Transilvania Epoque MTB Feldioara 49 km Feldioara - Rotbav - L. Rotbav - Maierus - Aita Mare - Feldioara (ADE 73)

*** 2022 May. Route length: 49 km. Offroad / gravel road: 16 km; asphalt / concrete slabs: 33 km

*** description, map & photos by FB page "Green trails MTB outdoor-fun"

*** Duration: 7h30m in my case, moderate pace; this duration included enough breaks to admire the landscapes, photos, visiting some attractions on the route and a lunch break at a location in Maierus. Bike type: MTB XC hardtail (not an E-bike). The photos were taken on the uploaded route but may belong to different periods / seasons.

*** My favs: --- visiting the charming Feldioara fortress (km 0,3); the road along the Rotbav lake between km 9,8 - 12,7 and the one near the Olt river bank between km 3,9 - 4,8 and between km 17,7 - 19,4.

*** On the route: the fortified evangelical church in Feldioara (km 0); the Feldioara fortress - Marienburg (km 0,3); the fortified evangelical church in Rotbav (km 6,5); the fortified evangelical church in Maierus (km 15,8); the fortified evangelical church in Apata (km 25,4); the fortified Unitarian church in Aita Mare (km 28,8); the Gothic-style Roman Catholic church in Haghig (km 45; the registered map passes by the base of the hill on which the church stands); the fortified Reformed church in Haghig (km 45,4).

*** For the part of the tour that takes place on asphalt - I found, in most cases, solutions to avoid heavy traffic - using either sections next to the road (for example - additional space next to the traffic lane, green space; or bike lanes as much as they existed), or streets with less traffic - which for me was safe enough.

After just a few dozen meters from the start of this bike trip, I visited the beautiful Feldioara fortress - Marienburg, entering at km 0.7 on the gravel road between the railway and the Olt river which led me into the village of Rotbav. After re-entering offroad at km 9.1, I went about 700 meters on a section that can get a bit messy after rain, after which followed the beautiful gravel road that climbs several times on the dike and winds its way between the lake and the Olt.

After strolling through the village of Maierus, there was an excursion along the bank of the Olt, this time the road became grassy between km 19.3 - 22.3 which runs approximately 400 meters from km 21.7 on the little dike located to the left of the stream, and after crossing the railway bridge (on the section next to the metal bridge; I paid special attention here as the railway is trafficked) I continued for about 200 meters on the dike to the right of the stream, entering at km 22.3 on asphalt (and from here until the end of the tour there was only one small excursion offroad, between km 28.9 - 29.4). The road continues undulating until the village of Haghig and after crossing the Olt and the railway, I returned with a climb of about 600 meters towards the place where I began my bike trip.

Have fun :)