fbpx


Transylvania by bicycle: 900 km on the Carpathians amid bears and vampires

Written by
Rate this item
(1 Vote)

One of the most interesting areas crossed during our long European bicycle journey called NPJ, No Plans Journey, is a great region of Romania, which reminds us stories of vampires, bears, and wild mountains... yes, you already figured out what I'm talking about. We crossed Transylvania by bikes, in Romania, from Brașov to Sighișoara closing a 900 km (almost) ring up and down on the Carpathian Mountains, really hard but definitely satisfying.

 
poiana brasov
nala in piazza a brasov
A constant and infinite up and downhill among the valleys in the Făgăraș Mountains. A ring beginning and ending in the main city of this region, Brașov. Ideal for a journey of a couple of weeks, this itinerary in Romania by bicycle develops mainly on asphalted roads even if we didn't miss any opportunity to ride on some gravel roads and mountain biker crazy legs. Crossing some of the most known passes in Romania of over 2000 m, there are also some legs in the hills at the feet of these giants, discovering castles, cities, churches UNESCO heritage.
Before entering into the narration of our bicycle tour in Transylvania, a foreword is necessary. What we cycled is an almost completed ring, connecting Brașov and Sighișoara. From this last one, we continued towards North and the Eastern Carpathians while the track that we suggest in this article is taken from the itinerary of the Transylvania Epic Bike Ride, which we followed partially from Sibiu and Sighisoara. But let's follow the order, and let's discover some more info about the itinerary in the heart of Romania by bicycle, in Transylvania, on the highest peaks and passes and visiting Saxon cities, notorious castles, and majestic churches.

Brașov and Râsnov Fortress

Brașov is the starting point of our itinerary and one of the main cities in Romania.la strada piu stretta di brasovPleasantly laying down at the foot of the Eastern Carpathians, its center is lively and nice to visit. Like many cities in Transylvania, it has a typically German soul, left by the domination of the Saxons which settled here from the XI century. The city UNESCO heritage, once enclosed by great walls surveilled by high towers, has today two of the main doors and the main square (Piața Sfatului) with the beautiful Black Church, one of the most majestic Gothic churches of Eastern Europe.03 piazza brasov in bici01 brasov in transilvania

Let's cut the cackle... after visiting Brașov, you'll only have to take your bike and start this adventure in the Carpathians and be ready to cross Transylvania by bicycle and its wonderful mountains.

...and if adventure should be, let it be from the very beginning! Just outside of the city, take the road towards Poiana Brașov, a neighborhood and one of the most known ski places in all Romania, connected to the city with a funicular.poiana brasovThe road goes up to 1000 m altitude, but the ascent is sweet and easy to ride. If you are longing offroad areas, don't worry: it's already time to leave the asphalt. A quick turn towards West will allow you to avoid the chaos of Poiana Brasov, immersing in the green conifer woods which here already dominate the horizon. The forestal road is well kept and very fun.07 poiana brasovpoiana brasovIn a quick up and downhill, you'll be back on the road towards Râsnov and a steep downhill in the wood will lead you to the fortress. Don't miss the visit to the fortified city, even if a hard ramp will be a good challenge.fortezza di rasnov

Bran Castle and Făgăraș

Back on your feet, pass by the city below the fortress of Râsnov, to then reach the wide valley towards Bran. cicloturismo in romaniaUnfortunately, in order to reach one of the most famous castles in Europe, you'll have to ride on the DN73, a pretty busy road. You can avoid it on some legs on the secondary countryside roads. But why until Bran? The reason is easy: passing through Transylvania and not visit this castle is like going to Pisa and miss Piazza dei Miracoli.castello di dracula bran

