DN 67C - „King's Road” between clouds and legends
The Transalpina, officially known as DN 67C, is the highest road in Romania, reaching a maximum altitude of 2,145 metres in the Urdele Pass. Nicknamed the „King's Road”, it crosses the Parâng Mountains from south to north, linking Novaci in Gorj county with Sebeș in Alba county. The spectacle of the dizzying serpentines and alpine panoramas make travelling along this route an unforgettable experience.
The origins of the road are ancient, the first footpaths having been traced by the Roman legions on their way to Sarmizegetusa. In the inter-war period, under the reign of King Charles II, the road was rebuilt and inaugurated in 1938, hence the name „King's Road”. The King himself travelled the route in a vintage car with the royal family.
After decades of degradation, the Transalpina has been modernised and fully asphalted since 2009. Although a modern road, the Transalpina retains its wilderness character, offering the unique sensation of driving above the clouds.
Travelling along the Transalpine offers tourists the chance to admire the layers of mountain vegetation, from dense deciduous and coniferous forests to alpine meadows dominated by juniper. The area's wildlife is diverse, with lucky travellers spotting black goats on the steep slopes or marmots in the higher areas.
The local tradition says that the road was originally ploughed by the „potecașii” from Novaci, shepherds who used to cross their flocks over the mountain to the pastures of Transylvania. It is believed that on nights with a full moon, on the crests of the Urdele Pass, you can still hear the whistles of the shepherds of yesteryear, the mountain's guardian spirits.
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