2 Transalpina

From south to north, from Oltenia, from Novaci, a town in Gorj county, to Sebes, a town in
Alba county, in Transylvania, you will travel one of the most fascinating roads in Europe.
At 2145 m altitude you will feel close to the clouds, with everyone lying at your feet. From
the “roof of the Gorj county” you will see huge chasms on both sides, a view that will take
anyone's breath away.
The road then winds through the vast expanse of alpine meadows and among white rocks to
Obarsia Lotrului. The altitude drops by almost 800 m in a smooth descent, not at all steep.
On the Transalpina, the green of the grass and the blue of the sky seem to come together in a
splendid view, of amazing beauty, designed to give you a refreshing state of mind. The
adrenaline caused by the narrow serpentines, the fresh mountain air, the rustling of the forest
and the mountain ridges make this winding road the perfect destination for those who feel the
need to escape.
The King's Road is indeed a dream destination for driving enthusiasts. In terms of scenery, a
similar place to compare the Transalpina to would be New Zealand's Crown Range.
It is also an ideal road for cycling enthusiasts, as the road is in very good condition, which
connects excellent mountain bike trails of varying degrees of difficulty.
Along with Transfagarasan, Transalpina takes adrenaline to maximum heights for any driver.
Endless serpentines and steep in places make this road a favourite route of motor enthusiasts.
The motorized season starts in July with the “Transalpin” Mountain Sports Festival, a
competition that includes running on forestry roads and tourist trails, climbing, mountain
raid. In August, cyclists fully enjoy the adventure of pedalling at altitude in the “Transalpin
Bike Marathon”.
If you have the time necessary to deviate from the route, about 20 km from Obarsia Lotrului,
in the Vidra-Voineasa area, is the Transalpina Ski Resort. Recently built, it guarantees you 7
ski slopes with a total length of 9 km; it also has a chair lift, ski lifts and gondola lift.

There are glacial lakes in the Transalpina area, including Lake Galcescu, the largest glacial
lake in the Gorju area. It is 230 m long, 165 m wide and 3.2 ha in area. The maximum depth
is 10 m. It is at an altitude of 1,950 meters and is naturally populated with fish. The area
around the lake, declared a natural reserve, and Galcescu Glacial Lake are monuments of
nature.