The Castle of Bran, national monument, stands on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Built on a rocky formation where the valley narrows, it was the last defensive post against the Ottomans' invasions. Its fame was then due to Vlad Ţepeş, Voivode (prince) of Wallachia, who lived here for some years of his life. Vlad, also known as "The Impaler", is for sure more famous for his patronymic Dracula, famed by Bram Stoker's novel, inspired by this historic controversial and bloody character. The castle, built by the Saxons, deserves a visit mostly for its position over the valley.  castello di dracula brancastello di dracula bran

Once left Bran, often under siege by tourists, you can head towards Zarnesti, riding on green hills among beautiful wooden houses. Some easy up and downhill will lead you to this beautiful village at the foot of the Marului Mountains. From Zarnesti you enter in a gorgeous valley cutting this low rocky group towards North-West. Colorful woods and little traffic accompany the ride: here we meet father and son from Germany riding through Romania by bicycle West to East. Firstly the son, quick and focused on the saddle, and after a while, happier and more cheerful, his father. Back to the flat, we keep exploring Transylvania by bicycle, riding fast towards Făgăraș, a city with a deserted - but still open - camping.fagaras fortezza

The following day, we visit the fortress: built in the XIV century, it has been then converted into a fortified castle in the XVI century, while today it hosts a museum. One of the towers presents an exhibition dedicated to torture instruments, while in the greater wing of the castle it is possible to walk through some of the manner's rooms.fagaras fortezza

Transfăgărașan, Ceausescu's madness

With our steel horse we keep riding, leaving Făgăraș towards West, on secondary roads partially asphalted and gravel, and getting closer to the Carpathians. Victoria doesn't offer too much, while the potatoes fields next to the road are packed with farmers working on the harvesting.raccolta patate romaniacicloturismo in transilvania

Cârtișoara is the access door to the madness. The road begins getting towards the mountains following the river which gave the name to the city. Initially, the Transfăgărașan goes up gently, but soon enough you're into the woods and the gradients increase abruptly. You ride uphill into this mystery setting, knowing that this itinerary, now visited by thousands of tourists, was realized for military reasons by the dictator Ceausescu after the invasion of Czechoslovakia in '68. transfagarasan in biciThe first of a long series of hairpin turns grasped to the rocks leads us away from the river and the valley gets narrower and narrower. After some tunnels, we reach the group of houses at the feet of the waterfall Balea: it's the last possibility to refill our bottles and have something to eat before the pass, so if you're weary, take advantage of this place, maybe with a lángos!transfagarasan in bici

The road goes uphill for two more hairpin turns, before opening to the scenic amphitheater of the Făgăraș mountains. The sky gets darker the more we climb, but the view is majestic, besides the cableway and the high tension trellis. A short plain is a perfect illusion, but in front of us, the rocky and grassland wall does not give space to the imagination: this big 400 m "stairway" must be overpassed. transfagarasan in transilvaniatransfagarasan cicloturismoWe are saved by the hairpin turns, which alleviate our suffering and the high gradients. The more we climb, the more we are out of breath and our legs get stiffer, but our soul is lighter and the asphalt snake seems tamed. Lake Balea is the perfect setting to celebrate this challenge, despite the chaos at the pass. The joy is overwhelming.transfagarasan valico

After some cheese lángos, we have to enter the tunnel marking the passage from Northern to Southern Western Carpathians. Chaos gives space to silence, it seems we have been launched on another hemisphere: no trellis, no cars, no smartphone snapping pictures all the time. The northern part of this road is busier and touristic, while the true essence of these mountains can be savored on the southern side. The downhill brings us back to normal temperatures, while we keep following a river, this time the Capra. transfagarasan nordBroadleaved woods, beaten at high altitude by pastures and conifers, gain back some land and space while going down. We are back in the realm of the bears, frequently spotted in these areas. The downhill stops at 1000m altitude and we reach the lakeside of Lake Vidraru.transfagarasan nordThe traffic isn't excessive, but in order to stay out of it just follow the forestal road next to the lake on the western side, where you can find an optimal solution for the night: camping Cumpana, even if due to the presence of bears it's not allowed to place the tent (there is also a restaurant and the typical "casute").lago vidrarulago vidraru

