New Transalpina Road Takes Shape in Romania's Lotru Mountains

Romania's Lotru Mountains are witnessing the development of a new scenic route, referred to as the 'second Transalpina.' This road promises to bring travelers closer to the region's stunning natural beauty, including the Vidra and Oașa lakes, and the Transalpina ski resort.

The DN 7A, also known as the Lotru road, has a history rooted in the 1960s and 70s. Its construction was part of a large-scale hydroelectric project that included the Vidra dam and the Lotru-Ciunget underground power plant. This network of access roads, spanning nearly 300 kilometers, initially served to connect worker settlements that would later become the Voineasa and Vidra resorts.

Today, the DN 7A encircles the expansive Vidra Lake, a reservoir created in the 1970s at an altitude of nearly 1,300 meters. Covering about 1,000 hectares and stretching over nine kilometers, the lake is a key water source for the Lotru-Ciunget power plant. The area surrounding the lake, near the borders of Vâlcea, Hunedoara, Sibiu, Alba, and Gorj counties, is characterized by dense spruce forests.

Near Obârșia Lotrului, close to the lake, the Transalpina Ski Domain offers winter sports enthusiasts access via gondola to elevations around 1,800 meters, with further ascents possible to over 2,000 meters on Mount Bora. The DN 7A also provides a link between the Transalpina highway and the Jiu Valley, passing through the dramatic Jiețului Gorges as it heads towards Petroșani.