Transfagarasan - Balea Waterfall - Balea Lake

Day trips – Day tours – Brasov – Transylvania – Romania

Complex Transfagarasan Highway Day Trip

Transfagarasan Highway

The Transfagarasan national road has a total length of 151 km, from which 91 km is part of a mountainous road with incredible and terrifying hairpin turns that crosses the Făgăraș mountain, from the Argeș county, in the southern part of the country, towards Sibiu county, in the north. It is a strategic road, of civil and military importance, and its construction lasted only 4 years, from 1970 to 1974, being considered a masterpiece for its time, that connects Muntenia to Transilvania, two major historical areas of Romania. The maximum altitude of the road is 2042 meters. The road is depicted by numerous hairpin turns, viaducts and tunnels. The longest tunnel, Capra-Bâlea, measures 887 meters and its located in the area of the Bâlea glacial lake.The story of the road’s construction has been enriched by many legends. It is said that during the 4 years that the construction lasted there had died hundreds of soldiers and engineers, fact that has been brutally covered up by the communist authorities, declaring „officially” the death of only 44 soldiers. In the honor of those sacrificed, there has been build a memorial monument. The Transfăgărășan road has been built through the order of the last communist president, Nicolae Ceaușescu, that, fearing of a possible invasion of the soviet army, claimed the construction of the road as an alternative of retreat for the Romanian army. Through its 91 km of mountainous road the Transfagarasan astonishes all of its visitors.The incomparable spectacular scenery is matched by its wildness and dangerousness. This road is considered the most beautiful European mountainous road and its included in the top 10 most dangerous and picturesque mountainous roads in the world. Crossing unique landscapes, distinguished mountains, glacial lakes, artificial lakes, bridges, tunnels, viaducts, dams, the Transfagarasan road is a masterpiece of human engineering, a live testimony of the human power to control nature.

Balea Waterfall

Also known under the name of Cascada Urlătoarea Bâlea, the Howling Bâlea waterfall, it is situated at the altitude of 1200 meters and it is considered the longest cascade type waterfall from Romania, being part of the inferior level of the glacial circuit Bâlea. Bâlea waterfall is located in a spectacular area of Transfăgărășan road at a distance of 50-60 minutes from the Bâlea waterfall cabin, where tourists can also embark on the Bâlea cable car that leads towards the Bâlea lake cabin and the “ice hotel”, during winter time, when the Transfagarasan mountainous road is inaccessible by car.

Balea Lake

Bâlea lake is the place where the Transfagarasan road reaches its highest point, of 2042 meters, and where it’s crossed by the longest tunnel, of 887 meters. The depth of the glacial lake Bâlea is of 11 meters with a surface of a total width of 360 meters. During winter, the ice on the lake, having a thickness of 2 meters, is partially cut in the shape of square blocks that are used during the building of the famous ice hotel, that is always built after a different and intriguing architectural design that attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all around the world.Around the lake are placed cabins, the oldest dating back to 1901, where tourists can sleep, eat and can serve as a starting point for the mountain getaway enthusiasts. Bâlea lake has a special configuration, being located in an area distinguished by impressive and extensive surroundings. The locals entice the visitors with their traditional dishes, difficult to refuse. Also, due to the favorable ascending air currents, the Transfagarasan area and in particular, the area of the lake is considered to be an excellent take-off point for paragliding practitioners.

Capra, or “The Goat Waterfall”

Another spectacular waterfall, located on the Transfagarasan trail, is Capra waterfall. It is located in the southern part of Făgăraș mountain, coming from Argeș county, at an altitude of 1690 meters and a water fall of over 40 meters. Because of the high flow rate of the water, this waterfall almost never freezes. Situated only 5 km away from the Capra tunnel, the waterfall is easily accessible for visiting or for the photography enthusiasts. The area is well-known for the richness in wild fauna, serving as a living space for wolves and bears. Sometimes on the mountains there can be seen flocks of sheep, herds of horses or donkeys, and also herds of goats led by their shepherd alongside their dogs, that frequently spend as much as 3 months on this mountains’ peaks.

The Vidraru Dam

In 1960, when the construction of the dam began, Romania’s communist power had the intention of impressing Europe. The construction of the dam lasted for 5 years and in 1966 it was unveiled. At that time the Vidraru dam was considered the fourth in matters of size and amplitude from Europe. In its highest point the dam measures 166 meters and it is still considered one of the biggest achievements of the communist period. The dam is a tourist attraction, but also one of the favorite places of bungee-jumping enthusiasts. Vidraru lake, as a result of the dam’s construction, hides under its waters the sacrificed villages at the expense of the evolutionary progress. The lake has a length of 10,3 km, 893 acres, with a maximum depth of 155 meters and a width of 2,2 km. On the lake are organized ferry or boat rides. The lake is surrounded by numerous pensions and hotels, which offer a place to sleep or feast from the naturally grown trout in the waters of the storage lake Vidraru. On the road towards Brașov we will cross one last exceptional passage, incredible through its beauty, the millennial passage Rucăr-Bran, a route that was used in the multiple intrusions of our country’s invaders (Romans, Mongols, Hungarians, the Poles, Austrians, Turkish, Tatars, Francs, Russians, Germans, etc.) , also used as a place for pilgrimage or the practice of trade from the medieval period. This is also the place where in 1462 Vlad Țepeș (known under the name of Dracula) was arrested by Matei Corvin, to be later (as recounted by the legends) imprisoned at Bran castle. Join our Transfagarasan Complex Day Trip and enjoy the beautiful landscapes that this dam has to offer you!