The bear trail amid the two passes

 In the morning, the beech trees getting yellow give us a mystic setting: after all the tales of the everyday casual meetings on the road and many signs alerting us, we are waiting for a bear to show up just in front of us. attenzione orsiNothing. We keep riding alongside the lake until its very end and before getting again on the asphalt, we climb up in the heart of Western Carpathians on a well-trod soil road. At the beginning, the gradients make us hobble, then the road goes up and down docile and majestic. The loud silence of the woods leads us. A plain anticipates the umpteenth river cutting the mountains. The last ramp leads us to the top of this pass, before the nosedive towards Salatrucu, which tests our mechanic brakes' power.  trail degli orsi romaniatrail degli orsi romania

No bears, even if their traces are everywhere: trees scratched, trails dug, and giant footprints testimony of a recent passage... we keep riding on asphalt for a while to the South, but as we have the opportunity, we look for the West. impronta orsoOnce again, the road is unforgiving: gradients up to 10% on the first hill, and when the elevation gain stops for a while, the gravel replaces the asphalt. Everywhere, even in these remote villages in the mountains, you can find some emigrants who came back after a working experience in Italy: some advice and a chat alleviate this challenge.trail degli orsi romania

Calimanesti is just there, after the descent at the beginning difficult, then busy. We reach the camping in Turnu 4 km from the village, managed by the monks of the nearby Monastery: it's pure madness, with trucks and cars running at full speed on the right orographic side of the river... but it's necessary to get to the left side to avoid all this, into some quieter roads! monastero turnu strada

Fortunately, the day after, in the narrow canyon formed by the river Olt you can follow, with some ability to adapt, the trail on the left orographic side of this valley, passing by the Monastery. We have to overcome a landslide as well, before finding a beautiful track on a former railway, running parallel to the new one.vecchia ferrovia brezoivecchia ferrovia brezoiThe final tunnel is a jewel, leading to the station of Brezoi. The train manager will help you decide when to face the 500 m of rails without meeting any train: there are no alternatives to this, you'll have to ride on the rails, passing a short tunnel and getting on a parallel road. Fortunately, there is a train passing every 2 or 3 hours!vecchia ferrovia brezoiferrovia brezoi

Just after the rails, Tiberius reaches us, inviting us for a coffee. When we leave, I notice that I broke my rear derailleur, most probably on the rails. Once again we are lucky: our host helps us, getting us a steel piece, and with all the necessary tools makes a derailleur shaped piece, he makes a hole in the broken one and applies the new plaque on it. It is definitely unconventional, but it works and our Transalpine is still on the plan!sistemazione forcellinoponte verso brezoi

We continue our itinerary bicycle touring in Romania of Transylvania towards West, in the valley which slowly climbs from Brezoi to Voineasa. Climbing from the Strategic would be our first option, but a group of bikers coming down from it advises against it with trailer and panniers, due to the gradients and the type of terrain. We choose to follow their advice and face the Transalpine on the northern side.verso voineasacampeggio libero in transilvania

Bears in Romania

The brown bear is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores on Earth (the largest specimens contend this primacy with the polar bear!). At one time the bear populated a very wide range, whereas today, especially in our european continent, it is present only in areas that are not very extensive except for the Romanian population. The bears in Romania are almost 6000, the absolute highest number in Europe, and populate the mountainous territories belonging to the Carpathian chain. From Brasov and from other locations in Transylvania it is possible to participate in guided tours to spot these mammals in their natural habitat. Usually one goes to a sighting shelter in areas where rangers left unattended carcasses or foodstuffs. The wait can be in vain, but in most cases you can see some animals, especially foxes and bears. In Romania for several years the hunt for this large mammal is fortunately banned, but in the future it could be allowed again. The bear is among the 1200 animal and plant species protected by the European Union with only 25,000 specimens on the whole continental territory.

