# Lotru Valley Road

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Oltenia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/oltenia) › [Vâlcea County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/valcea)

> The DN7A climbs 108 km from Brezoi up the Lotru valley, through Voineasa and past Lake Vidra to Obârșia Lotrului, then crosses the Groapa Seacă Pass and drops through the Jieț Gorge to Petroșani.

**At a glance:** Scenic roads in Vâlcea County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: Free. Information verified on 29 September 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — The national road is open at all times, with no seasonal closure. In 2026, on the Vidra – Obârșia Lotrului – Hunedoara county line section (km 63+200 – 86+601), the road is being rebuilt, with temporary traffic restrictions. In winter, heavy snowfall and avalanches can temporarily stop traffic at Obârșia Lotrului and around Groapa Seacă (as happened after an avalanche at Obârșia Lotrului); check road conditions on the CNAIR road authority's website or with Infotrafic before setting off.
- **Ticket:** Free — public road, no toll
- **With kids:** Yes — mountain road with many bends
- **Parking:** Yes, free — at chalets and in lay-bys
- **Best season:** June – October — open in winter too, with snow
- **Address:** DN7A, between Brezoi (DN7) and Petroșani (DN66); Obârșia Lotrului, at the junction with the DN67C (Transalpina), Vâlcea County
- **Coordinates:** 45.4351, 23.6304
- **Phone:** +40 21 9360
- **Website:** https://www.cnadnr.ro/
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/DN7A
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q687716
- **Categories:** [Scenic roads](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/drumuri-panoramice)

## About Lotru Valley Road

The road up the Lotru Valley, the DN7A, links the Olt Valley with the Jiu Valley over 108 km, between Brezoi, where it leaves the DN7, and Petroșani. Most of it lies in Vâlcea county: it follows the Lotru upstream, between the Lotru and Căpățânii Mountains, runs through Malaia and Voineasa, climbs over the Vidruța saddle to Lake Vidra and reaches Obârșia Lotrului, where it crosses the Transalpina. From there it climbs to the Groapa Seacă Pass, at 1,575 m, into Hunedoara county, and descends between the Parâng and Șureanu ranges to Petrila and Petroșani.

Today's road is largely the work of the great hydroelectric project on the Lotru in the 1960s to 1980s: the Brădișor, Malaia and Vidra dams, the underground power station at Ciunget, and the workers' settlements that grew into Voineasa and Vidra. It is a quiet mountain road with little traffic, unlike the DN7 through the Olt gorge, and it stays open in winter, when it is the only way to the ski slopes at Vidra.

### What you can see

From Brezoi, the road enters a narrow wooded valley, runs along the shore of the Brădișor reservoir and passes through Malaia to Voineasa, an old holiday resort with large hotels, at about 600 m. After Voineasa it climbs in hairpins through spruce forest to the Vidruța saddle, at over 1,500 m, then drops to Lake Vidra, one of the highest reservoirs in the country, running along its shore for several kilometres, past the Vidra resort. Next comes the clearing at Obârșia Lotrului, with chalets, guesthouses and a monastery, and the climb to the Groapa Seacă Pass. On the Hunedoara side, the road descends almost 11 km through the Jieț Gorge, past signposted waterfalls, to Petrila.

### Good to know

In 2026, between Vidra and the Hunedoara county line (km 63+200 – 86+601), major works are under way to rebuild the road, its bridges and the slopes, with traffic restrictions. In winter, avalanches and snowfall temporarily close the road at Obârșia Lotrului and Groapa Seacă.

## Don't miss

- Lake Brădișor, with its blue water between wooded slopes, right by the road at the start of the valley.
- The Vidruța saddle, at over 1,500 m between Voineasa and Vidra, where trails set off into the Latoriței Mountains.
- The shore of Lake Vidra, the reservoir at almost 1,300 m, surrounded by spruce forest.
- Obârșia Lotrului, the clearing with chalets at the junction with the Transalpina, a good halfway stop.
- The Jieț Gorge, on the descent to Petrila, with signposted waterfalls close to the road, such as Dușul Pădurarului.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** from the east, the road leaves the DN7 at Brezoi, in the Olt Valley: ~35 km from Râmnicu Vâlcea and ~65 km from Sibiu. It is ~36 km to Voineasa, another ~40 km to Obârșia Lotrului, and ~30 km from there to Petroșani. From the west, you join the DN7A in Petroșani (the DN66 through the Jiu Gorge from Târgu Jiu, or from Hațeg and Deva). At Obârșia Lotrului you can carry on along the Transalpina to Rânca and Novaci or to Lake Oașa and Sebeș, when the ridge is open. Fill up before the mountain section.

**Public transport:** Antares minibuses run between Râmnicu Vâlcea and Voineasa, via Brezoi and Malaia, and the Sibiu – Râmnicu Vâlcea train stops at Brezoi. There are no scheduled services between Voineasa and Petrila; the mountain section can only be done by car, motorbike or bicycle.

### Where to park

There are no proper car parks along the road, apart from those in the villages and at the chalets. At Obârșia Lotrului you can stop on the open ground by the bridge and at the chalets and guesthouses, and in the Jieț Gorge there are a few lay-bys and wider spots. On the section under works between Vidra and Groapa Seacă, do not stop on the carriageway.

### Fees & discounts

The road is public and free, with no toll or parking charge. The road vignette (rovinieta) is compulsory on the DN7A, as on every national road, outside built-up areas.

