The King's Road, Transalpina

Also called the King's Road, Transalpina is the bridge between Oltenia and Transylvania, being also the highest road in Romania and in the entire Carpathian chain that can be crossed by car. It crosses the Parâng Mountains and is 120 km long, of which 30 km are at over 2,000 meters.

Centuries ago, this route was a precipitous path used by shepherds from Mărginimea Sibiului for the passage of their flocks of sheep to Oltenia, but also the path of pilgrimage for many Transylvanians socially persecuted, nationally and religiously by the Austro-Hungarian state, who crossed the mountains in Wallachia, settling in Gorj, Vâlcea, Argeş, known as Ungurens, i.e. shepherds, shepherds, sheep breeders. This explains the identity of the port, the customs and traditions of the populations on both sides of the Meridionali.

The Romans worked on the construction of this road in 104 AD. for the movement of their armies towards the capital of the Dacian state, Sarmisegetuza. During the First World War, it was paved by the German army, for military reasons. In 1933, it was rebuilt by King Carol II, hence the name Drumul Regelui, who was impressed by the beauty and wildness of the landscape through which the road passed. The inauguration of the road took place in 1935 at Poiana Sibiului.

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Transalpina starts from Jina, from where it descends for a distance of 7 km to Șugag. From here the climb begins. After a few kilometers you reach the Tau dam and then the Oașa dam. The Transalpina continues crossing the Oașa Dam on the left and then going to Obârsia Lotrului.

Also from the Oasa dam, on the right, you can go to the "Fetita" colony, where a monastery was built. From there, going up towards Sureanu, you pass through "Luncile Prigoanei", a place of sad memory for the locals, because here those who wanted to leave in the wild were punished, and you reach the Sureanu Cabana and Iezer, magnificently described by Lucian Blaga, in the "Chronicle and the Song of the Ages" writing.

The old Oașa cabin is now covered by the waters of the lake from the dam of the same name, as is the famous "crooked fir" of Mihail Sadoveanu.

From Obârsia Lotrului, located in a valley with a very beautiful opening, there are several possibilities: you can go to the left towards Brezoi, which is about 60 km away, passing by Lacul Vidra and then through the Voineasa resort, or to the right towards Petroșani, 35 km long.

However, to continue the King's Road, Transalpina DN 67C, you have to go forward towards Novaci.

In fact, it is only now that the most spectacular part of the Royal Road begins, the road through the alpine area, the real Transalpina. The serpentines line up one after the other, taking us to higher and higher places: Ștefanu, Cărbunele, Munținu, Urdele. Suddenly the mountain disappears, and in front lies the plateau near Vârful Cărbunele and Iezerul Munținu, from where you descend into Caldarea Urdele, to then climb to Pasul Urdele, the highest point of Transalpina 2145 m.

The road descends next to Vârful Păpușa in Rânca Resort and then to Novaci where the Transalpina ends.

Transalpina has never had a fixed opening or closing schedule, everything depends on the arrival and melting of the snow.

On the Obârsia Lotrului - Rânca section, the snow usually persists from November to June.