Alba Iulia – Sebeș – Pianu de Sus, Via Transilvanica

1. Alba Iulia

Alba Iulia deserves an extensive presentation in itself and that’s why it has one on the following link https://mytravel.express/ghiduri-mte/ghid-turistic-alba-iulia-3/.

From a tourist point of view, Alba Iulia is identified with the Alba Carolina citadel, a living citadel, as I called it. From the small side of the triangular Iuliu Maniu Square, the VT route crosses the boulevard in the place called Ion I. C. Brătianu Square, next to the Lutheran church, towards Alessandria Square, where the Lupa Capitolina statue is located. Strada Mihai Viteazul leads us slightly uphill through Gate I and then Gate II of the Alba Carolina Citadel. We photograph the Horia, Cloșca and Crișan Obelisk, from where we also admire the city. We cross the defense moat of the fortress on a bridge, we pass through Gate III, where the cell where Horia was imprisoned is also found. Here we are on the main artery of the citadel, which is called 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 Cathedral of Saint Michael, on the right side of the street we leave behind the Union Hall, the Union Museum, the Orthodox Archbishopric Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, of the Reunification of the Nation with the museum of religious art, the bell tower and the busts of Queen Maria and King Ferdinand I. We went out to the opposite side of the Alba Carolina fortress, we once again cross the defense moat of the fortress and admire the fortress walls. We walk forward past the Union Monument to the Central Park in the middle of which is a beautiful artesian fountain and arrive at another major thoroughfare, 1 Decembrie 1918 street, where we stock up on a shop. We keep the direction to the left and continue on Bulevardul Úcoronării, until it continues with Strada Viilor, which takes us to DN1, on Bulevardul Ferdinand I. The route is accompanied by visibly placed VT markings. We cross the railway lines on the DN and say goodbye to the beautiful city of Alba Iulia.

2. Alba Iulia – Oarda

We will follow the DN1 national road through the village of Partoș, paying attention to 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 arrive briefly in DJ107C. On the right, Cedrului street will direct us under the A10 highway in Haiducilor street towards the exit of the village, to the right.

3. Oarda – Râpa Roșie

We don’t get out of Oarda well, with the highway on the right and a VT indicator finally takes us off the asphalt. We will climb over 250 meters of elevation difference almost continuously for the next 6 kilometers. At an isolated house, a man invited us to rest and stock up on cold water. We stayed for a short story about the old house and other passersby on the VT. Throughout the climb we admired 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 begins the descent towards Sebeș, but after only a few minutes, we remain speechless with admiration when Râpa Roșie appears on our right.

4. Râpa Roșie

Râpa Roșie is a natural geological reserve of national interest. It stretches over 10 hectares and presents very spectacular formations of erosion, of red, friable clay, in which small canyons dug during the rains have deepened. It resembles a reddish organ and is visible from a distance, from the Sebeș – Sibiu highway segment. Similar formations are in Valea Stăncioiului, near Râmnicu Vâlcea. Near the Râpa Roșie is a superb viewpoint both towards the ravine and towards the horizon, towards the city of Sebeș, located at the foot, at the intersection of several important roads, towards Sibiu, towards Alba Iulia and towards Deva. The background is provided by the image of the Cindrel Mountains, to the left, and the Orăștiei Mountains, to the right. Those who want to make a small detour to actually walk the Red Ravine (Râpa Roșie) trails 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 Roșie the trail marked VT descends quickly to enter a forest, we take a lunch break in the shade. The descent ends next to the highway, in a dirt road, on which we then go left, until we meet the asphalt road DJ106K. From here to the right, under the highway on Călărași street, over the Secaș river we enter the industrial area of ​​the city of Sebeș, Alba county. After the railway, the residential area of ​​the city begins.

6. Sebeș (AB)

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

The VT route crosses Sebeș on the main boulevard Lucian Blaga, namely DN1 and passes by the Lucian Blaga culture house, the City Hall Park, the evangelical church and arrives on the left sidewalk at the Leul de Aur Hotel, where we stamp the VT card. The construction of the hotel dates back to 1417 and was once an inn. The entrance is guarded by 2 lions and a royal carriage. Superb! In the city you can also visit the Sebeș Fortress and the Zapolya House, today a history museum. Sebeș is also linked to the name of the musician Edy Schneider, VT ambassador, or Carl Filtsch, Chopin’s contemporary. After another break, we resume the hike in the direction of Deva, cross the Sebeș River, go forward to the T-junction of the national roads, until a roundabout.

7. Sebeș – Pianu de Sus

At the roundabout, we change direction to the left on Ion Creangă street. We move forward facing the Șureanu Mountains, and suddenly we see black in front of our eyes. At an intersection we turn right, past a field of sunflowers, onto a dirt road. Whirlwinds of dust arise, the wind picks up, it seems that we are entering a storm. A few large and rare showers convince us to don our capes. We’re flying through the wind, keep us on the way. Fortunately for us, the great flood avoided us, and we returned to the T-shirt outfit in 5 minutes. After changing the direction once more according to the signs, we arrive at a hiking trail marked with a red triangle. We climb through a fine pasture to a small peak and have a new, fine perspective to the right, towards Valea Pianu and the village of Pianu de Jos. The route is more and more beautiful, enters the forest, then follows a curve at its limit and finally descends to the Pianu de Sus locality, in Dinu Lipatti street. A local woman directed us to a shop on the main street, DJ704A. On the same street, upstream, we pass by the Artemis Guesthouse, where we stamp the VT card and are very well received with sparkling, cold water. Many thanks! It had been raining heavily in the village. We continue another 2 km upstream on Valea Pianu to Pensiunea Iedera, located in a huge yard with dozens of ornamental trees, with raspberries, vegetables, barbecue and several houses. In one of them we were accommodated by our very hospitable hosts, who served us dinner and introduced us to the household and the unique concept of this property. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for meeting you and receiving us so well.