If you’re looking for a cycling tour in Transylvania, you might like our 6 day itinerary starting and ending around the beautiful city of Brasov, in Romania.
Area: South-East Transylvania
Level rate: Moderate
Objectives: Medieval fortified strongholds of Râşnov, Feldioara, Rupea, Viscri, Apold. Medieval town of Sighişoara, Braşov historic center.
Accommodation: based on tents and guest-houses in rural Romania.
Guiding: English speaking, all over the tour
Who can attend: Anyone aged between 12 and 92. The only condition is to be able to ride a bike.
This cycling tour in Transylvania takes you back in time, in the medieval era.
You’ll not only learn about middle-ages history, while visiting castles, strongholds and fortifications of XIII-th – XV-th century, but also discover traditions, lifestyle and relax in the middle of a relaxing landscape.
Cycling in Romania
This cycling tour in Transylvania takes you back in time, in the medieval era.
You’ll not only learn about middle-ages history, while visiting castles, strongholds and fortifications of XIII-th – XV-th century, but also discover traditions, lifestyle and relax in the middle of a relaxing landscape.
ITINERARY
DAY 1. Transfer by train/car from Bucharest to Predeal Mountain Resort
Cycling Predeal – Bran – Moeciu (30 Km)
Your cycling adventure in Romania starts in Predeal, a mountain resort famous for the ski facilities but also for being placed among four mountains: Bucegi, Baiului, Postăvaru and Piatra Mare.
From Predeal center, you descend quickly up to the road going to Pârâul Rece. You reach this one in about 15 minutes of continuous descending. Here, turn right and start climbing on the asphalted road through the fir-tree forest. The ascend is easy at the beginning, becoming more difficult for the final mile (one and a half km). A well-deserved pause at Pârâul Rece chalet, for a drink and relaxing, after which you continue down the serpentines towards Râşnov (9 km). Once in Râşnov you have passed from Wallachia to Transylvania, the welcoming land of your cycling trip. You have to be careful on the curves, but the road is nice, offering, in it’s final part, a nice perspective over Postăvaru Mountains.
From Cheia Hut (on the right), where the serpentine finishes, you follow the same road (still easily descending) for another 2 km up to the when reaching the Braşov – Bran road. Here you turn left for Bran. (Bran Castle is better-known as Dracula Castle, although, in respect to the historic truth it can barely be connected with Vlad Ţepes, from whom the legend of Dracula came. Despite this, Bran is a very nice and well preserved medieval castle, used by the people in Brașov Town to defend the territory and also as a border point.
There are another 5 km form the crossing point up to the Bran Castle. From Bran, there are another 10 km up to Moeciu, where you stay for the night.
Accommodation near Moeciu Village (also inside the village is weather conditions require)
- Cycling time : 4 hours;
- Level rating: easy – moderate
- Objectives : Bran Castle, the road in the fir-tree forest, nice view over Bucegi Mountains, and from Bran, over Piatra Craiului Mountains and the surrounding areas.
DAY 2. Cycling in Bârsa county
Moeciu – Bran – Râşnov – Braşov City
In the morning, come back to Bran, this time without stopping by. You’ll continue directly to Râşnov following the same road, this time towards Braşov City. You reach Râşnov in about 25 km and then climb up to the citadel on top of the hill. The Râşnov Fortress is a XIV century peasants’ fortification, built in order to defend the villagers in the surrounding depressions. It’s one of the best preserved strongholds in Transylvania and in Eastern Europe. To reach the citadel from the village a short but steep road must be followed.
The visit to Râşnov will take about two hours. Descending from the citadel you continue to Braşov, reaching the city after another hour of easy cycling. Go visit the main square, where the Black Church is the main attraction. This gothic cathedral hosts the biggest pipe organ in Eastern Europe.
Not far away from the Black Church you meet the rope’s street (Strada Sforii), the narrowest street in Europe, about 1 meter wide. In Scheii Brasovului you find St. Nicholas Church, with the first Romanian school.
- Cycling time : 4 hours;
- Level rating: moderate
- Objectives : Râşnov medieval stronghold, Braşov City, the view over Bucegi mountains and Bârsa County.
Accommodation in Braşov, *** guest-house / camping Dârste.
DAY 3. Cycling in Braşov Area, looking for fortified churches
Cycling in Transylvania: Braşov – Feldioara – Hoghiz/Dopca /Rupea (65 km)
From Brasov, head right on the E60 or on a county road, up to Feldioara, the where the ruins another fortified church are to be seen. The view from the ruins goes far away over the Transylvanian plateau. Feldioara’s name in Magyar is Marienburg, the same as the city in Poland founded by the Teutonic knights. In fact Feldioara itself was built by Teutonic knights (XIV-th century). From Feldioara, continue on the slightly hilly road up to Rupea. In Rupea, a short demanding climb on a tractor road have to be followed to reach the fortress.
Optional: A longer trip will also pass by Prejmer, another nice stronghold in South-Eastern Transylvania.
- Cycling time : 5-6 hours;
- Level rating: moderate
- Objectives : Feldioara fortress ruins, Rupea Fortress,
Accommodation : Pitching the tents in Rupea area. Depending on your physical shape and the weather you can also choose to stay in a guest-house in Dopca or Hoghiz.
DAY 4. Heading for Sighisoara Medieval Town
Cycling day: Rupea – Sighişoara (50 km)
The trip follows the main road for a while, passing by Transylvania’s villages and reaching Sighişoara by the end of the day.
Sighişoara is an outstanding testimony to the culture of the Transylvanian Saxons, a culture that is coming to a close after 850 years and will continue to exist only through its architectural and urban monuments.
Sighişoara is the only medieval citadel in Europe still inhabited (life goes on here like nothing has changed in the last four centuries). In the meantime Sighişoara is the place where Vlad Ţepes (a.k.a Dracula) was born.
Accommodation: *** guest-house in Sighişoara
- Cycling time : 5-6 hours;
- Level rating: moderate
- Objectives : Rupea Fortress, Sighişoara Medieval Town, part of UNESCO world heritage.
DAY 5. Leaving Sighişoara, heading for Făgăraş
Sighişoara – Apold – Soarş – Făgăraş (60 km)
Leaving Sighişoara, heading south toward Apold fortress
Terrain is again slightly hilly, going up and down for easy pants.
- Cycling time: 4 – 5 hours;
- Level rating: moderate
- Objectives: Apold, Şoarş pe Târnave medieval fortresses. Făgăraş fortress
Accommodation in Făgăraş, or pitching the tents on the surrounding hills / in a nearby village.
DAY 6. Făgăraş – Braşov (70 Km)
During the last day of our trip, we head towards Braşov, heaving a beautiful view of Făgăraş mountains.
- Cycling time : ~5 hours;
- Level rating: moderate
- Objectives : The view over Făgăraş Mountains and the sub-Carpathian hills
From Braşov, take the train back to Bucharest. On demand, we can provide the transfer by car.
For prices and other details about this tour, please contact us.
For more outdoor activities in Brasov, check out our bear watching tours.
