Travel to Romania

Day 2 Curtea de Argeș, Transfăgărășan, Sibiu (248 Km.)

Curtea de Argeș: We start the day with a stroll through the market of this town and a visit to its monastery. The Curtea de Argeș Monastery is characterised by its traditional Romanian Orthodox architecture. The main church, known as Curtea de Argeș Cathedral or Episcopal Cathedral, has an elegant and ornate design that combines elements from different periods and architectural styles, such as Byzantine and Renaissance. The cathedral stands on a 2.1-metre platform and is surrounded by a stone balustrade. It is decorated with carved details and colourful frescoes inside. The Curtea de Arges Monastery has been an important religious and spiritual centre for centuries. It was founded in the 13th century and has been renovated and rebuilt several times throughout its history. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting religious scenes and biblical figures. These wall paintings are an outstanding example of Romanian sacred art and add a spiritual and artistic aspect to the monastery.

(23 Km. away) Poenari Castle: This castle, located in the Wallachia region, is a medieval fortress famous for its connection to Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, a historical figure who inspired the character of the vampire Dracula created by Bram Stoker. It stands atop a steep hill in the Făgăraș Mountains. To reach it you have to climb a steep staircase of about 1,480 steps. As the castle is in ruins, we just photographed it from the road. The original fortress was built in the 13th century by the Wallachian rulers as part of a defence system against enemy invasions. However, it was during the reign of Vlad III that the castle came to prominence. Vlad, known for his brutal reputation and cruel tactics of governance, used the castle as his residence and fortress. Today, parts of the fortress are in ruins, but restoration and conservation efforts are underway to preserve this important historical site.

Transfăgărășan: The Transfăgărășan is a scenic and tourist road located in Romania, in the southern Carpathian Mountains. This road is famous for its stunning natural beauty and ingenious design that winds through the mountains, offering spectacular and panoramic views. The Transfăgărășan was built during the 1970s as a strategic and military access route, but has since become a popular tourist attraction. The fame of the Transfăgărășan was significantly boosted by the British television programme "Top Gear". The programme ran a special episode in which the presenters toured the Transfăgărărășan in luxury sports cars. The road stretches for approximately 90 kilometres, passing through mountain passes, tunnels and bridges. It is especially known for its stretch of winding curves high in the mountains, which has earned it a reputation as one of the most scenic and exciting roads in the world for driving enthusiasts and tourists in search of breathtaking scenery.

We had read that it was possible to see bears in the areas near the Transfăgărășan. This is because the Carpathian Mountains, where the Transfăgărărășan is located, are home to a population of European brown bears. And it seems that, faced with the destruction of their habitat, the bears are coming down more and more often to forage for food near the road. We saw a couple of them between Poenari and Vidraru. We would see two more later on.

(5 Km. away) Lake Vidraru: Lake Vidraru is an artificial reservoir created by the construction of the Vidraru Dam on the Argeș River and has become a major tourist attraction due to its scenic beauty and the surrounding natural environment. Lake Vidraru is situated in a stunning mountainous setting, surrounded by hills and lush Carpathian forests. The dam is located in a deep and narrow canyon, creating a spectacular landscape. The Vidraru Dam was built between 1960 and 1966 as part of a hydroelectric project to generate power and regulate the flow of the Argeș River. The waters of the lake are used for water sports such as boating, fishing and swimming, especially during the summer months.

(55 Km. away) Bâlea Lake: Shortly before crossing the tunnel of about one kilometre that crosses the summit of Transfăgărășan, we find the Capra waterfall. After crossing the tunnel, we see the Bâlea Lake. Lake Bâlea is a glacial mountain lake located in the Făgăraș Mountains, at an altitude of approximately 2,034 metres above sea level. We still see traces of snow around the lake. The place is full of souvenir shops and food stalls. Many excursions start from this point. One of them goes up to the Capra Lake. Another point of interest is the viewpoint overlooking the northern slope, where all the instagramers take pictures of the landscape where you can see the continuous curves of the road. Here you will find the upper station of the cable car that leaves from the car park of the Bâlea waterfall.