Day trips – Day tours – Brasov – Transylvania – Romania

Complex Transfagarasan Highway Day Trip

Transfagarasan Highway

The Transfăgărășan national road has a total length of 151 km, from which 91 km is part of a mountainous road with incredible and terrifying hairpin turns that crosses the Făgăraș mountain, from the Argeș county, in the southern part of the country, towards Sibiu county, in the north. It is a strategic road, of civil and military importance, and its construction lasted only 4 years, from 1970 to 1974, being considered a masterpiece for its time, that connects Muntenia to Transilvania, two major historical areas of Romania. The maximum altitude of the road is 2042 meters. The road is depicted by numerous hairpin turns, viaducts and tunnels. The longest tunnel, Capra-Bâlea, measures 887 meters and its located in the area of the Bâlea glacial lake.The story of the road’s construction has been enriched by many legends. It is said that during the 4 years that the construction lasted there had died hundreds of soldiers and engineers, fact that has been brutally covered up by the communist authorities, declaring „officially” the death of only 44 soldiers. In the honor of those sacrificed, there has been build a memorial monument. The Transfăgărășan road has been built through the order of the last communist president, Nicolae Ceaușescu, that, fearing of a possible invasion of the soviet army, claimed the construction of the road as an alternative of retreat for the Romanian army. Through its 91 km of mountainous road the Transfăgărășan astonishes all of its visitors.The incomparable spectacular scenery is matched by its wildness and dangerousness. This road is considered the most beautiful European mountainous road and its included in the top 10 most dangerous and picturesque mountainous roads in the world. Crossing unique landscapes, distinguished mountains, glacial lakes, artificial lakes, bridges, tunnels, viaducts, dams, the Transfăgărășan road is a masterpiece of human engineering, a live testimony of the human power to control nature.

Balea Waterfall

Balea Lake

Bâlea lake is the place where the Transfăgărășan road reaches its highest point, of 2042 meters, and where it’s crossed by the longest tunnel, of 887 meters. The depth of the glacial lake Bâlea is of 11 meters with a surface of a total width of 360 meters. During winter, the ice on the lake, having a thickness of 2 meters, is partially cut in the shape of square blocks that are used during the building of the famous ice hotel, that is always built after a different and intriguing arhitectural design that attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all around the world.Around the lake are placed cabins, the oldest dating back to 1901, where tourists can sleep, eat and can serve as a starting point for the mountain getaway enthusiasts. Bâlea lake has a special configuration, being located in an area distinguished by impressive and extensive surroundings. The locals entice the visitors with their traditional dishes, difficult to refuse. Also, due to the favorable ascending air currents, the area is considered an excellent take-off point for paragliding practitioners.

Capra, or “The Goat Waterfall”

Another spectacular waterfall, located on the Transfăgărășan trail, is Capra waterfall. It is located in the southern part of Făgăraș mountain, coming from Argeș county, at an altitude of 1690 meters and a water fall of over 40 meters. Because of the high flow rate of the water, this waterfall almost never freezes. Situated only 5 km away from the Capra tunnel, the waterfall is easily accesible for visiting or for the photography enthusiasts. The area is well-known for the richness in wild fauna, serving as a living space for wolves and bears. Sometimes on the mountains there can be seen flocks of sheep, herds of horses or donkeys, and also herds of goats led by their sheperd alongside their dogs, that frequently spend as much as 3 months on this mountains’ peaks.

The Vidraru Dam

Poienari Fortress

It is placed on the highest cliff around Arges at 850 meters, surrounded by a spectacular landscape and, in order to get here, you will have to climb up the 1480 steps. The first documents mentioning the Poienari Fortress are from the 14th Century, when it was only a surveillance tower. In 1457 Dracula used the unfaithful landowners to rebuild it. On Easter Day he trapped them at the religious service in the church and forced them to walk to Poienari. Once there, he raised his sword toward the old fortress ruins and ordered them to repair and consolidate it in 1 week.
It’s hard to believe this can be the truth, but the legend says that the people preferred hard work instead of being impaled. Lots of them had lost their lives there as they had to climb the steep hill, but they finished the construction in 1 week, as ordered. All those alive were forgiven by Vlad Tepes because he decided they had learned their lesson. There are more legends about this place and Dracula but you’ll hear them all on this tour.

Royal Court Arges

It is the oldest church in Wallachia where the former Royal family of Romania is buried. All the Wallachian kings took a special interest in this monastery as there’s a legend behind the construction of this Church. Everything that used to be built back in the the days was crumbling overnight until the chief of the builders “Manole” had a dream. God appeared in the dream and told him that they need to build a woman within the walls of the church so it wouldn’t crumble anymore. Find out what they did and how they finished the construction of the church on this tour.