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The route that connects people, places and cultures

Via Transilvanica

Path on the Via Transilvanica route
Via Transilvanica is a route of about 1000 kilometers from Putna (Suceava County) to Drobeta-Turnu Severin (Caraș-Severin County). The route encourages an in-depth exploration of Romania from one end to the other, and also opens a path to little-known areas in the country, but which are fully worth discovering. The route offers a lot to the curious traveler: wildlife, traditional villages, mountains, valleys, and arid areas, places more or less rich in cultural heritage. What's more, you can cover it in stages, in your own rhythm, and in your favorite company.
Via Transilvanica: traseul Terra Siculorum, 2020
Video: Tasuleasa Social

Some call the route Romania's El Camino. Some consider it a personal spiritual journey. Others see it as a physical challenge. The Via Transilvanica route calls for any explorer - hiker, cyclist, horse rider, or long-distance runner, experienced or beginner. Solo travelers, families with kids, or those forever in search of the toughest challenges - are all welcome on Via Tranilvanica.

The full route can take about 2-3 months, days off for resting and sightseeing included. Most of the legs can be covered in any season, with the appropriate equipment. Yet, to fully enjoy the beauty of nature (certain flower species for instance) you might want to be picky about the period. Don't hesitate to also use the route's official guide; all the given information has been tested by the core team.

Bucovina

The Bucovina leg on Via Transilvanica route is the most popular, for several reasons. The starting point of the route, Putna Monastery, is a landmark for Romanian spirituality, but also for religious pilgrimages. This leg takes you through a hotspot in local tourism, which attracts thousands of tourists annually, regardless of the period.

Long-Distance Hiking · Romania
Bucovina segment on Via Transilvanica trail
recommended route Difficulty Stage 1 Open
Distance 137.4 km
Duration 41:50 h
Ascent 4,453 m
Descent 4,106 m

The segment of the Via Transilvanica trail that covers the Bucovina region. It starts from Putna Monastery and ends at Tătaru. 137 km and 7 days of ...

from Iulian Gabor,   Asociația Tășuleasa Social

Bucovina is not only rich in fairytale landscapes but also strongly attached to traditional customs. Here, you can find folk craftsmen, admire the locals in their daily activities or hear dialects different from the Romanian one, given the proximity to Ukraine.

Highland

In the Highland segment, Via Transilvanica passes through Bistrița-Năsăud and Mureș counties. Germanic influences are already noticeable in the rural landscape, and nature descends slightly from the mountains to fertile hills rich with vineyards and orchards. In this less touristy area, you will notice the long and quiet villages, the kind people, the mansions of the Hungarian counts, and the nature reserves.

Long-Distance Hiking · Romania
Highland segment on Via Transilvanica trail
recommended route Difficulty Stage 2 Open
Distance 203 km
Duration 57:05 h
Ascent 4,656 m
Descent 5,001 m

The Highland segment starts at the boarder between Suceava and Bistrița-Năsăud counties and it takes 9 days of walking. It ends at Câmpul Cetății.

from Iulian Gabor,   Asociația Tășuleasa Social

Terra Siculorum

If you haven't traveled through the Szeklerland yet, the Terra Siculorum leg walks you through the must-see places here, so you don't miss anything the region has to offer: hilly nature, a culture rich in folklore elements, and delicious gastronomy.

You will learn what Hungarian hospitality means, and pass through lots of quaint Hungarian villages, with particular architectural features. Salt continues to be a very valuable resource in the land, not for commercial, but for tourism purposes.

recommended route Difficulty Stage 3 Open
Distance 156.4 km
Duration 43:25 h
Ascent 3,333 m
Descent 3,418 m

The route through Szeklerland starts at Câmpul Cetății, crosses the Sovata-Praid plains from where it continues over the hills of Transylvania, ...

from Iulian Gabor,   Asociația Tășuleasa Social

Terra Saxonum

The Terra Saxonum leg needs little introduction, since its covers a region invariably present in any tourist guide. Set in an unmistakable natural setting, the land of the Transylvanian fortified churches is a mixture of cultures and ethnicities, with a rich, but also tumultuous history, full of legends and stories.

The Via Transilvanica route passes here through the counties of Mureș and Sibiu, crossing the tourist micro-region Valea Târnavelor. Unlike the previous legs, here you will enjoy a richer tourist infrastructure, which includes many opportunities for outdoor activities that you can combine. The locals are famous for opening their doors to just about anyone.

