Castles in Transylvania
Known around the world as the spooky setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Transylvania is a beautiful destination steeped in mystery, ideal for your cycling holiday, not least for the castles and the Carpathian Mountains.
Here you can ride past the fairy-tale turrets of the Bran Castle, thought to have been the awe-inspiring muse for Count Dracula’s terrifying Transylvanian home, or cycle along country roads, passing rolling fields and waving to the ambling horse-drawn carts.
A popular route to see the Castles of Transylvania starts with Bran and Rasnov Castle, before heading towards Fagaras, then up to Sighisoara, into the Harback Valley and ending in Sibiu.
Cund to Dumbraveni
Cund is located four hours north-west of Bucharest. If you’re relatively new to cycling trips, this is the perfect place to start. Aside from a few hilly regions, the terrain on this route is largely straightforward, and a great place to sink your teeth into a cycle tour.
The rural landscape is peaceful and calm with plenty to see, so take your time and admire the view as you go. Climb gently past fields dotted with white fluffy sheep and steep, grassy banks lined with evergreen trees. This will eventually bring you out into the town of Dumbraveni.
As you arrive in this town, the first thing you’ll see is the Armenian Catholic Church, towering above the streets in all its fantastic historic splendour.
Brasov County
Only minutes from the centre of Brasov, you’ll find the trails of the Postavaru Mountains, offering up a range of cycling routes through meandering forest routes, with roads available to suit all levels of experience. Take special care to look out for signs of nature in this preserved part of the country. If you’re lucky, you might even see a bear print or two as you make your way along paths shrouded by a cavernous canopy of trees.
Head through the ‘Pietrele lui Solomon’ Gorges to Poiana Brasov and then down ‘Valea cu Apa’, a single trail with a few technical sections. If you want to take a little break and see something a bit different, you can even take advantage of the local cable cars to reach higher parts of the mountain for unrivalled views of the world passing by far below.
You’ll also pass through picturesque villages, including the three that form the Prejmer commune. Here you’ll find one of the country’s 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites and the largest fortified church in south-eastern Europe.
Mud volcanoes
Head for the the mud volcanoes in eastern Romania in the Buzau county, and in particular make for the Paclele Mari – Paclele Mici Zone, ideal to observe the volcanic region from a cyclist’s vantage point.
The mud volcanoes are a natural wonder that have been protected since 1924. There’s an eerie lunar atmosphere due to the landslides, deforestation, downpours and mudflows that have occurred here throughout the centuries, bringing an air of uncertainty and a feel for the raw power of nature that is palpable as you glide through the region.
Cycle around the 60 acres to see the mud volcanoes in action. The craters can be up to 6m high with permanent or intermittent eruptions of varying intensity.
You’ll find the three largest mud volcanoes in Paclele Mari Zone, each with a diameter of more than 100 metres, giving you a stunning and unique cycling experience.
If you’re a keen cyclist then book a flight with flydubai to beautiful Romania where you can ride your bike among the most fascinating scenery and landscapes.
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