Transalpina is the highest paved road of Romania
Transalpina (DN67C) is a very exciting drive with breathtaking views located in central Romania. Running through the Carpathian Mountains, it’s one of the famous Romanian high altitude roads.
How long is the Transalpina road in Romania?
The road is totally paved. It’s 148 km (92 miles) long, running south-north from Novaci, a town in Gorj County, in Oltenia to Sebeş, a city in Alba County. The road offers breathtaking views together with lots of driving excitement. This asphalted road is not easy, with hundreds of turns.
How long does it take to drive the Transalpina road in Romania?
Set high in the Parâng Mountains group, in the Southern Carpathians of Romania, it’s one of the most spectacular roads of the country. Plan around 3 hours to complete the drive without any stop. It’s quite famous and popular, with thousands of visitors every year, due to the experience it provides: driving through a mountainous region and being surrounded by nature on all sides. You can only imagine the landscapes you are bound to admire on your trip. But what you might not know is that Transalpina also offers a beautiful natural setting. In fact, if you take this path instead of the one leading to Transfagarasan, you will be taken aback by what nature has to offer you. Transalpina, known as “The Devil’s Path”, is Romania’s newest attraction visiting and turning from North to South across the Parang mountains. A person wanting to experience the Transalpina in all its splendor should plan for a mid-to-late fall trip. During this time, the deciduous trees will see their leaves change color, creating an unbelievable backdrop with tons of different shades of green, orange, yellow, red, and brown. The road offers several viewpoints along the way, as well as hotels, intimate chalets and restaurants.
When was the Transalpina road built?
The road was built under King Carol II. That’s the reason why Romanian locals in the area call it The King’s Road (“Drumul Regelui”). It was opened in 1938, when it was inaugurated by King Charles II in Poiana Sibiu and it was rebuilt during World War II by German troops, when they needed a road for military purposes, but remained inaccessible for most normal drivers and vehicles until only a few years ago. In 2007 it started the works to transform this spectacular road into a modern highway (148 km), allowing a rapid transit between Oltenia and Transylvania. In 2009 it was completely paved and was totally opened to traffic in 2012. The road follows a path built by the Roman legions during the wars with the Dacians.
When the Transalpina road is open?
It’s said to be the highest paved road of Romania, topping out at 2.145m (7,037ft) above sea level by Urdele Pass. Keep in mind that the road is not open all year round. Depending on weather conditions, the highway is usually closed in November or December due to the heavy amount of snowfall and the treacherous driving situations that could develop. It opens from mid May to mid October (depending on the weather) and only during daytime (08:00-20:00h). And remember to bring a light jacket as the weather at 2000 meters of altitude can be unpredictable and the wind is a bit cold even in the middle of the summer.