T06 Mountains and Monasteries

Day 1:

This route proposes a tour in the northeastern part of Transylvania and northern Bucovina sprinkled with many mountainous landscapes and some famous monasteries.

We will leave from the center of the country, from Sighisoara towards northwest, to Târgu-Mureș. The road here is quite pleasant, especially the first part which is quite curvy. All the way to Reghin the road is about the same. Then on the section between Reghin and Bistrita you will have an almost perfect asphalt, low traffic and some very fun segments: many curves and even some hairpins.

After Bistrița you will enter in the mountains! The first spectacular road is Tihuța Pass, then right next to this one, you will cross Mestecăniș Pass. We are already in the heart of Bucovina and the landscape has become wonderful: it is perhaps the most beautiful area in Romania and among the few where mass tourism still seems to have not captured everything. After Pojorâta we turn left towards Moldovița and Sucevița where it is really worth stopping by to visit the famous monasteries of the same name. If you have time you can take a detour to the Putna monastery (there are about 50 km round trip). In the evening you can stop in the Gura Humorului area because you have already reached the middle of the route.

Day 2:

In the immediate vicinity of Gura Humorului are the Voroneț Monastery and the Humor Monastery, but you will not be able to visit too much because a full day of riding is waiting for you. A short warm up to Pojorâta because from here you enter Transrarău. Here are two roads in one: the segment on the northern slope is recently upgraded. There are 3,5m wide lanes, parapets, wide hairpins and a few straight lines where you can overtake. The south side is the opposite: very narrow road (about 4 m wide) areas with steep slopes, and many curves with very low visibility. Then we enter the Bistrița Valley where we come across a road that probably has never been repaired since it was built, because the asphalt is sifted. Is worth the effort because the road takes us to Lake Izvorul Muntelui then into the Bicaz Gorges.

If in Gheorgheni you think the mountains are over, do not relax, next you will cross a new pass: Bucin Pass with its 1280 m altitude. The day ends with something more relaxing with the hills between Praid and Sighisoara.