Day 8 we leave early and we drive the Transfăgărășan: a bucket list road!!!

The Transfăgărășan Road (DN7C) is a rare beautiful and 90 kilometers long road in Romania. The Transfăgărășan runs through the Făgărăș Mountains of the same name and is the connection between Transylvania and Wallachia (with the cities of Sibiu and Pitesti). With the highest point of 2,134 meters, it is also one of the highest roads in Romania.

The Transfăgărășan Road has become a hype, you must have driven it and if there is a bucket list for the most beautiful road trips, it should definitely be in the top three. Thanks to the men of Top Gear, the road has been given an extra boost, because they named the road as the most beautiful road in the world. And they have a point, because the road is really incredibly beautiful. Depending on the time of year it can be foggy and cold, so keep that in mind.
The many hairpin bends are a real challenge for motorists and motorcyclists and the view is truly spectacular. It is a road that makes you quiet.
It was the former dictator Ceausescu who in 1970 ordered the construction of the Transfăgărășan Road with the aim of making a strategic link road through the mountains for the army for fear of the Russians. For its construction between 1970 and 1974, no less than 6,000 tons of dynamite was used to make a road between the high mountains.
When planning your trip, keep in mind that this road is closed in winter (October-April) and avoid weekends.

Along the route is also Poenari Castle, also known as Poenari Citadel. This is a castle ruin in Romania where Vlad the Impaler lived. The ruins of this historic fortress are located high on a mountain and can be reached via a staircase with 1480 steps. It is a brisk walk to the castle but well worth it.
The Castle of Poenari is one of the many castles in Transylvania that claim a link to Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. In many castles, that link to the ruler is questionable, but Poenari was indeed one of the most important fortresses of the dreaded Dracula. When the Turks captured the castle in 1462, Vlad escaped through a secret passage that led to the mountains.

Cathedral of the Monastery of Argeş. This is the most important place for pilgrims in the region. The monastery was founded between 1512 and 1517 and is best known for its role in the classic legend of Master Manole.

The church and associated buildings were restored and modified a number of times over the centuries and took on their present form in the second half of the 19th century. Restoration works were completed in 1885 and the church was consecrated in 1886. Inside you will find beautiful murals and ornate decorations.

The end point of the scenic drive is Bucharest, the capital of Romania, this city is dynamic, energetic and a lot of fun. Take at least one or two extra days to check out the very good museums, stroll through the parks and hang out in trendy cafes and parks.
While much of the center is modern and the buildings in various stages of disrepair, you'll find beautiful 17th- and 18th-century Orthodox churches and ornate Belle Époque villas tucked away in quiet corners. Communism has changed the face of the city forever, and nowhere is this more evident than in the gigantic Palace of Parliament, the largest (and arguably crudest) tribute to dictatorial megalomania you will ever see.