The Transalpine, on the roof of the Carpathians

After a night in Voineașa, it gets real. The road rears up reaching 1600m before going down to Lake Vidra. lago vidraGetting closer to the highest road of the Carpathians is slow and windy, but it's worth giving a little effort and time. We take it slow and reach Obârsia Lotrului, an outpost with some hosting facilities, a square with some stands and not much more, where we stop for the night.transalpina in bici in romania

Facing the "Road of the King" is an experience not to be missed, crossing Romania by bicycle, and it must be done slowly. Leaving early in the morning, cross the conifer woods along the river Lotru. Just a few kilometers towards Petrosani and you find the crossroads leading to the roof of the Carpathians.pastore transalpinatransalpina in biciThese are the Parâng Mountains, wild and spectacular. The panorama opens slowly, following the twisting road among pasture, beautiful views, until 1900 m, where we meet the crossroads to the Strategic Road, a gravel road too inviting not to ride it for a while.strategica romania in bici strategica romania in biciAfter quenching our thirst for wild roads and leaving Nala running freely for some kilometers, we get back to face the last leg uphill.transalpina in biciThe pass is very fascinating, but when it seems that the challenge has ended, a small basin materializes in front of us: we'll have to go downhill and then up again, to reach the pass, the border between Transylvania and Oltenia (Lesser Wallachia). nala e vero relaxstrategica romania in bicitransalpina romania in bici

The final zigzag of hairpin turns in front of us is scary but also spectacular. Once reached the peak, we feel on the roof of the Carpathians, with a view until the southern plains. Urdele Pass is a wonderland, absolutely not to miss, even if coming back is harder... a punishment to whom comes back on his/her feet.


transalpina romania in bici

Actually, the Transalpine, personally the most fascinating road in Romania, connects the cities of Novaci (south) and Sebeș (north), on a total of 140 km. As I told, we came to the peak, near Urdele, over 2100 m of altitude, to then come back riding on the northern part of the road.  transalpina romania in bici transalpina romania in bici

Back in Obarsia Lotrului, the following day we continue towards Sebeș, going uphill for some km and then downhill until the northern plain. Once more, after a long descent, we ride next to an artificial lake, Lacul Oasa going always down towards Sebeș, definitely out of the Western Carpathians. transalpina romania in bicitransalpina romania in bici

Sebes and Sibiu

Sebeș wouldn't offer too much if it weren't for a protected area and national natural monument, 4 km North, Râpa Roșie. This 24 hectares area is characterized by the presence of particular eroded rocks by the weather creating spectacular rocky formations similar to Cappadocia or Bryce Canyon in the States, for example. transalpina romania in biciUnfortunately, the weather doesn't allow us visiting the reserve and from here, following the valley cut by the motorway, we reach Sibiu, pleasant surprise of this bicycle itinerary. In between, there are some fortified churches UNESCO heritage like the one in Câlnic, but since on our track there are some in the next days, we decide not to visit them. sibiu in transilvania

Sibiu was in our opinion the most spectacular city crossed during our itinerary. Divided between the upper and lower city, it has a typical Saxon setting, and walking through its Piațâ Mare (big square) and Piațâ Micâ (small square) is particularly pleasant. Let us name some interesting buildings such as the Tower of the Council, the Evangelic Cathedral and Brukenthal Palace, but in reality, all the historic center deserves a more thorough visit.sibiu in transilvania sibiu in transilvaniasibiu in transilvania

Mediaș, its fortified churches, and Sighisoara

From Sibiu, our Transylvania trail has been inspired by the Transylvania Epic Bike Ride, adapted for our needs (trailer and side panniers, which aren't ideal in some parts). Left Sibiu, we ride towards the northern countryside on the hills, between cemented roads and hops fields.Romania in bici in transilvaniaAfter some gravel kilometers, we get back to the asphalt in Ocna Sibiului, an important touristic location, especially for its thermal centers. Up and downhills are constant, but the traffic is derisory, at least until Copșa Mica, where we meet the DN14, the main connection between Sibiu and Sighișoara. Romania in bici transilvaniaThere are no alternatives for some kilometers, riding in the traffic, until Mediaș, a beautiful city on the side of Târnava, with a well preserved medieval historical center, with many towers built by different corporations. The gothic church Santa Margherita is one of the most impressive churches of all the fortified buildings in Transylvania.medias in bici in transilvania

