Transfăgărășan

The Transfăgărășan is a paved mountain road crossing the southern section of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. It has national-road ranking and is the second-highest paved road in the country after the Transalpina. The road, built in the early 1970s as a strategic military route, connects the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia. The road climbs to an altitude of 2,042 metres, making it the second highest mountain pass in Romania. It is a winding road, dotted with steep hairpin turns, long S-curves, and sharp descents. The road provides access to Bâlea Lake and Bâlea Waterfall, and is a great place to visit for hikers, cyclists, drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Along the southern section of the road, near the village of Arefu, is Poenari Castle, the residence of Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler