About Transrarău
The Transrarău, also called the Road of Treasures, links the Moldova valley with the Bistrița valley over the Rarău massif in Bukovina. It leaves the DN17 at Pojorâta, near Câmpulung Moldovenesc, climbs in hairpins up the Izvorul Giumalăului valley to the Rarău plateau, passes beneath the limestone crags of Pietrele Doamnei at almost 1,500 m and drops down the southern slope to Chiril, on the DN17B. It is about 28 km long and made up of two county roads: the DJ175B on the climb from Pojorâta and the DJ175A on the descent to Chiril.
Until recently the mountain could only be reached on forestry tracks, best suited to off-road vehicles. The road from Pojorâta was modernised with European funds from 2009, and the roughly 10 km section between Chiril and the plateau was paved by Suceava County Council and opened in September 2014, when the whole route was given the name Transrarău. The Road of Treasures name comes from the legend of Prince Petru Rareș, who is said to have hidden his fortune in these mountains.
What you can see
The climb from Pojorâta is the widest and gentlest part: after the villages in the valley, the road leaves the forest for the pastures below the Fundul Colbului saddle, where its loops can be seen stacked one above the other on the slope. On the plateau the Pietrele Doamnei rise ahead, white limestone spires above the spruce forest, together with Piatra Șoimului; from the Alpin Hotel a short path climbs to the foot of the rocks. On the way down to Chiril the road narrows to a single lane with tight bends through the forest, past Rarău Monastery, down to the Bistrița valley.
Good to know
The descent to Chiril is closed in winter, usually from November until spring, and coaches and heavy vehicles are not allowed on it; the climb from Pojorâta is the only way up to the plateau in the cold season.
- The road's loops on the bare slope below the Fundul Colbului saddle, seen from above on the climb from Pojorâta.
- Pietrele Doamnei, the limestone spires above the plateau, with the short path that starts at the Alpin Hotel.
- The view from the plateau towards Giumalău and the mountains around the Bistrița valley.
- The tight hairpins through the forest on the descent to Chiril.
- Rarău Monastery, on the road to Chiril, linked to the name of Prince Petru Rareș.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from the north, from Suceava on the DN17 (E58) via Gura Humorului and Câmpulung Moldovenesc to Pojorâta (~75 km), where the DJ175B begins; from Vatra Dornei it is ~35 km on the DN17 to Pojorâta. From the south, from Vatra Dornei on the DN17B to Chiril (~25 km), where the DJ175A climbs. It is easier to go up from Pojorâta, on the wider road, and come down to Chiril; with a motorhome or minibus use only the Pojorâta route. The plateau can also be reached directly from Câmpulung Moldovenesc on the DJ175A.
Public transport: trains on the Suceava – Vatra Dornei line stop at Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Pojorâta, and buses on the DN17 pass through the same places; there are no scheduled services up the mountain, which can only be reached by car, by bicycle or on foot along waymarked trails.
- Where to park
There are no proper car parks along the road: you stop in the wider spots on the verge, especially on the panoramic stretch between the Fundul Colbului saddle and the plateau, where there is also a covered picnic table. On the plateau you can park at the Alpin Hotel and the chalet, where the path to Pietrele Doamnei starts; on summer weekends the spaces fill up quickly. On the single-lane descent to Chiril, do not stop on the carriageway.
- Fees & discounts
The road is public and free, with no toll. The road vignette (rovinieta) is not needed on county roads, but it is compulsory on the DN17 and DN17B, which lead to either end of the road.
- Rules
On the Rarău – Chiril section: single lane, 30 km/h maximum, uphill traffic has priority, and coaches and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are not allowed; sound your horn before blind bends. Do not rely on your phone's navigation alone and do not take long vehicles down to Chiril. You are in the mountains: fog settles quickly on the plateau and the weather can change within the hour. Pietrele Doamnei is a nature reserve: stay on the paths and leave no litter.
- Facilities
Alpin Hotel and chalet on the plateau, with restaurant · Suceava mountain rescue post on the plateau · Rarău Monastery on the road to Chiril · petrol stations only in Câmpulung Moldovenesc and on the DN17 / DN17B, none on the mountain · no public toilets along the road · patchy mobile signal on the forest descent
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