Transfăgărășan

The Transfăgărășan was constructed between 1970 and 1974 during the rule of Nicolae Ceaușescu as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union.{{cite news |last=Stancu |first=Cristina |date=19 February 2015 |title=Cum s-a construit Transfăgărășanul, cel mai frumos drum din lume și moftul anti-URSS al lui Ceaușescu |trans-title=How the Transfăgărășan, the most beautiful road in the world and a caprice of anti-Soviet Ceaușescu, was built |url=http://adevarul.ro/locale/pitesti/cum-s-a-construit-transfagarasanul-mai-frumos-drum-lume-moftul-anti-urss-ceausescu-secretele-unui-proiect-fabulos-imposibil-repetat-1_54e5c0b3448e03c0fdc54522/index.html |language=Romanian |newspaper=Adevărul |location=Bucharest |access-date=19 February 2015}} 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.

File:Transfagarasan.jpg

Built mainly by military forces, the road had a high financial and human cost. Work was carried out in an alpine climate, at an elevation of {{convert|2000|m|ft}}, using roughly {{convert|6000000|kg|ton|spell=in}} of dynamite, and employing junior military personnel who were untrained in blasting techniques. Many workers died; official records state that only 40 soldiers lost their lives, but unofficial estimates by workers put the number in the hundreds.

The road was officially opened on 20 September 1974, although work, particularly paving of the roadbed, continued until 1980.

The road climbs to an altitude of {{convert|2042|m|ft}}, making it the second highest mountain pass in Romania after the Transalpina. It is a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. It is both an attraction and a challenge for hikers, cyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Due to the topography, the average speed is around {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. 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 until as late as November, or may close even in the summer; signs at the town of Curtea de Argeș and the village of Cârțișoara provide information.

The Transfăgărășan has more tunnels (a total of 5){{cite web |title=Prezentarea generala a retelei de drumuri |trans-title=General view of the road network |url=http://www.cnadnr.ro/pagina.php?idg=20 |language=Romanian |website=CNADNR.ro |publisher=Ministerul Transporturilor și Infrastructurii |access-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211132511/http://www.cnadnr.ro/pagina.php?idg=20 |archivedate=11 February 2010 }} 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 {{convert|884|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

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 [https://bran-castle.com/ 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 {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} 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.

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," a title the presenters had previously given to the Stelvio Pass in Italy.

The road has also been dubbed "Ceaușescu's Folly".{{cite news |last=Markowitz |first=Andy |title=Ceausescu's folly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2005/apr/23/romania.guardiansaturdaytravelsection |date=23 April 2005 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=30 November 2013}}

{{Cleanup gallery|date=September 2018}}

File:Transfagarasan-north.JPG|Northern part of the road, seen from the pass

File:Transfagarasan in 1974.jpg|Transfăgărășan in 1974

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

File:Transfagarasan, Arges.jpg|Viaduct

File:Wide view over the northern Transfagarasan.jpg

File:Transfagarasan road with Bilea Lake.jpg|Aerial view of Transfăgărășan and Bâlea Lake

File:BaleaLac4.jpg|Bâlea Lake

File:Brown bears on Transfăgărășan roadside.jpg|Brown bears roaming Transfăgărășan

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

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Transfăgărășan}}

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• Map sources for the summit: {{coord|45.5981|24.6165|display=inline,title}}
• [http://sabin.ro/gallery/album72 Transfăgărășan Photo Gallery]
• [http://www.missionredpla.net/motoblog/2012/07/08/riding-the-best-road-in-the-world-mission-red-planet/ Riding a Motorcycle on the Transfagarasan]
• [https://romaniawow.com/transfagarasan-road-cistercians-fairies/ Transfagarasan Road]

{{Roads in Romania}}

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Category:Roads in Romania

Category:Sibiu County

Category:Argeș County

Category:Mountain passes of Romania