Ghimes Pass (DN12A)
DN12A is a secondary national road that connects the cities of Onești and Miercurea Ciuc. The road crosses the Eastern Carpathians, following the valley of the Trotuș River and passing through the Ghimeș-Palanca Pass. This mountain pass has a rich history, being a strategic point during World War I.
Information
- Open all year
- Asphalt quality: 8/10
- Scenery: 8/10
- Distance: 7/10 ( around 60-80 km)
- Traffic 8/10*
- Winding: 8/10
*traffic points
1 = very heavy traffic, 10 = no traffic at all.
Twisted Points:
Route
East to West: Comanesti – Miercurea Ciuc
Quick Tips
- Ghimeș-Făget Railway Museum (Canton 30): Located at the edge of the pass, the museum is in a historic former railway canton building. The exhibition contains items, instruments, uniforms, and documents related to the railway history of the area. Right next to the museum are a subterranean bunker and the old border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- Rákóczi Fortress Ruins: Above the Railway Museum are the ruins of this fortress, which once served as a customs point. Although the remains are modest, the area offers a panoramic view of the Trotuș Valley.
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Lake Frumoasa is an accumulation lake located in Harghita County, on the upper course of the Frumoasa River, at an altitude of 920 meters. It’s an artificial lake, created by a rockfill dam completed in 1985, which stands 43 meters high. The primary purpose of the dam was to supply drinking water to the cities of Miercurea Ciuc and Bălan.