The road climbs to an altitude 2,034 meters and has sharp hairpin turns that are both a challenge and source of excitement for hikers, cyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts alike. The most spectacular route is from the North where it’s the most winding dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. 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. Travellers can find food and lodging at several hotels or chalets (cabane) along the way.
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 prince who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula character. The northern section is used as a part of yearly cyclist competitions Tour of Romania. The difficulty of this section is considered to be very similar to Hors Categorie climbs in the Tour de France.
The Transfagarasan was constructed between 1970 and 1974 by the military forces. It came as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union. Nicolae Ceaușescu, the president of Romania, wanted to ensure quick military access across the mountains in the event the Soviets attempted a similar move into Romania. Consequently, the road was built at a high cost both financially and from a human standpoint—roughly 6 million kilograms of dynamite were used on the northern face, and the official records mention that about 40 soldiers lost their lives in building accidents.
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