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The reason for this trip may be to visit the western-most city in Romania, Sannicolau Mare. Another reason may be that you have a few hours to ride and would like to see another part of the country. The loop from Arad to Sannicolau Mare to Jimbolia, then on to Timisoara and finally back to Arad may be interesting. If you are a music aficionado, you may want to visit Hungarian composer Bela Bartok’s birthplace. If you want to see cities which were successful pre-1989, but in the emerging free-market economy have lost their luster, then you want to visit Jimbolia. But, for the joy of the ride and the scenery, this loop is not particularly inviting.

You will find the road as you leave Arad towards Timisoara—at the last intersection in the city take a right. The road displays an acceptable quality for a dual-sport, but you don’t want to bring your sport bike to explore this part. As a matter of fact, after a few kilometers the pavement turns to cobblestone and it continues like that for a good three to five miles. The only way to find a smooth ride was to get off the road and ride on the narrow cow path that parallels the actual road. It is amazing how the cobblestone road has survived the car and truck traffic of the past 50-plus years, while the asphalt sections are marred by potholes and poor conditions. As the saying goes—‘they don’t build them like they used to.’

On the road to Sannicolau Mare there are a couple of monasteries, which for those inclined, are worth a stop. Their somewhat idyllic settings and their religious art provide a moment of introspection and contemplation. Follow the signs from the main road.

Sannicolau Mare is a pleasant town, with a few restored buildings and a downtown promenade. While there is not much to do in town, it is useful for its proximity to the Hungarian border. The town is also known as the birthplace of the composer Bela Bartok. However, it would not make a destination in and of itself.

The road to Jimbolia would be a pleasant ride if the road conditions would be better. The road meanders through the plains, revealing a wide horizon and an agricultural landscape dotted with sheep, cows and the occasional goats. The area was an example of socialist economic success in the days of communist regime. It benefited from government support and considerable publicity. Today, the area suffers from abandon and economic depression. This reality is nowhere felt more poignantly than in Jimbolia—a town known as a strong manufacturing center. The Jimbolia shoes were known nationwide, and most roof tiles for new homes used to come from the town’s tile factory. That was when the government centrally planned the economy. In the new realities, it is cheaper to import both shoes and roof tiles.

From Jimbolia to Timisoara on the other hand, the road is a delight. It is tree-lined and of a good quality—a real motorcycling treat. After spending the better part of the afternoon slaloming around potholes, it was a great fun to smoothly glide over good pavement.

Would this route be worth it to anyone else? Well, on a motorcycle, probably not. At that, even in a car it would not provide much in terms of unusual attractions or scenery.

Cobblestone road

Motorcycle Adventures for the 21st Century

Roads > D59C—D59A

Bela Bartok

Sannicolau Mare

Country road