Wonderland? or just awesome The Transfagarasan Road and Balea Lake in Romania 
Romania is a picturesque country with fantastic views and distinctive green hues of the mountains in summer. Romania boasts not only of the ancient and interesting architecture, but also of a special beauty of its nature. This we have seen with our own eyes. What you should necessarily visit in Romania without a moment’s hesitation is a mountainous Transfagarasan road that will take you to an incredible Balea Lake at an altitude of 2034 m, and then to a sinister and beautiful place – Vidraru Dam.
Let us start with the Transfagarasan road. This is a high-mountain highway of 160 km in length, which crosses the Fagaras mountain range. Its highest point is 2034 m, where the picturesque Balea Lake is located (we will tell about it below). The Transfagarasan road is one of the most dangerous and the most amazing roads worldwide! And it’s true!
High Romanian Carpathian Mountains are covered with snow and mighty cliffs. On your way you can very often come across the tunnels, retaining walls and shelters from avalanches. There may actually be a danger of avalanches and strong flows of water. Therefore, the Transfagarasan road is open only from July to September, and only during daylight. At the entrance we saw a sign: Access permitted from 8 AM to 8 PM (or 9 PM possibly). The road is blocked with concrete slabs during other time of the day.
Here are the streams of water flowing from the protective structures, under which cars are passing.
At the beginning of the road you can come to see a giant waterfall. But we had more fun watching it from the top. In the photo below, you can see a narrow strip of waterfall between the mountains.
It was only the beginning, and we have already stopped many times to take pictures of surrounding beauty. We haven’t probably seen such saturated shades of green yet. Such a harmony and space. And a small farm with pigs that graze there; and a cottage for the owner.
You can see and feel water everywhere: the river flows, small and big streams from the mountains, waterfalls, springs, from which you can take healing water.
Happy cows.
Some information about the Transfagarasan road. It was planned to be built in 1967. Then these were just plans, as the country’s budget was spent on another huge facility – Vadraru Dam, which we also visited on our way. The road had to connect Transylvania and southern Romania, which are separated by a high mountain range. In addition, the then ruler Cheushesku planned this road as a strategic object – the rapid advance of the Romanian army in case of war. And the third reason – is a tourist destination for ski holidays and visiting Balea Lake.
The road was built by the military. It was all very strict and disciplined, safety procedures were declared to all in the morning and in the evening. After all, people opted for this work in majority of cases for high salary; they were not restrained by the fact that this work is super difficult and can cost their lives. During the time of construction workers blasted out numerous rocks and took away tons of stone; large-scale blasting and construction works took place. First, they built a one lane road. Later, they built cable cars, which, by the way, can now take you to Baleo Lake when the roads for cars are closed.
We were lucky to pass this way in July, right when the road is open.
After opening the Transfagarasan road in 1974, it was improved a few years after that. And then the Romanian leadership decided to grant the road a status of the national road, which required remaking it from one to two lanes.
The temperature here is at least twice as cold as at the entrance to the road. We started from Sibiu with temperature of 20 degrees in the morning, and as we were ascending several degrees dropped and we reached 10 degrees above zero.
Here’s the road in all its glory. This is unparalleled creation of nature and human hands. Here the maximum permitted speed is 50 km/h, because of the very steep turns.
Danger attracts adrenaline lovers. There you can still come across the racers. Especially after release of the world’s most popular program Top Gear, where Jeremy Clarkson said that Transfagarasan – is one of the most beautiful and indeed most dangerous roads.
You can see snow here even in July.
You can admire this work of art for a long time, especially in pictures. Alive – if dressed warm or from the car windows. It’s very cold to walk out in the mountains at 10 degrees after a hot city.
Numerous bridges across the streams of water, drainage ditches on all sides. It’s really dangerous here in spring, as soon as snow starts melting on the mountain tops.
The mountains draw clouds as well. They were moving quickly, so the sun came out and lit that beauty around. Unmatched impressions from the Transfagarasan road. And still a lot of interesting things to come.
Walking up the road to a height of 2,034 meters, you can enjoy a picturesque Baleo Lake, which is 11 m in depth. The lake is small: 360×240 m. It’s surrounded by mountains on all sides, which sometimes are not visible when the clouds come down to the very water.
It’s so beautiful here. It’s good that the entire infrastructure is hidden behind the hill. There are only two hotels near the lake. There are parking lots and souvenir markets with national products and different things.
Such a bright green environment and cold are very refreshing.
The fog came down to the very bottom at the end, in addition some sun rays penetrated as well. The weather is changing rapidly. Fantastic place.
Since the lake is located on the very top of the Fagaras Mountain, you need to go down again by a spiral road. Right behind the lake you need to drive the longest 880 m long tunnel. This is even higher point, of 2,042 meters in height. This tunnel passes through the Fagaras mountain massif. 20 tons of explosives were used to build it. And this very tunnel connects the two parts of Romania. And then no less beautiful scenery, crystal clear water, which we took into the bottles.
After driving 50 km from the Balea Lake, while traveling along the entire perimeter of a giant Vidraru Lake of 870 hectares in the area and 500 m3 of water in volume, we drove to another large-scale creation of Romanians – Vidraru Dam. When you see on the map how much water is in the lake – it becomes scary how the dam can hold it all.
The Vidraru Dam was constructed in 1965, where the Arges River starts.The height of the dam is 166 m, its thickness is 25 m, and length – 305 m. Due to this dam a 28 km long Vidraru lake was artificially created. A PGP and underground tunnels are located at the depth of 104 m.
It’s really spine-chilling to stand on this dam: on the one hand there’s a steep, while on the other – tons of water. This dam was built without money constraints and the best technology was used. Thus no changes or repairs were done to this day, after the warranty during construction was given for 60 years. All Romanian officials were proud of this facility, especially in the eyes of other countries. Even now your breath is taken away here.
They say that even jumping is offered here, but we haven’t seen.
The Vidraru Dam is one of the largest in Europe and throughout the world. It was interesting to go there, and we recommend it to anyone who will visit Romania!
And in the bottom, not far from the dam, villages are located. Just imagine if one day this dam will not survive the entire weight of water… But this wouldn’t happen. This dam can withstand even the 8 point earthquake.
It’s only sad that at the depth of 150 meters two settlements disappeared, and people were resettled during the construction of this man-made lake. And the landscape of the mountain range has also changed.
We had unforgettable impressions and admired the power of nature and people. The entire distance is crossed very easily, since you are overwhelmed with impressions and want to stop very often to take pictures of all the beauty on the way. Words cannot convey all the charm – it’s worth coming here to feel and see everything on your own. Just keep in mind the season and time of day when you can pass. Otherwise, concrete slabs will be waiting for you in the middle of the road. Romania impressed us not only with its nature, but also with the old towns of outstanding beauty and people’s love to all the attractions, which they managed to preserve so well.
Top best places to visit in Balkans
Awesome 5 months trip and 12 Balkans countries
How to get discounts on accommodation via Airbnb (coupons 10 euros)
With love, RH.
We would love to hear what you have to say. Follow our online Diary in Instagram, you’ll like it !
Did you love this? Sign up to receive exclusive tips like these!
We would love to hear what you have to say. Follow our online Diary in Instagram, you’ll like it !
Did you love this? Sign up to receive exclusive tips like these!
