Transylvanian Fortifications Route

Our first day is the “get together” day in Bucharest and transfer to Brasov. On the way we will have a short stop in Sinaia for lunch and visit the historical Peles Castle – the former royal summer residence.

Time to check our bikes, visit the city of Brasov, meet the local cuisine

Overnight in Brasov or Sanpetru.
Meals: lunch on the way, dinner in Brasov.

After breakfast we are leaving Brasov by bike, following a quiet road along the villages. We will have picnic lunch on the way, then continue the route to Varghis area, where few manors and historical houses which survived the communist era are renovated and transformed into guesthouses with high level of comfort. We will accommodate one of them and visit few historical places and a local blacksmith – an artisan which is still using traditional methods for creating unique pieces of art from iron.

Overnight in a historical manor or traditional guesthouse.
Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
Total bike distance: ~60 km on asphalt and gravel road. Rolling hills.

After our breakfast we will leave our hosts for a wild route along Olt River. After 24 km on gravel road we will visit the most recent volcano in Romania – Racos. Here we can still see the remains of the volcano, the “emerald lake” and the basalt columns made from the lava of volcano. We are continuing our route and have lunch at the base of a former military fortress during the middle age in Rupea. In the afternoon we will reach Viscri – the success story of Transylvania, a village who managed to survive the communism era and not is totally transformed into a touristic site. The whole site and the fortified church are included in the UNESCO World Heritage, and Prince Charles of Wales is the owner of a house in this village. The locals are promoting the traditional crafts, the local cuisine and the natural landscape of the place – as it is one of the last European areas where the traditions are still maintained. We will accommodate the local houses, visit the bricklayer and the fortified church, and then have a well-deserved dinner in the yard of a local house.

Overnight in one of the local guesthouses in the village.
Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
Total bike distance: 70 km on gravel, then asphalted road. Rolling hills.

We will start in the morning our ride following the “Transylvanian hills cycling route”. Keen cyclists can do the whole route from Viscri to Sighisoara, but we can also perform a second option – from Viscri to Bunesti, then Crit, Cloasterf and Saschiz. From Saschiz we will be transferred to Sighisoara by car.

Depending our arrival in Sighisoara we can have a short visit in the citadel before dinner

Overnight in Sighisoara, in the old city center. Dinner on your own.
Meals: breakfast and lunch.

Today we are experiencing two different emotions: a new project in a small village, where foreign students are trying to bring back to life the village of Movile; then, experience a middle age fortified city which is still inhabited, one of our architectural jewelry – Sighisoara, part of UNESCO World Heritage.

On our way we will cross “the center of the country”, close to Dealu Frumos village.

The total ride is 75 km, out of which 10 km off road, just before Movile village.

In Movile we will have the lunch organized by the locals. After lunch we can visit the curious landscape of Movile (100 hils).

In the afternoon we will arrive in Carta – once an important place due its Cistercian Monastery – currently in ruin, but still to be visited. We are accommodating the old parish house, near Olt River.

Overnight in Carta, near the old monastery. Dinner organized by our hosts.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

From Carta to Sibiu we have 45 km along Olt River. Our route is parallel with Fagaras Mountains, a spectacular view of this beautiful mountain chain. The climb from Olt River to Cornatel village is also spectacular, offering the chance to admire the river from above. Then we are descending to Sibiu, the former European Cultural Capital, back in 2007. We will visit this beautiful city and have a memorable farewell dinner in the city center.

Picnic lunch on the way.

Overnight in Sibiu. Farewell dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast it is time to say goodbye.

Optional – Transfer by car from Sibiu to Bucharest.
Meals: breakfast