climbing, there are nearby areas for practicing these sports. There are routes that start from 10-20 meters, with difficulty of 6-7 degrees for climbing, up to 300 meters, with difficulty of degree 6 for mountaineering.
“As summer activities, from the Transalpina road, a lot of ridge trails branch off to the glacial lakes, Lake Gâlcescu, Lake Mija, Lake Tău, etc. There are other routes that go through the Gilort Valley, the Oltețului Valley, the Galbenului Valley, as well as hiking on the paths of these valleys, but also bicycle routes, off-road, enduro routes. The resort has summer tubing, children’s playgrounds and a number of other summer activities for recreation. The accommodation structure is diversified, comprising about 5000 beds covering all tastes, from hotel conditions to family cabins, some of them have swimming pools, saunas, SPAs. Next to these accommodation structures, there are restaurants where tourists are welcomed with aromatic cherry cordial, mulled wine in winter, tasty traditional food and beautiful stories. Tourists can also dine at the sheepfolds near Transalpina.”
Dominated by the Păpușa peak, with a height of 2136 meters, Transalpina is in the top list of the high-altitude alpine roads in Europe. And the Rânca resort is a destination both for adventure lovers and for those who want to enjoy silence, ideal at any time of the year.
