This road is the western section of a loop around the Rodna Mountains, in the northern part of Romania. The road quality is average, but the views make this road worth the ride. The road starts in-between the towns of Viseu de Sus and Borsa, at the intersection with Highway 18.

The mountains make this road an entertaining ride. Ten kilometers into the ride, you arrive in the small village of Sacel. There is not much here, except for an out-of-the-way shop producing traditional Sacel pottery. But, unless the folks running the shop post better signs, you may have a difficult time finding this place. The pottery is nonetheless beautiful in its simplicity.

From Sacel, you begin a quick climb toward Setrel Pass at 825 meters. The views open up the higher you climb. As far as you can see, it is dotted with mountains and rich forests. The road continues to offer twists and turns for 45 kilometers or so, all the way into Nasaud. A few kilometers before Nasaud, the road goes through the small village of Cosbuc, named after its best-known citizen—George Cosbuc (1866-1918)—who was a nationally acclaimed poet and activist.

Nasaud is not much to see, aside from its central square with quirky sculptures. It is, however, the center of a distinct ethnic and cultural area. The villagers around Nasaud still wear traditional clothing, hand-embroidered, as well as hats accented with peacock feathers.

The road moves south from here towards Bistrita. The 20 kilometers between the two towns are pleasant, with a few sharp turns thrown in for good measure. The ride is not demanding, allowing for plenty of gazing at the surrounding hills, dotted by orchards. Coming into Bistrita, the road runs atop a ridge, offering a colorful view of the city below.

Bistrita is a bustling market town with several new residential neighborhoods in construction on its outskirts. It is home to the Coroana de Aur (Golden Crown), a hotel made famous by Bram Stoker's character, Jonathan Harker who supposedly stayed here. In fact, the town and the Bargau Valley were at the epicenter of Stoker’s Dracula story (the forested valley is supposed to house Dracula’s castle). Oddly enough, there was no hotel at the time the book  was published—it was built later.

Sacel

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DN17C

DN17C

Sacel Pottery

Motorcycle Adventures for the 21st Century