Alba Iulia - Sebeș - Pianu de Sus, Via Transilvanica

1. Alba Iulia

Alba Iulia deserves a comprehensive presentation in its own right and that's why you can find it on the following link https://mytravel.express/ghiduri-mte/ghid-turistic-alba-iulia-3/.

Alba Iulia is identified from a tourist point of view with the Alba Carolina fortress, a living fortress, as I called it. From the small side of the triangular-shaped Iuliu Maniu Square, the VT route crosses the boulevard at the place called Ion I. C. Brătianu Square, next to the Lutheran church, towards Alessandria Square, where the Lupa Capitolina statue is located. Mihai Viteazul Street leads us gently uphill through Gate I and then through Gate II of the Alba Carolina Citadel. We photograph the Obelisk of Horia, Cloșca and Crișan, from where we also admire the city. We cross the moat of defense of the fortress on a bridge, go through Gate III, where the cell where Horia was imprisoned. Here we are on the main artery of the fortress, which bears the name Mihai Viteazul Street. Bronze statues delight photographers. On the left side of the street we pass the statue of Michael the Brave and the Roman-Catholic St. Michael's Cathedral, on the right side of the street we leave behind the Union Hall, the Union Museum, the Orthodox Archbishop's Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the Cathedral of the Re-integration of the Nation with the museum of religious art, the bell tower and the busts of Queen Maria and King Ferdinand I. We exit on the opposite side of the Alba Carolina fortress, cross once again the defense ditch of the fortress and admire the fortress walls. We walk on past the Union Monument to the Central Park in the middle of which there is a beautiful artesian fountain and we reach another main artery, the 1 Decembrie 1918 street, where we get supplies from a shop. Turn left and continue along the Bulevardul Încoronării until it continues on the Strada Viilor, which takes you to the DN1, on the Bulevardul Ferdinand I. The route is accompanied by VT signs, which are clearly visible. Cross the railroad tracks on the DN and say goodbye to the beautiful city of Alba Iulia.

2. Alba Iulia - Oarda

We follow the national road DN1 through Partoș, paying attention to the heavy traffic. We cross the Mureș river on the DN and identify a little upstream the place where we descended the previous day from the village of Limba in the Mureș Valley. After the bridge, the first street on the left, Biruinței street leads us to the village of Oarda. On Dumbrăviței street we briefly reach the DJ107C. On the right, Cedrului street will guide us under the A10 highway in Haiducilor street towards the exit of the village, to the right.

3. Oarda - Red Gully

We don't exit Oarda well, with the highway on our right and a VT sign finally takes us off the asphalt. We climb over 250 meters of almost continuous grade difference for the next 6 kilometers. At a secluded house, a local invited us to rest and stock up on cold water. We chatted briefly about the old house and other passersby on VT. All along the climb we admired backward the city of Alba Iulia and the Apuseni Mountains. At the top of the hill we pass through a small forest and exit to the left of the antenna. From here we start the descent towards Sebeș, but after only a few minutes, we are speechless with admiration when Râpa Roșie appears on our right.

4. Red Gully

The Red Gully is a geological nature reserve of national interest. It extends over 10 hectares and features very spectacular erosion formations of red, friable clay, into which small canyons have been dug during the rains. It resembles a reddish organ and is visible from a distance, from the Sebeș - Sibiu highway segment. Similar formations are in the Stăncioiului Valley near Râmnicu Vâlcea. Near the Râpa Roșie there is a superb vantage point both towards the ravine and the skyline towards the town of Sebeș, at the foot of the ravine, at the junction of several major roads, towards Sibiu, Alba Iulia and Deva. The backdrop is provided by the Cindrel Mountains to the left and the Orăștiei Mountains to the right. Those who want to make a small detour to actually walk on the trails of the Râpei Roșii can do so by following the map and the unmarked trails, but they have to go down and up again.

5. Râpa Roșie - Sebeș

From Râpa Rosie the VT marked trail descends quickly to enter a forest, we take our lunch break in the shade. The descent ends beside the highway, on a dirt road, which we then go left, until we meet the paved road DJ106K. From here turn right, under the highway on Călărași street, over the Secaș river and you enter the industrial area of Sebeș, Alba county. After the railroad, the inhabited area of the city begins.

6. Sebeș (AB)

The town of Sebeș is documented in 1224 and is a typical Saxon fortress. The lion is on the coat of arms. The town has preserved old buildings, including the 16th-century evangelical church, as well as several towers once administered by craft guilds: The Tailors' Tower, the Shoemakers' Tower, the North Gate Tower, the West Gate Tower, the Polygonal Tower, the Semicircular Tower.

The VT route crosses Sebeș on the main boulevard Lucian Blaga, namely DN1 and passes by the Lucian Blaga House of Culture, the City Hall Park, the Evangelical Church and arrives on the left sidewalk at the Hotel Leul de Aur, where we stamp the VT booklet. The hotel dates back to 1417 and was once an inn. The entrance is lined with 2 lions and a royal carriage. Gorgeous! In the town you can also visit the Citadel of Sebeș and the Zapolya House, today a history museum. Sebeș is also linked to the names of the musician Edy Schneider, VT ambassador, and Carl Filtsch, a contemporary of Chopin. After another break, we resume our hike in the direction of Deva, cross the river Sebeș, go straight ahead at the T-junction of the national roads, until a roundabout.

7. Sebeș - Pianu de Sus

At the roundabout, turn left onto Ion Creangă Street. We face the Șureanu Mountains, and suddenly we see black before our eyes. At an intersection we turn right, past a sunflower field onto a dirt road. Swirls of dust kick up, the wind picks up, we seem to be entering a storm. A few large, sparse patches of rain persuade us to put on our cloaks. We scrabble through the wind, we're on our way. Luckily for us the big downpour bypassed us, in fact we're back to our t-shirt attire in 5 minutes. After another change of direction following the signs, we reach a hiking trail marked with a red triangle. We climb through a nice meadow to a small peak and have a new, nice view to the right towards the Pianu Valley and the village of Pianu de Jos. The trail is getting more and more beautiful, entering the forest, then following a contour at the edge of the forest and finally descending to Pianu de Sus village, Dinu Lipatti street. A local woman directed us to a shop on the main road, DJ704A. On the same road, upstream, we pass the Artemis Guesthouse, where we stamp our VT carnet and are warmly welcomed with cold, carbonated water. A handshake! It had rained heavily in the village. We continue another 2 km upstream along the Pianu Valley to the Iedera Guesthouse, located in a huge courtyard with dozens of ornamental trees, raspberries, vegetables, barbecue and several houses. In one of them we were accommodated by our particularly hospitable hosts, who served us dinner and introduced us to the household and the unique concept of this property. Thank you so much for knowing you and making us so welcome.