On Transalpina, one of the most beautiful roads we’ve been in Romania

After checking out a beautiful hotel in Ramnicu Valcea, I started driving towards Horezu, city famous for its ceramics and potters that use a very specific style when decorating their plates. I then decided to return to Timisoara driving on Transalpina.

After the famous-by-now Transfagarasan, “the best road in the world” as Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear called it, Transalpina was on my to-travel-on road for a while already. And off I was prepared for more than 150km on what was supposed to be a spectacular road.

Transalpina cutting through the mountains (Source)

I’ll get to the point and tell you upfront that the road is simply amazing. The view alone makes one feel on top of the world and on a clear summer day one has the impression to see all the way across the Danube. The day I drove on it I could see the mountain peaks watching over the green valleys where villages and small towns looked as if arranged by hand in a board game.

The windy road crossing the Parang mountains (Source)

To be honest, it was hard to decide which way to look: towards the mountains, down in the valleys or simply stay focused on the windy road. Speaking of the road, I could easily imagine sport cars fans loving the thrill of taking the sharp curves in a powerful Ferrari. For my car it might have been less pleasant but the road was quite empty and I had time to go slowly, both enjoying the drive and the view.

Some words of caution are needed though for Transalpina is not yet fully finished. There is no protection on the sides, for most of it it’s not marked at all and there are no places for one to stop to either rest or in case of an emergency. Keeping these things in mind is important especially when considering driving on it at night which I personally would discourage anyone from doing.

Driving on Transalpina can be dangerous at times… (Source)

But allow me to continue this imaginary trip for you. After reaching the top, for quite a few kilometers one drives literally on top of the mountain, on a road that one clearly can see has been carved in stone. Then the descend starts with equally sharp curves and breathtaking views. After quite a long drive, the curves are less and less frequent until one reaches the bottom of the mountain where the road starts following the river. Driving through pine forests one slowly approaches the hilly region around Sebes and then straight towards the highway.

While writing I can imagine again the whole ride. I would go for it again, anytime. And maybe next time I will stop to take in the views or even have a picnic there…on top of the world, at the highest point of the Transalpina in the Parang Mountains.

And here one stands on top of the whole wide world. (Credit: Alin Dobrin)