Hotel Bulevard

On the Ridge.....

by alirom

The main aim of this trip is to complete the traverse of the longest section of the Transylvanian Alps, the Fagaras, whose 80km. of ridge rarely drops below 2000m. (6700ft.) and includes Romania's highest summit Moldoveanu (2544m, or 8480ft.). This is one of the longest, continuous, high level walks in Europe. The trip is suitable for the strong mountain walker who is also interested in seeing a fascinating country close-up; walking through flower strewn meadows and farm land, along craggy mountain tops and through indigenous forests. During the trek we have a fascinating glimpse of rural life in an almost medieval corner of Europe.

Fagaras

by nsbm

"Moieciu"

Fagaras is 54km west of brasov and is teeming with towering mountains plunging valleys and traditonal villages. i stayed in a pensione in the hamlet of Moieciu ..you dont get more local than this!

"Dambivioara Gorge"

Just 35minutes drive from the village is the steep sided gorge through which a roadway then walkway runs thru alongside a river. it is absolutely breathtaking and refreshing. The route passes some caves of the same name and after an hours walk (or maybe more you come to Pitra craiului the ridge above the gorge. We stopped at Bradul cabana for a drink..here we encountered local woodcutters having a brew or two!...see more fotos in thing to do section.
Autumn is definetly the best time to visit Romania as the sun shines continuously and the trees are in fulll bloom..

TRANSFAGARASAN ROAD

by Nemoa

"Across the mountains."

My favourite route in Romania has to be the Transfagarasan road.
This is the country's highest road and it runs from the E68 to Curtea de Arges.

The road was built in the 70's by dictator Ceaucescu after he heard of the invasion of Prague by Soviet tanks. He thought that it would be a practical defence strategy to create a road linking the North of the country with the depot where he kept his tanks and army ( the town of Pitesti) in case the roads were taken by a hostile army.

The result is the impressive road that crosses the Fagaras mountains and was built in 4 years (working only in summer, as the mountain gets snow in winter!) at a great social and economic cost.

On top of its historical interest the touristic appeal of the road is fantastic.In your way you will find the most beautiful landscapes, lakes, forest and cliffs!!

It is most worthy to do this route, although I would recommend you to be confident and skilled when it comes to driving! The road can be very narrow at times and you have to be quite adventurous sometimes when it comes to overtake Romanian Dacias....

Anyway, if you like driving you will have lots of fun here, as we did.

"Lake Balea"

Balea is a glacial lake. Even in summer you can see bits of snow in the landscape.

The lake itself is a beautiful mirror-like extension of water. Even if it is sunny and warm in the valley the mountains are pretty chilly and at you will feel your nose and fingertips freezing as you stand by the lake admiring the landscape.

I recommend you to stay a few minutes and recreate youself in the view and the purity of the air.

Only Con: the peace is a bit disturbed and the landscape a bit spoilt by some souvenir-selling caravans, parked card and its unavoidable fumes right by the edge of the road.

"And now,,, down the Road"

Lake Balea is the climax of the Transfagarasan route.
Careful when you leave the lake! there is a tunnel you have to pass and most likely you will find yourself face to face with some Dacia without lights, or even worse, as it happened to us,an scaffolding that takes 3/4 of the road! :-) Driving in Romania has got some beauties!

The final ride is not, in my opinion, as nice as the way up to Lake Balea. Instead of forest you will have longs stretches of cliff and rocks and a couple of reservoirs that, although nice, do not have the natural beauty of the lakes.

Be extremely careful with kamikaze hikers (as if the road was not dangerous enough...), not less suicidal Dacia drivers, and all sorts of rocks, animals etc,,, you can find on the road.

Thank You Fagaras For Your Help

by topmarmot

It was about 12 years ago that I drove through Romania, on the way back to Scotland from Moscow.

The people we met were very helpful and hospitable. Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere (long story, I blame the low octane fuel in Russia). A passing motorist towed us around for hours behind his very small car trying to find a repair shop and in the end we stayed with his family in their apartment In Fagaras for several days while the car was fixed. The first picture shows our benefactor, his son and friend. The tall guy is my brother.

Thank you Fagaras for all the help you gave us and for being such great hosts.

Here is the car during the "still-not-working" phase.

If you look carefully, you can see my brother's feet. He is lying in the back of the car, a little stressed out.

The engine is in bits and we just realized that the third member of our team had not packed all the spares he was supposed to have brought. Thanks, Iain.