![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEqRV8f5avbnGfHLmRuOZNemX-rRV2rsSWV-KvsCD8LizlOkVzvysppMdA1eo95WV0eu134Vc_4XDfxZi81iPt3eBVvGF76PpG_asMylCELYsRIK6u1ZBVXP28DeSb-CDSGv5hJBQWXeXNvGDgmLLAz71_E4V2nKYw3QUFwcdFu7VktakjxEBQeC5_Ko/w640-h360/IMG_20230808_122945.jpg) |
Bran Castle - in popular culture this is Dracula's Castle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDpDu8R7qoh4oKT9tnfTHl6eUJC9dsjLpjpzfQotGDp0x-J4uNsjzn-iuim4IqkEvhzoE6H5zTRBHPW4_xK5jo0ajBW0OgH8lAGsIfRyitaFx2uFYGR7ciFTQQzn6hs3q_Q5uMeNwBDb7lqfG40E2vV0OMibqWokeK_mnoraDBpniwVNXsEy3GLpB2VQ/w640-h564/route.jpg) |
The driven route |
Transfagarasan
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpvOf97_s3Cjvf3Ct8wGfhpiz8bj6xsa9hv0ospqHq8_cUSM1UxHfKZhWC-yn3QOORrCAbKa_yTqdjIL8_g3yRnzUQNB4j5PavINbXiITLKZ76TSYnS-wyJ8G-Sb5qJ76LVFtWazOis_Eb3SbHhWD7NG6lvRs0HMH-_aRmPK14Zn-CrMmK-4ncjuYTxk/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_103448.jpg) |
Balea Waterfall in the distance |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rdGCCnWc7K3xAqQSiUUY2YXVZrYBTnGn9yVXOFtvs2Zb44PSbv37uLaqBwGnRfkKxfMoA6DKXc-RlnkmS-oXX6SrkmUZ-jy9GM00imc0XsvymUa2S-U0TumsLfL9w4lIUGf7M1bATedg_fyvJLXll46NBMTZ580Np3vecKs05zVfJcSp4Q5jQ4cNBDo/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_113440.jpg) |
Looking down the mountain pass to the north |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsh0ASDL37oCDNBxJ_Sl2u3zYMJjB0gswpClWDrL336vkPQItxubk77c8aXrWKPomWLeebXjApD4lh_z5JTQsyvsoEqGJFQHq583arNJlbG2hwjPBw-wNK0eOUveOP1YN8yoHljz3DgRWVhL9ExAGnF46cdkb_1XGl2HtLkQpnQRMElCV5cSliA3DAWA/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_114501.jpg) |
Looking up - there's still some way to go |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqNDSe2C5ezue3NO33RUNCyBUYRztndAmm1M-3M0Y-PrCrKVYCjwtKP6yE39PvIT4kRZrHMB7M6VPfvZu0IAKk9YXY9kFBlNYnFPFED9XSlKAwwxQ_5X8220Wp93x34mXneaDvcoVURaehScAz_XAbj7V1QMSR5AWyevvHqdzUwRXOAFCrKLUn31ANN0/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_121313.jpg) |
On the top of the mountain there is a lake - Balea Lake |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPExEBjUpvrc6-r0vuWYdegcx8xAaGgEmGlKK3YRVgu1nx6nfcnzX_KFMVsFGV5XH_csQfFURCfMdFcdeymetlro2W7i2hpEa1cNqEsZfozbforNdzgkINKwk1sVnlZKyfne9SwzO9rN9V69n0KlsJA2pKW538k87gS-ImoNjQpboDdKbF_krbL70fFSU/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_122417.jpg) |
This is the road we drove up on - the best driving road in the world, according to Top Gear |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lDQxR5exz9A8khBKO6J5wgeN2g26R_-yDuCuNh0jS-1CBqlBLxv7OkHW9dkK4ywD9jXrv-vPpEzq-6TZ_pxq13sJojwQo_Cyl7skJZAJ0qoX_IZ_7kn7nyzDCs1wlDPhybEhfUJhAWrrupxiiJTe9T0Hm3A1aHa5dWLUlI0vRp-QIim4wotJmLWMMWY/w640-h360/IMG_20230807_144808.jpg) |
The Vidraru Dam on the southern side |
... and BEARS
Curtea de Arges Monastery
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfotF67XAFd2p1PruNTr6qLZlNLxudEW6LdFAI-EYyY7sjsXNH7gOUjnOqTUf8Sbh58cOUBTWrRRZ41lGbvCZJ1X22yKsvM38TSU_b9tDSH42Byz3Hgv-BybYlSbGf2_NbykMTmGHnkT4faOQce3DTVQUkvSTsjKSPv4JGAQpkWI0PHzYNPSFAy3_VBI8/w480-h640/IMG_20230807_193516_095516.jpg) |
The final resting place of the Romanian kings |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnFrAvVd_dNOK-T9GgPV-sEL_J5eQ_6DbmsCzvydGVwQEa_RKH3HR_4nmRTiQ65C0MfEBkm6Zyy6dT80XeU_Nr0WbHaM_B8m7LndGOfQgdjaCAOoh6RgEuOk-skP44XxzE58ojl1RJr2mZAg0Gs_eBLLbWMZtgl5MK7vxd3vnyQg1wAqGbTu5J9l30gM/w480-h640/IMG_20230807_194846_095317.jpg) |
Manole's Fountain - according to romanian folklore Mesterul Manole was the builder of the monastery, but he was not an actual historical figure. |
Bran Castle - the home of Count Dracula, but only in Bram Stoker's imagination
And finally the town of Fagaras
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1Y8GyTxZOLybfSyAMYQIO33jk1ef60M-m5kRYxuhRiahCQFpeNsMU9nZk_x6xrox6L8IUJsY6y8s_9XUa8-OMNxmM-TEP_TM0WQTsrbEfw0UNdDDEPHIRYOWd451Ohpy-ZS6tdMp565KWTVf6g4ciZOkROTO8rwNlHPgNEX88-xN8KnEg_bD1Yl45UY/w480-h640/IMG_20230808_140002_094439.jpg) |
The Orthodox Cathedral |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl3aT7BwmBID5tn75SWVBOKAAxYmY0QIlE7g7A8XEagIUjkq7CQv0DeodmyoAELFt3_PFaahMuk9woCamoeWQL3sAtM2941_1VorCX-rXiNQGcCp8HMEiEdNB6i3NP_1EgBaFLs-RG_q22d9QK7ixepIypC-WyjaaaCIoBsp2w2olwJYcj2E5zdy-tNc/w640-h360/IMG_20230808_140821.jpg) |
and the Fort of Fagaras |