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This is an enjoyable and pleasant ride through the southwestern corner of Romania. The road runs into several older and lower Carpathian Mountains, giving you plenty of demanding curves and inspiring scenery. Ridden in conjunction with Highway 57 along the Danube, this can make for one of the most unforgettable rides in Romania.

The road starts in Caransebes, an average size town with not much to offer a touring motorcyclist (except for available gas stations). The city served as the judicial center for the region during the Middle Ages, and as a Habsburg garrison during the 18th and 19th centuries. The city’s center displays a collection of pleasant architecture, in the typical style of the belle époque. Yet, for the remaining areas, the stamp of communist urban planning is quite visible.

Leaving Caransebes, the road runs toward Resita for 40 kilometers. The road and the ride constitute one of Romania’s real gems. The asphalt is incredibly good, the road markings sharply clear, and the layout absolutely entertaining. You move through curve after curve, spaced out just enough to provide an engaging rhythm, while stealing glances at the gently rolling hills and the blooming orchards flanking the road. The ride also moves across ridges, taking you up and bringing you down into valleys and more turns. The ride has the feel of an old roller coaster—great fun but gentler, with good speed and plenty of entertainment.

Entering the city of Resita, you know that you have arrived in a major industrial center. The town has been working iron since Roman times, over 2,000 years ago. The foundry in town dates from 1771, the metal created here was also used to produce locomotives from 1872 to 1964. In fact, as you ride through town, you will likely see a collection of locomotives on display in a makeshift open-air museum. Aside from the city center, steel mills, factories and conveyor belts mar much of the landscape. Overall, it looks worn and abandoned, despite the fact that many of them are still operational.

Resita serves as a springboard to the Semenic Mountains and its outdoor attractions—hiking, skiing, off-roading. The road that goes to the Semenic alpine resort is well marked through town. It is absolutely worth the trip. For more details, read the description for Highway DN58B.

From Resita, DN58 moves south through a particularly scenic path. The ride moves through idyllic forests, tight valleys and attractive villages. The road runs by the Caras Gorges and the Semenic National Park, alongside the Anina Mountains. At times, especially with low traffic, you feel like the only rider for kilometers. The landscape around you exudes an aura of mystery and enchantment. Of course, with only 36 kilometers into Anina, it does not last very long.

Anina is a small town in the mountains, another victim of the communist industrial revolution. Once an industrial center, today it is all but forgotten—empty buildings and warehouses dotting the town’s view. From Anina, though, there are another 19 kilometers of highly rewarding mountain road. The ride into Oravita runs through the mountains, and provides the motorcyclist with tight turns, a few hairpin curves and great views. The ride is fun!

Oravita is an old town, and many of its buildings stand witness to that. The streets are narrow, bisected by even narrower alleyways and the houses are built almost onto the road. Because of this fact, every street sound is highly amplified—including the customized car stereos and ‘tuner’ pipes blowing by.

Highway DN58 stops in Oravita. But the ride south toward and along the Danube is fairly short with only 40 kilometers left to Moldova Noua on Highway DN57. For more details, read the DN57 page. Is the ride worth it? Absolutely! The photos tell the story best.

Anina

Roads > DN58

Anina

Road to Resita

Road to Oravita

DN58

Motorcycle Adventures for the 21st Century