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, MehedinÃÂi County. Its motto is "The road that unites".
The trail was envisioned by the non-governmental organisation TÃÂÃÂuleasa Social, based in BistriÃÂa-NÃÂsÃÂud County. The way marking of trail was done in five major stages between the years 2018 and 2022:
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 IureÃÂ and Pavel BartoÃÂ, former prince Nicholas Medforth-Mills, journalists Andreea Esca and , activist DragoÃÂ Bucurenci, tennis player Horia TecÃÂu, TV presenter Charlie Ottley, and philosopher Mihaela Miroiu.
In 2023, it received the "Citizen Involvement and Awareness" award offered by Europa Nostra.
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, BistriÃÂa-NÃÂsÃÂud, MureÃÂ, Harghita, BraÃÂov, Sibiu, Alba, Hunedoara, CaraÃÂ-Severin, and MehedinÃÂi.
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.
The TÃÂÃÂuleasa 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 / ÃÂara Bârsei Teutonica, stretches through BraÃÂov 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, BuneÃÂti, Jibert, ÃÂoarÃÂ, TicuÃÂu, Mândra, ÃÂercaia, ÃÂinca, ÃÂinca NouÃÂ, Poiana MÃÂrului, ZÃÂrneÃÂti, Moieciu, Bran, RâÃÂnov and BraÃÂov.
Actress and director Dana Rogoz was appointed ambassador for this section.
The new route was inaugurated on June 5, 2025.
https://www.viatransilvanica.com/en/vt-guide/