Blaj - Secășel, Via Transilvanica

Terra Dacica - day 3

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We continue our foray from Terra Dacica on the Via Transilvanica from the city of Blaj, where we stopped the previous afternoon after the experience described here https://mytravel.express/drumetii-mte/valea-lunga-blaj-via-transilvanica/.

About the Blaj - Secășel route

It is an easy route, comparable to the previous day. It is the third stage of the segment called Terra Dacica. It runs through a hilly area, the route alternating parts of forest with sunny meadows and meadows.

Route map

(click on objectives for extended version)

Technical box

Distance / duration : 19 km / 5 hours

Difficulty : easy

Level difference : 413 m

Minimum altitude : 250 m at Blaj

Maximum altitude : 424 m before the summit in Deleni-Obârșie

Comments: there are no shops in Deleni-Obârârșie or Secășel

1. Blaj

We saw the Metropolitan Castle from the gate, posed the statue of Pope John Paul II and had breakfast in Avram Iancu Park. I couldn't help but enter for a few minutes the Holy Trinity Greek-Catholic Cathedral in Blaj where the morning mass was being held, especially since we had rested overnight at its Theological Seminary. We turned left onto Astra street and straight ahead onto Aron Pumnul street, aka DJ 107, where we crossed the Târnava Mare river. At the first roundabout, we followed the road forward on Gheorghe Lazăr street, then left on Eftimie Murgu street, which exits the city taking the right bank of the Veza stream.

Metropolitan Castle

statue of Pope John Paul II

Holy Trinity Greek-Catholic Cathedral

crossing the Târnava Mare

2. Blaj - Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor from Cărbunari

We carefully followed the VT signs at the various branches of the road, crossed the Veza stream and before long we reach the entrance to the forest, where the Way of the Cross begins. It leads to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor at Cărbunari after passing 14 trophies. The sanctuary is located at the exit of the forest, in a wide clearing, a good place to rest and pray.

our indicators

Way of the Cross

icon on the troup

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor of Cărbunari

Our Lady of the Poor

3. Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor from Cărbunari - Deleni-Obârârșie

From now on we spend time in the sun, in the woods, in the hills. We admire flowers, mushrooms, fields. At the highest point of the trail we leave the forest. We continue ahead on the asphalt road towards the village of Deleni-Obârșie which we can guess by the silhouette of the village church.

landscape

flowers and colors

tractor for agricultural work

VT terminal

in the forest

4. Deleni-Obârârșie - Secășel

Deleni-Obârșie is a depopulated village, with only a few permanent and a few temporary inhabitants. You can tell by the totally deserted houses, or by the courtyards and gardens where some crops are grown. The Romanian church is deserted. We drive along Obârșie Street, which runs the length of the village. The road is easy, but we walk a long way through the sun before finally descending into Secășel. We turn left and immediately right over a county road, cross the bridge over a stream and on the first street on the left we stop at our next host, the parents of a lady with business in Alba Iulia. Here we dine and have very interesting discussions both with the old people and with the lady who has come with supplies from the town as there are no shops in the village. The population of this village is also declining sharply, and those who are left are mostly old people.

abandoned house

Romanian church in Deleni-Obârșie

sunflowers

Apuseni Mountains in the distance

Conclusion

The third day of Terra Dacica on the Via Transilvanica was interesting with the discovery of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor at Cărbunari and the almost deserted village of Deleni-Obârșie. In Secășel there is only one accommodation option in modest and somewhat more expensive conditions.

All the best!

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