Long-Distance Hiking · Transylvania
Terra Saxonum segment on Via Transilvanica trail
Difficulty Stage 4 Open
Distance 193.6 km
Duration 54:05 h
Ascent 4,083 m
Descent 4,248 m

Starting from Archita, Terra Saxonum segment is represented by the former saxon communities settled on the hills of Transylvania. It ends after ...

from Iulian Gabor,   Asociația Tășuleasa Social

Terra Dacica

The Terra Dacica segment has a major historical and cultural importance for Romanians. The nucleus of Dacian fortresses is located on this territory, while Alba Iulia is the so-called ”coronation city”.

Unlike on the other legs, here you will notice at least two golf clubs. Romania made no notable history in this sport, yet you could find many golf amateurs in the interbellum years. Here you'll come across the first golf course opened in Romania.

The route then takes you deeper into the heart of the Cioclovina Natural Park and barely touches the edge of the UNESCO Geopark Țara Hațegului. It is up to you to step off the official route for a bit, to explore other wonders of one of the wealthiest regions in Romania, in terms of natural and historical wonders.

Long-Distance Hiking · Romania
Via Transilvanica - Terra Dacica
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 5
Distance 277.5 km
Duration 77:40 h
Ascent 5,880 m
Descent 5,571 m

A Via Transilvanica segment steeming with rich history, legends of fantastic beasts, and natural reserves; a route overseen from a distance by the ...

from Sînziana Mihalache,   Outdooractive Editors

Terra Banatica

With Terra Banatica leg, Via Transilvanica passes through the enchanting mountainous Banat micro-region, a paradise for adventure tourism. One of the highlights of the segment is the plateau nearby Gărâna, where the acclaimed international jazz festival is being organized for over 20 years.

If you fully cover this leg, either on foot or by bike, you get the unique opportunity to cross, from north to south, the entire Semenic - Caraș Gorges National Park. Along the way lie a couple of enchanting natural attractions: caves, gorges, and even the Izvoarele Nerei protected area, part of the UNESCO Heritage. So expect heart-stopping natural landscapes along the way.

Long-Distance Hiking · Romania
Via Transilvanica - Terra Banatica
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 234.1 km
Duration 66:05 h
Ascent 4,048 m
Descent 4,425 m

The last but one leg of the Via Transilvanica route passes through the enchanting mountainous Banat micro-region, crossing the Semenic - Caraş ...

from Sînziana Mihalache,   Outdooractive Editors

Terra Romana

The last leg of Via Transilvanica is unique due to the natural landscape influenced by the Mediterranean climate of the area, but also due to the challenges encountered. The horned viper is one of the main enemies for hikers, so watch out where you set foot! Accommodation options are limited here, but solutions can be found.

On your way, you pass through the legendary land of Cloșani, rich in stories about treasures (still) hidden in inaccessible caves, but also through the now-famous isolated settlements above the Cerna Valley, that you can only reach after climbing a wooden stairs.

Difficulty Stage 7 Open
Distance 134.8 km
Duration 40:30 h
Ascent 3,329 m
Descent 3,535 m

Via Transilvanica has its last 135 km on the last part of Caraș-Severin County (starting from Crușovăț) and the rest on the territory of Mehedinți ...

from Iulian Gabor,   Asociația Tășuleasa Social

Traveler's booklet on Via Transilvanica

The booklet and a stamp
The booklet and a stamp
Photo: Complex Medieval Unglerus, com. Biertan, jud. Sibiu, CC BY, https://www.facebook.com/ComplexMedievalUnglerus

For each trekker, the booklet represents something else. It motivates some to reach their destination. For others, stamp collecting is like a treasure hunt that keeps their curiosity piqued until they see the stamp in their booklet. Some feel fulfilled when all the free spaces are stamped. Others, feel proud. And others can walk the road without a card.

Regardless of its role, the traveler's booklet symbolically marks the completion of various route stages. It doesn't offer cheaper meals or warmer accommodation. It fits discreetly into one of the backpack's small pockets and includes several pages with individual spaces for custom stamps representative of each stage.

Stamps can be collected from places mentioned in the traveler's guide. Stamp collection might actually hide a higher purpose: so that you, the trekker, have an extra reason to interact with members of the local community and get to know them.

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