### Rules

Follow the signs in the work zones: in 2026 there are temporary traffic restrictions on the Vidra – Groapa Seacă section. Stones can fall from the slopes after rain. In winter, drive only with winter tyres and bear in mind that the road can be closed temporarily in heavy snow or when there is a risk of avalanches. Bring water, food and a full tank before the mountain section.

### Facilities

Shops and restaurants in the towns and villages along the way · hotels and guesthouses in Voineasa and Vidra · chalets and guesthouses at Obârșia Lotrului, and the Groapa Seacă chalet in the Jieț Gorge · the Transalpina Ski Resort slopes at Vidra in winter · no public toilets on the road; at the chalets and restaurants

## Details

- **Road number:** DN7A
- **Length:** 108 km
- **Mountain range:** Lotru, Căpățânii, Parâng and Șureanu Mountains

## Frequently asked questions about Lotru Valley Road

**How much is a ticket to Lotru Valley Road?**

Admission to Lotru Valley Road is free (public road, no toll). The road is public and free, with no toll or parking charge. The road vignette (rovinieta) is compulsory on the DN7A, as on every national road, outside built-up areas.

**What are the opening hours of Lotru Valley Road?**

Opening hours at Lotru Valley Road: daily open 24 hours. The national road is open at all times, with no seasonal closure. In 2026, on the Vidra – Obârșia Lotrului – Hunedoara county line section (km 63+200 – 86+601), the road is being rebuilt, with temporary traffic restrictions. In winter, heavy snowfall and avalanches can temporarily stop traffic at Obârșia Lotrului and around Groapa Seacă (as happened after an avalanche at Obârșia Lotrului); check road conditions on the CNAIR road authority's website or with Infotrafic before setting off.

**Can you visit Lotru Valley Road with kids?**

Yes, Lotru Valley Road is suitable for children (mountain road with many bends).

**Where can I park at Lotru Valley Road?**

There is free parking at Lotru Valley Road (at chalets and in lay-bys). There are no proper car parks along the road, apart from those in the villages and at the chalets. At Obârșia Lotrului you can stop on the open ground by the bridge and at the chalets and guesthouses, and in the Jieț Gorge there are a few lay-bys and wider spots. On the section under works between Vidra and Groapa Seacă, do not stop on the carriageway.

**How do I get to Lotru Valley Road?**

Lotru Valley Road is located at DN7A, between Brezoi (DN7) and Petroșani (DN66); Obârșia Lotrului, at the junction with the DN67C (Transalpina), Vâlcea County. By car: from the east, the road leaves the DN7 at Brezoi, in the Olt Valley: ~35 km from Râmnicu Vâlcea and ~65 km from Sibiu. It is ~36 km to Voineasa, another ~40 km to Obârșia Lotrului, and ~30 km from there to Petroșani. From the west, you join the DN7A in Petroșani (the DN66 through the Jiu Gorge from Târgu Jiu, or from Hațeg and Deva). At Obârșia Lotrului you can carry on along the Transalpina to Rânca and Novaci or to Lake Oașa and Sebeș, when the ridge is open. Fill up before the mountain section. Public transport: Antares minibuses run between Râmnicu Vâlcea and Voineasa, via Brezoi and Malaia, and the Sibiu – Râmnicu Vâlcea train stops at Brezoi. There are no scheduled services between Voineasa and Petrila; the mountain section can only be done by car, motorbike or bicycle.

**When is the best time to visit Lotru Valley Road?**

The best season for Lotru Valley Road: June – October (open in winter too, with snow).

## Nearby attractions

- [Transalpina](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transalpina) — Scenic roads · Gorj County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · Top 20 · 13 km
  Romania's highest road: the DN67C climbs from Novaci over the Parâng Mountains to 2,145 m at the Urdele Pass and drops past Lake Oașa to Sebeș, 148 km above the clouds.
- [Bolii Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-bolii) — Caves · Bănița, HD · 10 lei · ½ – 1 hours · 32 km
  A cave crossed by a mountain stream north of Petroșani, with a 20 m-wide portal and a gallery of about 466 m walked end to end on footbridges, beneath the Dacian fortress of Bănița.
- [Bănița Dacian Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-dacica-banita) — Fortresses and fortifications · Bănița, HD · Free · 1½ – 2 hours · UNESCO World Heritage · 32 km
  The ruins of a Dacian fortress on the rocky summit of Piatra Cetății, above the DN66, which guarded the southern approach to Sarmizegetusa Regia; a UNESCO site, reached only on foot by a steep climb.
- [Jiu Gorge](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/defileul-jiului) — Scenic roads · Gorj County · Free · Top 100 · 35 km
  The 33 km gorge by which the Jiu crosses the Carpathians between Bumbești-Jiu and Livezeni: the DN66 follows the river through Defileul Jiului National Park, past Lainici Monastery.
- [Women's Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-muierilor) — Caves · Baia de Fier, GJ · 20 lei · 40 min · Top 100 · 37 km
  A four-level cave in the Galbenul Gorge at the foot of the Parâng Mountains, with 860 m of lit galleries, cave bear bones and some of the oldest modern human remains in Europe.
- [Polovragi Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pestera-polovragi) — Caves · Polovragi, GJ · 20 lei · 45 min · 37 km
  A cave more than 10 km long, carved by the Olteț river into the limestone of the Olteț Gorge, with 800 m of gallery open to visitors and legends about Zalmoxis, a kilometre from Polovragi Monastery.

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Last updated: 29 September 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania