Via Transilvanica 'The Transylvanian Trail' is a hiking trail that crosses the Transylvania, Bukovina and Banat regions of Romania, and is meant to promote their cultural, ethnic, historical and natural diversity. It was built between 2018 and 2022, with its design and conception heavily inspired by historical pilgrims' ways and hiking trails, such as The Way of St. James and The Appalachian Trail. Starting at Putna, Suceava County, it stretches over , 10 counties of Romania, over 400 communities, and 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, ending in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Mehedinți County. Its motto is "The road that unites".
History
The trail was envisioned by the non-governmental organisation Tășuleasa Social, based in Bistrița-Năsăud County. The way marking of trail was done in five major stages between the years 2018 and 2022:
In 2018, the first of trail was marked in Bistrița-Năsăud county. In 2019, of trail was marked in Suceava County and in Mehedinți County. In 2020, the trail sections in the counties of Mureș, Harghita, Brașov, and Sibiu were completed, bringing the total length of marked path to approximately . In 2021, the approximately of trail through Caraș-Severin County were fully marked, bringing the total marked up to . In 2022, on October 8, an inauguration ceremony is held in Alba Iulia after the last 150 km of markings in the counties of Hunedoara and Alba are completed. In spring 2025 a side track in Brașov county was marked. It connects Poiana Mărulu on the main path with Brașov town and Viscri (Deutsch-Weißkirch).
In terms of funding, the marking of approximately of trail was funded through charitable donations, sponsorship deals, and other partnerships with various private companies. Some of the funding was thanks to a donation of profits from the sale of the book "27 steps" by , a Romanian ultramarathon runner and extreme sport athlete, one of the main ambassadors of the Via Transilvanica. The marking of the trail, including the laying of the over 1,000 andesite milestones came up to approximately 1.5 million Euros. Hundreds of volunteers took part in the marking and promotion of the route including actors Marcel Iureș and Pavel Bartoș, former prince Nicholas Medforth-Mills, journalists Andreea Esca and , activist Dragoș Bucurenci, tennis player Horia Tecău, TV presenter Charlie Ottley, and philosopher Mihaela Miroiu.
In 2023, it received the "Citizen Involvement and Awareness" award offered by Europa Nostra.
Route Via Transilvanica is divided into seven historical and cultural regions: Bucovina, the Highland, Terra Siculorum, Terra Saxonum, Terra Dacica, Terra Banatica and Terra Romana. The route spans ten of Romania's counties: Suceava, Bistrița-Năsăud, Mureș, Harghita, Brașov, Sibiu, Alba, Hunedoara, Caraș-Severin, and Mehedinți.
The trail blazing consists of either painted markings on trees and stones, or handcrafted andesite milestones, each with a unique design and weighing approximately each, position roughly one kilometer apart. The painted markings always come in the same two colors, orange and white, with the orange arrows pointing south-west, towards Drobeta-Turnu Severin, and the white arrows pointing north-east in the direction of Putna. There are also painted markings of an orange "T" on a white background. +Route#Original nameEnglish nameTowns and tourist attractionsLength1BucovinaBukovinaPutna, Sucevița, Vatra Moldoviței, Churches of Moldavia, Vatra Dornei, Poiana Stampei136 km2Ținutul de SusThe HighlandsPoiana Stampei, Tihuța Pass, Bistrița277 km3Terra SiculorumThe Székely LandCâmpu Cetății, Sovata, Praid, Archita157 km4Terra SaxonumThe Saxon LandSighișoara, Mediaș, Bazna, Micăsasa201 km5Terra DacicaThe Dacian LandBlaj, Alba Iulia, Sarmizegetusa Regia, Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa290 km6Terra BanaticaBanatBucova, Caransebeș, Reșița, Prigor, Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park232 km7Terra RomanaThe Roman LandDomogled-Valea Cernei National Park, Drobeta-Turnu Severin135 km
Extension of the Via Transilvanica Trail Terra Borza Teutonica The Tășuleasa Social Association wants to extend Via Transilvanica through all the historical regions of the country, according to a 20-year plan. The new segment, called Terra Borza Teutonica / Țara Bârsei Teutonica, stretches through Brașov County and is 172 kilometers long. Work began in Viscri on March 28, 2025, when the first andesite kilometer marker was installed on the new segment. This new segment connects the localities of Viscri, Bunești, Jibert, Șoarș, Ticușu, Mândra, Șercaia, Șinca, Șinca Nouă, Poiana Mărului, Zărnești, Moieciu, Bran, Râșnov and Brașov.
Actress and director Dana Rogoz was appointed ambassador for this section.
The new route was inaugurated on June 5, 2025.Chef de vacanță, Când se inaugurează „Terra Borza Teutonica”, noul tronson de pe Via Transilvanica. Alin Ușeriu: „Are cele mai frumoase borne!”FOTO Via Transilvanica se extinde cu un nou ținut POVEȘTI CU PROFIT 22 mai 2025, 13:44Stirile PRO-TV, Un nou traseu de drumeție a fost inagurat pe celebra Via Transilvanica. Zărneștiul s-a umplut de lume ca la defilareTransilvania Business, https://www.transilvaniabusiness.ro/2025/06/09/o-zi-istorica-pe-via-transilvanica-inaugurarea-terra-borza-teutonica-la-bran/ O zi istorică pe Via Transilvanica, inaugurarea Terra Borza Teutonica la Bran, 9 iunie 2025BRASOVSTIRI.RO Via Transilvanica are un nou traseu care conectează 18 localități din Brașov, 9 iunie 2025
See also Camino de Santiago European long-distance paths Appalachian Trail Pacific Crest Trail References
https://www.viatransilvanica.com/en/vt-guide/
External links