🇷🇴Roads in Romania
2 roads found in Romania, Europe
Transalpina (DN67C)
🇷🇴 Romania
The Transalpina, officially DN67C, is a 146-kilometer mountain road crossing the Southern Carpathians in Romania, reaching a peak elevation of 2,145 meters at the Urdele Pass. Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor the Transfagarasan, the Transalpina is actually the highest paved road in Romania and offers a wilder, less crowded driving experience through equally dramatic mountain scenery. The road connects Novaci in Gorj County to Sebes in Alba County, passing through the Parang Mountains and the Sureanu range. Originally built as a military route during World War II by German forces, it was largely neglected until a major reconstruction project paved the entire route by 2012. The landscape transitions from dense beech forests through alpine meadows to barren rocky terrain above the tree line. Herds of sheep and their guardian dogs are commonly encountered, and the road passes several traditional sheepfolds where travelers can buy fresh cheese.
Transfagarasan
🇷🇴 Romania
The Transfagarasan Highway (DN7C) is a spectacular mountain road that crosses the Fagaras Mountains in central Romania, connecting the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. Stretching 151 kilometers from Pitesti to Sibiu, the road reaches its highest point at 2,042 meters at Balea Lake. It was famously declared "the best road in the world" by Jeremy Clarkson on the BBC's Top Gear in 2009, bringing it to international attention. The road was built between 1970 and 1974 under the orders of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu as a strategic military route following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. The construction was carried out primarily by military personnel and claimed the lives of an estimated 40 workers. The road was carved through some of the most challenging terrain in the Carpathian Mountains, requiring extensive tunneling, bridge-building, and blasting through solid rock. The northern descent from Balea Lake is the most dramatic section, featuring a series of tight switchbacks, a 900-meter tunnel, and views of the Balea waterfall and glacial lake. The road is surrounded by dense forests, alpine meadows, and rocky peaks, with the Fagaras range providing a stunning backdrop. Due to heavy snowfall, the upper sections are closed from late October through June, though the exact dates vary by year. When open, the road offers an unforgettable driving experience through wild, pristine mountain scenery.