Transfăgărășan or 7C National Road crosses the highest Romanian mountains, Făgăraș, from Sibiu county to Argeș county.
1st June – 1st October
1st October – 1st June road is closed due to winter conditions.
* opening hours may vary, they are just for guidance
free
* visiting taxes may vary, they are just for guidance
Transfăgărășan is one of the most spectacular roads of Romania, also called The Way through clouds or Ceausescu’s folly. The road has a length of 151 km and reaches an altitude of 2042 m, being the second highest road from Romania after Transalpina (2145 m which crosses Parang Mountains).
It was build between 1970 and 1974 for strategic reasons because Nicolae Ceaușescu, the last Romanian Communist leader, wanted to connect two important historic regions, Wallachia and Transylvania. The construction of the road began simultaneously in both directions, but it was hampered by adverse weather conditions. It was done with considerable materials effort, at the cost of many human lives.
Along the road there are two monuments: the first one is dedicated to the victims of the project and it is called The Gate of Genista and the second one, The Gate of the Meeting, recalls of where the two teams of workers met.
Besides the monuments, there are a lot of touristic attractions along the route. On the Northern slopes, there is Balea Waterfall, the largest waterfall in increments from Romania, with a fall of 60 m situated at an altitude of 1230 m between the two highest peaks of country: Moldoveanu Peak (2544m) and Negoiu Peak (2535 m). Another natural attraction is Balea Lake, one of the glacial lakes from Fagaras Mountains which is located at the altitude of 2040 m. The two tourist spots, Balea Waterfall and Balea Lake, are connected by the cable car which has a 3700 m trail.
On the southern slopes of the mountains, there is Capra Waterfall (with a fall of 34 m) whose water freeze only in very cold winters because of high water flow. Its water comes from Capra Lake, a glacial lake situated at the altitude of 2241 m, 51 meters above the waterfall. Another major attraction is Vidraru Lake, a reservoir lake created on Arges river for electricity production. On the dam which measures 307 m in length, the tourists can practice bungee jumping. After many switchbacks, tunnels and some viaducts, there is the last tourist attraction, the Poienari Fortress situated on the top of the mountain. It was the second residence of Vlad The Impaler used as observation point or refuge.
Transfăgărășan is not just a touristic or transit road. It is a picturesque path which offers an historical and geographical journey.
