The Transfăgărășan (trans + Făgăraș), or DN7C, is a paved mountain road crossing the southern section of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. It has national-road ranking and is the second-highest paved road in the country after the Transalpina. It starts near the village of Bascov, near Pitești, and stretches to the crossroad between the DN1 and Sibiu, between the highest peaks in the country, Moldoveanu and Negoiu. The road, built in the early 1970s as a strategic military route, connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. Ceaușescu wanted to ensure quick military access across the mountains in case of a Soviet invasion. At the time, Romania already had several strategic mountain passes through the Southern Carpathians, whether inherited from the pre-communist era (the DN1 and the high-pass DN67C) or built during the initial years of the Communist regime (the DN66). These passes, however, were mainly through river valleys, and would be easy for the Soviets to block and attack. Ceaușescu therefore ordered the construction of a road across the Făgăraș Mountains, which divide northwestern and southern Romania. and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Near the highest point, at Bâlea Lake, the road passes through Bâlea Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Romania at .

Along the southern section of the road, near the village of Arefu, is Poenari Castle. The castle was the residence of Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who is said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. However, Bram Stoker never stated that Tepes was the inspiration for Dracula and Stoker himself never visited Romania. The castle that Stoker used in his novel for illustration was Castelul Bran, the only castle in the region that remains intact.

The northern section is used for annual cycling competitions, including the Tour of Romania, and the section to Bâlea Lake has been used since 2011 for the Sibiu Cycling Tour. These sections are considered to be similar in difficulty to hors catégorie climbs in the Tour de France.

Appearance in Top Gear

The Transfăgărășan was featured in a segment of the British TV show Top Gear, in the first episode of Series 14 (November 2009). Host Jeremy Clarkson proclaimed that the Transfăgărășan was "the best road in the world,"

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File:Transfagarasan in 1974.jpg|Transfăgărășan in 1974

File:Transfagarasan twisty road.jpg|Same section of the road in 2007

File:Wide view over the northern Transfagarasan.jpg|Northern part of the road

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See also

  • List of highest paved roads in Europe
  • List of mountain passes
  • Seven Wonders of Romania
  • Trollstigen
  • Tourism in Romania

References

  • Map sources for the summit:
  • Transfăgărășan Photo Gallery
  • Riding a Motorcycle on the Transfagarasan
  • Transfagarasan Road