TRANSFAGARASAN(FAGARAS MOUNTAIN)

Transfăgărăşanul (trans + făgăraş) sau DN7C este unul din cele mai spectaculoase drumuri din România. Drumul leagă regiunea istorică a Transilvaniei de Muntenia. Drumul a fost construit să treacă peste Munţii Făgăraş, cel mai înalt lanţ muntos din munţii României, care face parte din Carpaţii Meridionali.



Drumul urcă până la altitudinea de aproape 2.000 metri; drumul în trepte foloseşte serpentine pentru a urca fiind o provocare pentru orice maşină; datorită serpentinelor şi drumului în rampă viteza de rulare este de 40 km/h. Drumul este închis de la sfărşitul lunii Octombrie până în luna Iunie datorită zăpezii care acoperă drumul.
Acest drum are mai multe tunele şi viaducte decât oricare alt drum din România; în apropiere de cel mai înalt punct al ascensiuni, la Bâlea Lac drumul trece prin cel mai lung tunel din România (aproape 1.000 m).



TRANSFAGARASAN



La route Transfăgăraşan est une route de Roumanie traversant les Carpates entre Curtea de Argeş et près de Făgăraş (environ 100km de long). C'est l'une des plus hautes routes et la plus haute route bitumée de Roumanie (un peu moins de 2000 m d'altitude). Elle traverse les monts Făgăraş, d'où son nom.
Elle a été construite pendant la période où Nicolae Ceausescu était au pouvoir.Elle est bloquée par la neige généralement entre mi-Octobre et mi-Juin.




TRANSFAGARASAN




Built as a strategic military route, The Transfăgărăşan (trans + Făgăraş) or DN7C is the highest and most dramatic paved road in Romania. It runs north to south across the tallest sections of the Carpathians, between the highest peak in the country, Moldoveanu, and the second highest, Negoiu. The road connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, and the cities of Sibiu and Piteşti.
The road was constructed between 1970 and 1974, during the reign of Nicolae Ceauşescu. It came as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union. Ceausescu wanted to insure quick military access across the mountains in the event the Soviets attempted a similar move into Romania. Consequently, the road was built mainly with military forces, at a high cost both financially and from a human standpoint—roughly 6 million kilograms of dynamite were used on the northern face, and about 40 soldiers lost their lives in building accidents.



The road climbs to 2,034 m of altitude. The most spectacular route is from the north. It is a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. The Transfagarasan is both an attraction and a challenge for hikers, bicyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts alike. Due to the topography, the average speed is around 40 km/h. The road also provides access to Bâlea Lake and Bâlea Waterfall.



The road is usually closed from late October until late June because of snow. Depending on the weather, it may remain open as late as November. It also may be closed at other times because of weather conditions (occasionally it snows even in August). There is a sign at the town of Curtea de Argeş that provides information on passage. The traveler can find food and lodging at several hotels or chalets (cabane) along the way.




It has more tunnels (a total of 5) and viaducts than any other road in Romania; in the vicinity of the highest point, at Bâlea Lake, the road passes through the longest road tunnel in Romania (884 m).
Among the attractions along the southern section of the road, near the village of Arefu, is the Poienari fortress. The castle served as the residence of Vlad III the Impaler, the king who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula character. There is a parking area and a path to the ruins.