Leaving the city and following the Tarnava on the northern side, avoiding DN14 on a fun gravel road towards Alma, we turn towards South getting away from the valley and up into the hills.in bici in transilvaniaReaching Dupus we climb a steep gravel road in the woods, to then reach Biertan, known mostly for the presence of the biggest fortified church in Transylvania. Majestic and impressive, it is characterized by the presence of many towers, among which the Clock Tower, the Bells Tower, and the Prison Tower.biertan chiesa fortificata in transilvaniaAfter visiting the church, we ride on the hills until Copsa Mare and then on some tortuous trails. A pretty deep river crossing and a ramp for expert bikers suggest leaving this track taken from the Transylvania bicycle tour and coming back to the Tarnava Valley, to reach Sighisoara. The last kilometers in the traffic will make us regret our choice. fortezza biertan

Sighisoara, smaller than Sibiu, has a great charm, mainly for its historic center on the hill perfectly preserved in medieval style. The symbolic building is the Clock Tower, but all the fortified historic center deserves a visit, so consider taking half a day for it. Don't forget to reach the Church of the Hill, the majestic building which you can see from the Tarnava and reach from a picturesque covered wooden staircase.sighishoara in transilvania

Coming back to Brasov

As I wrote before, we personally continued our #noplansjourney towards Eastern Carpathians to pass through Gheorgheni and up to Ukraine, but if you fancy closing this ring and come back to Brasov you can, by following the track which you can download from this page and which is taken from the Transylvania Epic Bike Ride itinerary.transylvania epic bike trailspinta in bici transilvania trailWe don't have any first-hand information about this part of the itinerary, but this being a mountain bike race and having done the first part of the track, we can say that probably this is a bikepacking-friendly part of the itinerary, or at least for lighter bicycle tourers, while for people like us, heavy and bulky, it might be too much. The alternative is to follow the DN13, but we are against it because it might be too busy!verso brasov in bici

Discovering Transylvania by bicycle is a medium demanding trip, for length and elevation gain, but for sure this area od Romania will surprise and enchant you with its hospitality and beauty, believe us!

