Cycling Romania’s magnificent Transfagarasan
Ride 29 kilometers gaining 1,500 meters at 5.1% average grade.
Photographs contributed by Anja Kalan, Škofja Loka, Slovenija.
Summary by our Legendary Mountains co-author Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands.
Transfagarasan is referred to by many as one of Europe’s most beautiful climbs - at least it is Romania! Or is it Transalpina? Transfagaran is an extremely scenic pass that certainly qualifies as a legendary (iconic) mountain. Since Jeremy Clarkson praised it as “the best road in the world” in the BBC TV series “Top Gear’ in 2009, the second highest pass in Rumania has gained worldwide popularity.
The Transfagaran road is in the Carpathian Mountains. The road, built in 1971, is paved and 90 km long. Former Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu ordered this road quickly built as military access across the mountains in case of a Soviet invasion. The road goes through Transylvania, the county of Count Dracula fame 😟!
The northern route is the legendary route with 5 tunnels, viaducts, 30 hairpins, scenic views, beneath and above the tree line, a well paved and maintained road.
Near the highest point, at Bâlea Lake, the road passes to the summit. From there you can go through the Bâlea Tunnel, the longest (884m) road tunnel in Romania and ride the south side.
Thank you Anja!!