Most spectacular roads in Romania

The spring is knocking on the door here in Romania. It is an unique show and you can be a part of it. The nature is going back to life, the peasants and farmers start the season works. In the mountains the bear finish their long hibernation, and in the Romanian cities the spring cleaning is in full progress.

The impressive road of Transfagarasan was first a crazy idea of the former Romanian dictator Ceausescu

If you want to plan a Romanian trip this year, is a good idea I reckon, and now I am going to recommend you some fantastic roads in Romania, which are really spectacular, going up to 2000 meters height. Please be sure to wear appropriate clothes if take part to this adventure!

Genuine nature along Transalpina, at a height of more 2000 meters

Genuine nature and great landscapes will be your constant company during this trip through the Romanian Carpathians. You must be only to be prepared to receive this fantastic beauty with your all senses. Don't worry about the air, you don't need a mask. Fact is nevertheless that the air is much cleaner and much clearer than in the rest of Romania and of the world, broadly speaking.

Mountains everywhere on Transalpina, I hope you are not heightsick

Digging in my memory makes me to recommend two world renowned roads, accepted by experts and journalists to be among the world's most spectacular and interesting roads: Transfagaras and Transalpina. The both offer breathtaking fascinating portions.

If you remember or have heard about the former Romanian dictator Ceausescu, notice that Transfagarasan was first one of his crazy ideas. Observe carefully the neighborhood, there is no the normal way for a mountain road, namely along an existing  valley. Even if you are not a civil or road engineer, you can try to figure out the impossible task of the road builders. In the overwhelming majority, the artisans have been soldiers and prisoners. The victims were impossible to be avoided, due to the many explosions leading to falling rocks. The country's longest tunnel is of course here on the Transfagarasan, and the circulation is strictly closed from November to March, easy to understand if you imagine the costs! Romania's highest peaks are very close, namely Moldoveanu and Negoiu measuring around 2500 meters. Start the adventure of crossing the Carpathians from the town Fagaras up to Curtea de Arges. If you are a really good trained biker, you can do it even with a good bike, but keep in mind the simple fact of 32 km of permanent ascension. And the downhill is even worse and more dangerous due to the huge speeds. It is really a challenge, but you can do it, I did it myself, and I wasn't a very well trained biker at the moment  (the last kilometers I simply walked alongside the bike, please keep it secret among us!). Allow yourself a little break at the top in Balea lac, enjoy the fantastic landscape (in winter there is an interesting and unique in Romania ice hotel).

And now if you can imagine something worse than Transfagarasan and are still in an adventurous mood, remember a few things about Transalpina. Once called by the local shepherds as The Devil's Road, it is said that between the XIIIth and XIXth centuries has been build exclusively by the locals with their limited possibilities (hard to believe this legend watching the impressive and convincing mountains all around). The crossing here goes from Targu Jiu over Novaci to Sebes, reaching a height of 2145 meters. Around 1930 the Romanian King largely contributed to the building, and thus the people changed the name into King's Road (the King thought it also very strategic, mainly for a military use). 16 km along Transalpina simply is a peak road, with abyssal precipices stretching both left and right. Please keep calm, don't stop and look down, mainly if you are a heightsicker. The interesting mountain resort of Ranca is not far, you can ski in winter or stay to the many pensions, hiking and exploring the mountains.

I would only dare to please to watch your step during these unique and spectacular crossings, as I really need you for my next tips and tricks about your Romanian adventure.

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Romania off the beaten path: the salt mines

I am not a geologist, but I can tell you for sure: a few ten thousands of years ago on the today territory proudly called Romania nowadays it was nothing but water. Endless sea, and very salty. I can prove this affirmation through the huge salt reserves of Romania.

Nearer to our days, these  salt reserves have been exploited for thousand of years, starting with the antique times and even before. In the antique time the salt was a favorite changing item with the Greeks which came and build the colony of Tomis (today Constanta). The Dacians,  forefathers of the today Romanians, used also to export grains and wines, taking in change from the Greeks olives and olives oil. The salt as also the gold and  other richness of Dacia draw unfortunately the attention of the almighty neighboring Roman Empire.

The amazing salt church from the Cacica mine

After the Roman conquer and colonization, as documented on the Traian's Column from center of Rome, the salt kept and even increased its important role in the local economy. On those times, and during all the Medium Age, the salt mines and their  administrating settlements received lots of privileges and other advantages. The salt in that period of mankind was simply vital, as it could be used for conserving the food, and Romania as former sea bottom had unending reserves.

Winning the salt kept its importance up today, but a few of the former renowned salt mines have been closed due to unsatisfactory economic results. But the huge galleries showing the hard labour and toil are still there. In many of these mines the salt has been collected by the convicted prisoners and the Romanian language is full of references on those times, the hard labour and the prisoners.

The former salt mine from Turda is today the most important attraction of the town

Nowadays you can visit a few of these mines, which have been prepared for tourist like you. Don't fear anymore please the hard labour, but in some areas you must be very careful if you are claustrophobic. Broadly and generally speaking the air from a salt mine is perfect for curing any lungs diseases. You can visit the salt mines from Turda, Cacica, Praid , Slanic Prahova, Slanic Moldova and  a few more (these are the most important).

Spending an excellent time in a former salt mine (here Slanic Prahova)http://romania-tours.blogspot.ro/2014/01/romania-off-beaten-path.htmlhttp://romania-tours.blogspot.ro/2014/01/romania-off-beaten-path.html

There are a few reasons for doing that. Some of the visitors might be simply curious; other can try to cure their lungs diseases through week long treatments. In Cacica and Slanic Moldova you can find amazing salt churches. In all these former salt mines you have good entertainment possibilities, and you can stay for hours brething the purest air possible while playing ping pong, tennis etc. In Praid is possible to organize unique and totally exotic wine tastings, while in Turda you can find maybe the most romantic thing in a former salt mine: hire a boat on the dark lake, is simply breathtaking! Maybe the most romantic way to make a declaration or even a proposal.

In all these former salt mines you must pay to enter, and in some of then the interesting places are very remote to the entrance, the ticket contains even this kilometer long journey by bus (at the moment 20 RON, equivalent to almost 5 Euros).

I am sure you won't be disappointed in none of these former salt mines open for visits today. You will get some knowledge about the technology of salt winning and exploitation, or buy something, but you are going to spend anyway a wonderful time there. There is no chance to get boring in these salt mines, they are interesting and exciting in the same time.

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