  • Brasov with the narrowest alley in Romania and the possibility to have an organized tour with naturalistic guides for bear-watching. Romania is actually the European area with the majority of bears in this continent.
  • The fortress of Rasnov (entrance 12 lei per person - updated on November 2019).
  • Dracula's Castle in Bran, where Vlad the Impaler lived, inspiring figure of the vampire Dracula by Bram Stoker (entrance 40 lei per person - updated on November 2019).
  • Fagaras and its fortress (entrance 15 lei per person - updated on November 2019).
  • The two highest roads in Romania: the Transfagarasan (closed to traffic from November 2019 to July 2020) and the Transalpine (the most beautiful in our opinion!).
  • The fortified churches like the one in Biertan (entrance 10 lei per person - updated on November 2019).
  • The colourful Sibiu, our favourite city of our Transylvania by bike tour (here our hike in Sibiu on Komoot).
  • The beautiful Sighisoara, UNESCO heritage site (here our hike in Sighisoara on Komoot).
  • Dinner in one of the restaurants in the city (meat in Romania is the queen of the table!) accompanied by (at least) a pint of fresh Rumenian beer (tasty and cheap).
  • We cycled Romania (Transylvania bicycle tour) clockwise, but normally it's possible to travel anticlockwise... even if on some gravel pegs it might happen to push the bike...
  • In order to reach Brasov carrying your bicycle you can consider the company Flixbus leaving from the main cities of Europe, or a flight (a low cost with Wizz Air, Ryanair or Ble Air) to the capital Bucarest and then carry your bike on a train (this is the website of Rumenian railways: www.cfrcalatori.ro) until Brasov. Carrying a bicycle is not allowed on all the trains, and it is possible by paying an extra fee. On this English language site, you can find some more info about travelling on Rumenian trains with your bicycle.
  • What documents do you need to travel to Romania? To every European citizen entering in Romania is allowed with your Identity Card only. U.S. citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months at least after your departure date from the country and they can stay in Romania witouth a visa for 90 days total in a period of 6 months. If like us you are travelling with a pet, you'll need its passport with antirabies vaccination made in the current year.
  • What currency is used in Romania? The Rumenian money is called leu (lei when plural) and the actual change is 1$ to 4,9 lei (updated on Dicember 12,  2019)
  • What are the highest roads in Romania? The Transfagarasan (closed to traffic from November 2019 to July 2020) and the Transalpine (the most beautiful in our opinion!).
  • One of the most common problems in Romania is the large presence of stray dogs, running free on the territory. Actually they are often as scared as you are, but especially if they are in a bunch, it's not ideal to just run away. If you meet some dogs along the way, stop and get down from the bike, trying a gentle approach. If they menace you, use the bike as a shield, throw some water from your bottle, or scream watching them in the eyes and acting like you were taller or bigger with hands and arms high above your head.
  • Touristic hosting facilities in Romania are pretty much everywhere. For Western European and U.S. travellers, travelling in Romania is pretty cheap and the stays are high standards. From pensions to campings, sleeping in Romania is easy. In the area of Transylvania, where the bear is spread, we were advised against placing the tent, but there are some campings.
  • Free camping in Romania is allowed and easy. Watch out! If you decide to free camp, don't leave any traces of your passage. An alternative to free camping is asking permission to place your tent in the front field of the locals: nobody ever refused!
  • There are some alternative stays like Airbnb apartments which you can find discounted if you're not registered yet.
  • Rumenian cuisine is pretty variegated, even if pretty focused on meat consumption. A good dish you'll find everywhere is the tochitura, a sort of stew with cornmeal mush. Ciorba, a soup, is pretty much on every menu on the country, while it's not always easy to find the sarmale, a dish made with Savoy cabbage leaves stuffed with pork meat, vegetables and spices. To try, especially during the Christmas period, is the cozonac. In the Black Sea areas, like in the Dobrogea region, you'll also find fish dishes.
  • In Romania, there is an old wine production tradition. Consider that the Cotnari dates back to 1400! the most diffused beers in Transylvania are Silva, maybe our favourite, Ursus, Ciuc, Ciucas and sometimes you can find Timisoreana not filtered.
 
 
Say something here...
Log in with ( Sign Up ? )
or post as a guest
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Be the first to comment.

Francesco G

ITA - Ho 33 anni e sono piemontese, anche se da qualche anno vivo e lavoro in Lombardia. Dopo un inizio da totale inesperto in questo campo, mi sono avvicinato al mondo dei cicloviaggi e della bicicletta sempre più. Oggi posso definirmi "cicloviaggiatore", e assieme all'altra mia passione - il videomaking - non mi fermerei mai! Cyclo ergo sum, pedalo quindi sono, per cercare di capire perché andare in bici sia così bello, terapeutico, ricco... E ogni volta che provo a capirlo, non ce la faccio, e sono costretto a ripartire sui pedali!

ENG - I'm from Piedmont and I'm 33 years old, I have been living and working in Lombardy for a few years. After a start without any competence in this field, I then approached the bicycle world more and more. Today I can call myself a bicycle traveller and videomaker who would never ever stop. Cyclo ergo sum, I cycle therefore I am. I ride my bike trying to understand why it is so beautiful, rich, therapeutic. And every time I try, I do not understand it. So I must leave again...