August 8th 2017.

Transfagarasan, Romania’s most spectacular and best known road is the second-highest paved road in the country after the Transalpina. It stretches 90 kilometres between the highest peaks in the country, Moldoveanu and Negoiu climbing to an altitude of 2,042 metres.

Built mainly by military forces between 1970 to 1974, the road had a high financial and human cost. Road construction orders came direct from communist distator Nicolae Ceausescu, who wanted to create a strategic route across the Fagaras Mountains to ferry troops north should Romania be invaded by the Soviets. Work was carried out in an alpine climate, at an elevation of 2,000 metres using roughly 6000 tons of dynamite, and employing junior military personnel who were untrained in blasting techniques. Many workers died; official records state that only 40 soldiers lost their lives, but unofficial estimates by workers put the number in the hundreds.

It is a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long Sweeping curves, and sharp descents. It is both an attraction and a challenge for hikers, cyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Due to the topography, the average speed is around 40 km/h. This road is not for the faint hearted and is a scary driving experience at certain stages. There are large sections of non barriered road with sheer drops of over a 1000 ft. Sadly, there are documented reports of motorists involved in fatal accidents, brake failure being a common cause.

The road is usually closed from late October until late June because of snow. Depending on the weather, it may remain open until as late as November, or may close even in August when freak snow storms offer occur. Transfagarsan has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Near the highest point, at B?lea Lake, the road passes through B?lea Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Romania at 884 asl. Along the southern section of the road, near the village of Arefu, is Poenari Castle. The castle was the residence of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula book and hollywood blockbuster motion picture.

The Transfagarsan was featured in a segment of the British TV show Top Gear, in the first episode of Series 14 (November 2009). Host Jeremy Clarkson famously proclaimed: "We were wrong, this is better than the Stelvio, this is the best road in the world!"

Following the highway over to the other side of the Fagaras mountains there is quite spectacular lake Vidraru. When it was inaugurated in 1966, Vidraru Dam was the 5th largest in Europe and the 9th in the world. Its height is astounding, 166 meters. Highway passes over the top of the dam, which is 305 meters in length.

  / goran.phuket