The GREATEST Driving Road in the World - Transfagarasan - Romania - Bears - 2024 4K views

Named "The GREATEST Driving Road in the World" by Top Gear, Transfagarasan is truly magnificent and amazing driving experience no matter what you drive.

The road climbs to an altitude of 2,042 metres (6,699 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 40 km/h (25 mph). 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 Cartisoara provide information.

The Transfăgărășan has more tunnels (a total of 5) 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 884 m (2,900 ft).

Along the southern section of the road, near the village of Arefu, is Poenari Castle. The castle was the residence of Vlad Tepes aka Vlad the Impaler, that lore says was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. However, stoker never stated that Tepes was the inspiration for Dracula and Stoker himself never visited România. The castle that Stoker used in his novel for illustration was Castelul Bran, the only castle in the region that remains intact. Castelul Bran

The northern section is used for annual cycling competitions, including the Tour of Romania, and the 22 km (14 mi) 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.

Appearance in Top Gear
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.