3. Up in the mountains: a road to die for
Hey, Top Gear didn’t call the Transfagarasan the best road in the world for nothing.
Imagine the 93 miles of road literally built in the heart of the mountains, at 2034 meters of altitude. This means Transfagarasan.
Over 3 million of hard rocks exploded and over 20 tons of dynamite were used to make a dictator’s dream coming true.
It is said that over 40 people lost their lives between 1970 and 1974, during the construction process.
Still considered the most dramatic road in Romania, Transfagarasan is also the one providing the most spectacular landscapes within the Carpathians and the most challenging curves for bikers, hikers and drivers alike.
It has five tunnels, of which Balea Tunnel, near the highest point of the road, is the longest (884 m) and maybe the darkest tunnel in the country.
