A route through the Transylvanian Alps , land of Count Dracula, allows you to discover the most beautiful and picturesque regions of Europe. Although its landscapes are legendary, it is a rarely visited area and, in general, quite quiet. Do you dare to discover it with us?
Route through the transylvanian alps
Brasov
Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania and also the one that is most full of legends, castles and beautiful natural corners. Republicii Street is one of the liveliest in the city. It is a pedestrian street full of bars, restaurants, shops and terraces where you can enjoy a good coffee or some traditional Romanian dish.
However, the most beautiful thing about this street are its colorful little houses. And this is not the only interesting street in the city because all those that make up the historic center are beautiful. We recommend walking through them calmly to get to know the Santa Catalina gate, the Orthodox church of San Nicolás, the Neologa synagogue or the Sforii strada , which is the narrowest street in all of Eastern Europe.
Then you can go to the Black Church , which is the largest Gothic church in Romania . It dates from the 14th century, but in 1689 a fire destroyed much of it. Inside there is a baroque organ with 4000 pipes.
The best views of the city are obtained from the medieval wall , especially from the White Tower and the Black Tower, or from Mount Tampa , which is about 960 meters high. The latter can be climbed on foot or by cable car.
The most famous castles
From Brasov you can go to Sinaia. This small but beautiful town is located right at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. The snow and the many interesting hiking routes have made this city quite a tourist spot. But, in addition, it is right here where you will find some famous castles , such as Peles and Pelisor, and the Sinaia monastery .
Also from Brasov you can go to the most famous castle in Romania, Bran Castle, known as Count Dracula’s castle . There is no evidence that Vlad Tepes, the royal character Bram Stoker was inspired by to create Count Dracula, lived in this castle. Still, visiting the castle is a real experience. An essential.
Sibiu
Between Sighisoara and Sibiu you can make a short stop in Biertran , a town that has one of the most spectacular fortified churches in the country .
Sibiu has a beautiful old town with three very beautiful squares, the Piata Mica, the Piata Mare and the Piata Huet. Touching the first is the famous Bridge of Lies , which has become a symbol of the city. One of the legends that revolves around him says that many lovers made false promises there, another says that if someone sits on the bridge and tells a lie, it will collapse.
From the tower of the Town Hall you can see the Piata Mica and the Piata Mare , which is the largest in Sibiu. It has also been, for centuries, the nerve center of the city. The third most important square, the Piata Huet , is surrounded by buildings from the 15th and 18th centuries, but the imposing Evangelical Cathedral is the one that usually draws all the attention for its tower almost 74 meters high.
In this beautiful city we also recommend visiting the Roman Catholic church, the Brukenthal museum, the Orthodox Metropolitan cathedral, the medieval walls and towers, the streets of the lower town and the Nicolae Balcescu strada , which is the most important street in Sibiu.
Sighisoara
Between Brasov and Sighisoara there are quite a few fortified churches , which would be religious constructions with a very strong defensive aspect. There are seven that were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO : Biertan, Calnic, Darjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor and Viscri.
Once in Sighisoara, a beautiful Transylvanian city that looks like something out of a princess tale, we recommend walking through its cobbled streets to get to know it. You should also enjoy its colorful houses, its towers and its many cafes. We believe that it is worth enjoying each of the corners of its historic center , which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO .
Fagaras Mountains
The Fagaras Mountains cannot be missed on this route through the Transylvanian Alps because they are the highest in the Southern Carpathians . Its highway, the Transfagarasan , which is the highest in Europe, is known as “the path of the clouds”. This part of the route will be for many the one that transmits the most magic, as it is the region of Transylvania that most inspires legends.
These mountains have a lot to discover and several different routes. We recommend three key points, Lake Vidraru , where there are some spectacular viewpoints; the castle of Poienari , which is located just at the end of the road; and the monastery of Curtea de Arges .
We believe that Poienari Castle is absolutely essential because it is the authentic castle of Count Dracula. It is located in the heart of the Carpathians, at more than 800 meters of altitude, and is a fortress that was built in the 13th century and was rebuilt by Vlad Tepes in the 15th century. It is reached via the famous Transfagarasan highway and is located about 25 km from Curtea de Arges. You also have to go into the forest and climb no more and no less than 1,482 steps.
There are three human figures impaled that welcome everyone who has dared to make this long journey. Today only a few remains of the castle remain, but you can freely walk through its walls and towers. Despite its deterioration, we believe that the castle is worth getting to. Of course, be very careful with bears.
This is our route through the Transylvanian Alps. Probably the starting and ending point is Bucharest , the capital and the best-known city of Romania . This is also where one of the main airports in the country is located. We recommend visiting it as well, as it is a city that never disappoints.