At the top we had the chance to taste "kurtoș", a type of traditional Transylvanian cake or sweet, known for its distinctive shape and method of baking over an open fire or in a rotating oven. The texture is similar to that of a sweet bread, with a crisp, caramelised exterior and a soft, tender interior. It is often flavoured with vanilla or other flavours. After lunch, we descend the northern slope of Transfăgărășan. This stretch of road is known for its scenic beauty, breathtaking scenery and steep, winding bends. The northern slope of the Transfăgărășan is surrounded by lush mountain vegetation, including coniferous forests and alpine meadows. On the way down from the summit to the car park of the hike to the Bâlea waterfall we saw another bear by the roadside. Halfway down the descent we find the car park from where the hike to the Bâlea waterfall starts (we didn't do it) and where the lower station of the cable car up to Bâlea Lake is located.

(82 Km. away) Sibiu: Sibiu is a charming and picturesque town located in the Transylvania region. The city was founded by Saxon settlers from Transylvania in the 12th century. In the 17th century it became the capital of Austro-Hungarian Transylvania and the political centre of the Germans in the province. It became part of Romania in 1918. Due to its ethnic diversity resulting from its turbulent history, the city has a varied architecture. Sibiu is famous for its beautifully preserved medieval architecture. The old town features cobbled streets, picturesque squares and historic buildings that reflect the city's rich history. We begin our tour of the city by crossing one of the well-preserved sections of its ancient medieval walls. Specifically, we do so next to one of the city's defensive towers, the Turnul Dulgherilor. The Main Square (Piața Mare) is the heart of Sibiu and is surrounded by colourful Baroque and Renaissance buildings. The buildings surrounding the Piața Mare are a testament to Sibiu's rich architectural heritage. In the square, you can admire a mixture of architectural styles, including baroque and renaissance, with ornate detailing and beautifully decorated facades.

On the east and south sides of the square are two- and three-storey houses with high attics and small windows, known as dormer windows or eyes of the city. They are so called because these windows look like eyes that are looking at you. Most of these houses date from the 17th and 19th centuries, mostly in the Baroque style. The iconic Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului) stands at one end of the Piața Mare and serves as a landmark and symbol of the city. This medieval octagonal tower used to be a watchtower and is now one of Sibiu's landmarks. We climbed the tower to enjoy the panoramic views of the square and the city. The Turnul Sfatului was built in the 14th century in a predominantly Gothic architectural style. The Turnul Sfatului had several functions throughout history. Originally, it functioned as a watchtower for the defence of the city. It was also used as a prison and as a storage place for weapons and supplies. One of the most notable features of the tower is its astronomical clock, which was added in the 16th century. The clock shows both the time and the phases of the moon and the positions of the planets as they move through the zodiac.

We continue our walk through Sibiu along the Piața Mică, also known as the Little Square. The Piața Mică is a quaint and cosy square that contrasts with the spaciousness of the Piața Mare. With its more intimate size and charming atmosphere, the square evokes a sense of calm and tranquillity. One of the most prominent buildings in Piața Mică is the Evangelical Church (Biserica Evanghelică). The main access to the lower part of the town is via Ocnei Street, which passes under the "Bridge of Lies" ("Podul Minciunilor"), the first wrought iron bridge on the present territory of Romania (1859). The Bridge of Lies has many legends surrounding its name. The most popular one says that the bridge will collapse when someone tells a lie while standing on it. The Bridge of Lies connects the Piața Mică (Little Square) with Huet Square. One of the focal points of Piața Huet is the Evangelical Cathedral of Sibiu (Biserica Evanghelică din Sibiu), an impressive Gothic church that stands majestically on one side of the square. The cathedral is an impressive example of Gothic architecture.

From Piața Huet we descend a flight of stairs to Sibiu's Lower Town (Cetatea de Jos), an extension of the old town with its narrow cobbled streets and winding alleyways. The Lower Town is also home to a variety of restaurants, cafes and shops. We stopped for refreshments at Aur's restaurant Butoiul (The Golden Barrel). We wanted to end our visit of Sibiu with the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, but it was already closed. The cathedral was built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a neo-Byzantine architectural style that evokes the grandeur of the ancient Orthodox churches. The exterior façade features bulbous domes and ornamental elements that give it a majestic and unique appearance. The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated with frescoes, icons and ornamental details. The walls and domes are adorned with elaborate designs depicting religious figures and biblical scenes. Of particular note is the iconostasis, a wall of icons that separates the main nave from the altar area.

(83 Km. away) Şeuşa: Although sleeping in Sibiu would have been a good option, we moved on a few kilometres so that we could be in Salina Turda early the next morning. We slept comfortably at the Pensiunea Casa din Vii, where we could relax in the swimming pool after a hard day. To end the day, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Secția 21 Dodo Home restaurant, a very, very recommendable place.