The bends
S-curves and hairpins.
rob Stoeltje from loenen, netherlands — CC BY 2.0 · Ioan Cepaliga — CC BY 3.0 · Stoschmidt — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ioan Cepaliga — CC BY 3.0 · xulescu_g — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Transfăgărășan is a paved mountain road crossing the southern Carpathians of Romania, numbered DN7C. It runs 90 km from near the village of Bascov to the junction with the DN1 near Sibiu, between the country's two highest peaks, Moldoveanu and Negoiu. Bâlea Lake at its top lies about 44 km in a straight line from Sibiu. The road was built between 1970 and 1974 and links the regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. It climbs to 2,042 metres, making it Romania's second-highest paved road after the Transalpina. It has five tunnels and more viaducts than any other road in the country, including the Bâlea Tunnel, at 884 metres Romania's longest road tunnel, and its northern section hosts yearly cycling races. The road twists through tight hairpins and long S-curves up a bare green mountain valley ringed by rocky peaks. At the top lies the clear glacial Bâlea Lake, mirroring the mountains and a small mountain lodge, and mist often wraps the summits. The road is usually closed from late October to late June because of snow, and may close even in summer depending on the weather. Average speeds are about 40 km/h, so allow a full day.
S-curves and hairpins.
Glacial, at the top.
884 metres.
DN7C, Făgăraș Mountains, Romania
Usually late June to late October.
Allow a full day.
