The Via Transilvanica, a walk through rural Romania

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

A man with a goal to revitalize Romania's rural areas has created, with the help of 10,000 volunteers, a 1,400 km hike/bike trail across the country. The Via Transilvanica can be biked in about three weeks and hiked in around two months. If you want to take things a bit at a time the route passes through seven regions where each region has its own cuisine and culture.


Euronews: Explore ‘the most spectacular landscape on the continent’: Romania’s answer to El Camino de Santiago.

Romania has just opened its answer to the El Camino de Santiago

After thousands of locals helped carve out its route, Romania’s new 1,400km Via Transilvanica is now open.

www.euronews.com

 

[El Cascayal]

Just 2 weeks ago, I met and walked/arrived into Santiago with 2 Rumanian Peregrinas who had walked and loved parts of this Transilvanic Camino. Many hours of and talking about Rumania and this Camino. “Here’s & you, kid!”

 

[lindam]

This looks so interesting! Thank you for sharing this information.

I wonder if there are any Forum members with first hand experience on this trail? It would be wonderful to hear more.

 

[xin loi]

In 2019 I walked the Norte with Pilgrims from Romania who talked about this . I had the impression it was not going to be open until 2025. Thank you for information.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The website for the Via Transilvanica says that the official opening was on October 8th.

The website is at:

https://www.viatransilvanica.com​

Use the menu to get the English language version.

The full track is shown on Google Maps where you can explore it using Maps' features such as satellite view and street view. Portions of the Transilvanica are shown with tracks in different colors.

https://goo.gl/maps/cSraPEGshd1SL4Mn7

Looks like the expected route is north to south. I've followed a small part of the track in that direction taking a few turns and saw directional signs but not when I went in reverse.

 

[El Cascayal]

Rick, couldn’t get that website to load.

 

[m108]

Rick, couldn’t get that website to load.

https://www.viatransilvanica.com/ I connected to the map and there is a link on the top left - it looks the same as the one that doesn't work, but it connects flawlessly . It even has an RO/EN option

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Rick, couldn’t get that website to load.

Sorry. I put in some special markup and the forum software did too and they collided. I fixed things.

 

[hieudovan]

The website for the Via Transilvanica says that the official opening was on October 8th.

The website is at:

https://www.viatransilvanica.com​

Use the menu to get the English language version.

The full track is shown on Google Maps where you can explore it using Maps' features such as satellite view and street view. Portions of the Transilvanica are shown with tracks in different colors.

https://goo.gl/maps/cSraPEGshd1SL4Mn7

Looks like the expected route is north to south. I've followed a small part of the track in that direction taking a few turns and saw directional signs but not when I went in reverse.

Thank you Rick. I looked at the English PDF. Very comprehensive: what to pack, what to wear, wildlife, accommodation, cost, how to text in Romanian for lodging/room and food, etc... I'd love to walk this route. One advice gives me pause. It makes safety sense. It's not recommended for solo hikers due to the wilderness and possible attacks by wildlife. I am a solo hiker. I will continue to follow information on this route. Since you have walked part of this route, do you have comments about the issue of safety for solo hikers? Thanks and buen camino wherever your treks might be.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I looked at the English PDF.

That makes you the forum expert on this walk. I only found out about the Via Transylvanica this morning. My "walk" was a few minutes using Google Street View. I did see a photo of a sign saying in English something like don't walk at night because of bears. I would take it seriously but I'm not particularly worried as Peg and I have backpacked a couple of times in grizzly country and also have had bears walk by our tent at night a few times. I have learned the hard way though that you don't tickle them until you've known each other for awhile.

This walk does look interesting. I'll be looking into more.

 

[duncanwhyte]

A friend did most of it in 2022. He wasn't able to enjoy it much because he was often followed by quite aggressive farm dogs. So he had to use fireworks at times to make them keep their distance. But he found it well organised and provisioned.

 

[AndreaFisterra]

In case anybody needs more info, there is a FB group to search for info and ask questions - in English as well, https://www.facebook.com/groups/viatransilvanica and another one, the organization's, https://www.facebook.com/ViaTransilvanica but it's just for announcements. Forgot to mention, Im Romanian so if I can help, please reach out