THIS is the breathtaking road trip route dubbed the “world’s best” road by Top Gear legend Jeremy Clarkson.
The Transfagarasan Highway in rural Romania winds through almost 100 miles of rocky landscape, connecting the city of Piesti with the town of Sibiu.
GettyThe Transfagarasan Highway stretches across around 100 miles or rural Romania[/caption]
GettyIt has been praised as one of the ‘world’s best roads’ by Jeremy Clarkson[/caption]
The road bridges the Carpathian Mountains and has drawn comparisons with Italy’s Stelvio Pass, widely regarded as one of the best places on Earth to drive.
Clarkson heaped praise on the Tranfagarasan during a trip through the country with co-stars James May and Richard Hammond.
He said: “From above it looks as if someone has used every great curve in every great track in the world to craft the perfect track: an unbroken grey ribbon of motoring perfection.”
Set at more than 6,600ft above sea level, the route is crammed with tight hairpins, swooping curves and sharp drops.
As a result, it’s not one for those lacking confidence behind the wheel to take on.
But regularly road trippers could hope for little better out of their journey.
The highway was built in the early ’70s under the communist dictatorship of Nicolae Ceausescu.
It was designed to ensure that soldiers and military vehicles could travel quickly across the mountains in the wake of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968.
Largely built by the Romanian army, it is estimated that hundreds of workers died during its construction.
Today, though, it is a far cry from those dark days, taking in some of the most scenic regions of an often underappreciated European beauty spot.
Tourists can stop off along the way to enjoy mountain hikes, kayak on the area’s crystal clear lakes or tuck into lunch at a cosy cabin restaurant.
There are also any number of hotels and campsites around the villages along the Transfagarasan if you wish to break up the roughly three-hour journey.
Prospective visitors should just note that the road can become quite busy in the summer, especially as treacherous weather means it’s closed in the winter.
Make sure your brakes are in good working order and plan a trip between June and September as a rule of thumb.
Also make sure to wrap up warm, as the altitude means temperatures stay down and snow still caps the mountains well into the Spring.
On the bright side, those looking to make the trip will be pleased to know that it’s only a three-hour flight from the UK.
Direct flights are available from London Luton to Sibiu International Airport for as little as £31 each way.
That’s a pretty good deal considering that a train from London to Manchester can cost upwards of £70 and take just as long.
AFPHe and Top Gear co-stars James May and Richard Hammond drove the route as part of a trip through the country for the BBC show[/caption]
GettyTourists can hike in the mountains or kayak on crystal clear lakes along the way[/caption]
GettyUnfortunately, the weather means it’s only open in the summer[/caption]