What do you know about Romania? If it isn’t much, lean in a bit closer because we are eager to let you in on some secrets about this country that sits at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. We’ve found a lot of people aren’t too familiar with the riding potential in Romania. Fortunately for us, we have first-hand knowledge thanks to MotoQuest guide Ovi Puia. Born and raised in Sibui (that’s just 140 km from the Dracula Castle), Ovi sold us on his homeland and we are sure glad he did.
MotoQuest founder Phil Freeman took part in the scouting of this Romania adventure and will not stop talking about it whenever the subject comes up! So we asked him to tell you why his time in Eastern Europe was one he won’t soon forget.
Here’s Phil:
If you were to ask me about our Romaniacs Adventure, I would have a hard time formulating a concise answer. It’s not because there is nothing to say, but rather the complete opposite. A flood of images come to mind – from the Unesco World Heritage walled citadels to an unbelievably squiggly line of a perfectly paved road up and over the Carpathian Mountains to the raw and rugged battle of two dual sport riders climbing an impossibly precipitous and heavily forested uphill section during the Romaniacs Hard Enduro.
A simple answer is just not that easy to conjure. It’s not just the Romaniacs event that invites the rider during our Romaniacs Adventure. Even if you are not into motorsports, the pristine countryside and profound history of Romania will entrance you. It’s a blast from the past, with a glimpse of the future. One minute you pass a horse and cart on a solitary forest road, the next minute you are passed by a Mercedes S-Class Coupe. You ride through the Iron Curtain legacy of architecture in a given town juxtaposed by a classic Medieval Citadel skyline. The past and the present are layered there for you to experience, to the backdrop of breathtaking mountain scenery. Lush forests are the norm of the day. Romania will leave you with pause.
If I was to put my finger on the one defining element of MotoQuest’s motorcycle adventure in Romania, the one word that would come to mind is Sibiu. Once the capital of the Principality of Transylvania, this largely barroch-styled city was renowned as being a center for education and medicine. Its elegant and spacious courtyards seem to form an inviting, open-aired labyrinth that beckons the casual tourist to just keep walking, tempting you at each new archway or pedestrian mall.
To get to know Sibiu is to be carried away by a distinctively artistic current, characteristic to many European cities. In Sibiu, there seems to be no end to tasteful outdoor cafes, fountains, and shops. We spend 5 days in Sibiu, and while you are there, you will have a chance to make it your own.
To add to the city’s many great attributes, as a motorcycle traveler, are the myriad of options you have at your fingertips as part of the Romaniacs Hard Enduro. You have the chance to see the chaotic and challenging Romaniacs Prologue. It’s as simple as a quick walk where you can spend the day watching at your own pace. You can choose to enjoy a world-class day ride on either the TransAlpina or Tranfagarasan roads. You can opt to catch the Romaniacs race in any one of the dozens of viewing locations in the region. By the end of your time in Sibiu, you will have fallen in love with this city, experienced unforgettable riding, and witnessed an international motorized spectacle that will leave you breathless.
Yes, Romania by itself is a must for the motorcycle traveler. Then add to this the world-class Romaniacs Hard Enduro Event and the elegance of Sibiu, and you have yourself the perfect mixture of history, natural beauty, and two-stroked adrenaline.
What are you doing next July? I challenge you to watch any footage from the Romaniacs Hard Enduro event without a little tinge of longing. If that is not for you, go for the history and think of Vlad the Impaler and what he was up to. Dracula would.
July 15, 2020 – July 27, 2020
July 14, 2021 – July 26, 2021
Still on the fence about Romania?
Two things to note. First is that Ovi, our on-staff Romanian who will also be leading this adventure, would love to talk to you about his country and the riding there if you are at all interested. Just click one of the buttons to submit your number and we’ll make sure Ovi gets in touch.
Second is that the crew that scouted the adventure put together a quick little video on the top five reasons they loved the adventure. You can click on the photo below to see if any of their reasons align with what you want in a trip. There is also additional coverage including a video diary, a slide show, and if you’re brave enough the outtakes that didn’t make the cut for the video diary.