landmark
Sibiu
A beautifully preserved medieval Saxon city with pastel-colored houses featuring distinctive eye-shaped roof windows overlooking grand squares.
20 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeRomaniaSibiu County
Racoviţa
Sibiu County, Romania · Europe
About Racoviţa
Racoviţa works well as a base: 10 minutes from Avrig, 21km from Bâlea Waterfall.
Racoviţa is in Sibiu County, Romania, with about 2,800 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Avrig, about 5 km away.
Racovița (Racovița-Olt until 1931; German: Rakowitza or Rakevets; Hungarian: Oltrákovica or colloquially Rákovica) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 2,606 inhabitants (2021 census) and is composed of two villages, Racovița and Sebeșu de Sus (Oltfelsősebes).
The first officialRead more
mention of the then-village was in a 22 May 1443 "gift" act of John Hunyadi. Church documents first mention the village on 8 July 1647, when George I Rákóczi names Ion din Ţichindeal as archpriest over 17 villages around Sibiu, including Racovița. The rich history of the village is linked to the military border with Transylvania established by empress Maria Theresa of Austria in 1765. At the time, Racovița was part of the 7th Company of the First Border Regiment in Orlat.
Starting in 1698, before the village was completely militarised, the village and its area were confronted with severe religious conflicts due to the decision made by the Alba-Iulia Orthodox Church to unite with the Catholic Church.
Soldiers and villagers participated enthusiastically in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Once the military border was abolished in 1851, important village members took initiative to manage the Regiment School Funds and became actively involved in the Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and the Culture of the Romanian People.
During World War I, soldiers from Racovița served in the army from 1916 to 1918 and received distinctions for fighting against "Russian Poland", Galicia, Albania, Italy, Serbia. and even France.
Where to Stay in Racoviţa
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Racoviţa?
Within an hour or so of Racoviţa: Sibiu (20 km), Sibiu Piata Mare (20 km), Bâlea Waterfall (21 km), Transfagarasan Viewpoint (22 km).
Are there any good drives near Racoviţa?
The nearest famous roads are Transfagarasan (DN7C), Transfăgărășan Highway and Transalpina.
Where is Racoviţa?
Racoviţa is in Sibiu County, Romania, about 5 km from Avrig.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,824
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Romania
- Region
- Sibiu County
- Timezone
- Europe/Bucharest
- Coordinates
- 45.6833, 24.3500
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Romania
Rovinieta (road tax sticker) required for all national roads.
Full driving guide for RomaniaTags
Worth the detour from Racoviţa
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Sibiu Piata Mare
Main square of Sibiu's Saxon old town, surrounded by guild houses and connected to the Bridge of Lies and Council Tower.
20 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Bâlea Waterfall
Romania's largest cascade waterfall, dropping 60 m below the Bâlea lake on the northern ramp of the Transfăgărășan.
21 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Transfagarasan Viewpoint
The summit of Romania's spectacular mountain highway, called 'the best road in the world' by Top Gear, with views of Balea Lake and the Fagaras range.
22 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Balea Lac Mountain Cafe
A remote alpine cafe at the summit of Romania's Transfagarasan Highway beside Balea Lake, atop what Jeremy Clarkson called 'the best road in the world.'
23 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Transfăgărășan Highway
Romania's spectacular mountain road crossing the Carpathians - 'best road in the world' per Top Gear
23 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Bâlea Lake
A glacial lake at 2,034m crowning the Transfăgărășan, reached by car in summer or cable car in winter.
23 km · about 25 min drive
tunnel
Bâlea Tunnel (Transfăgărășan)
At 2,040 m the highest road tunnel in Romania, cutting through the ridge at the top of the Transfăgărășan.
23 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Racoviţa
- 22 kmTransfagarasan ViewpointThe summit of Romania's spectacular mountain highway, called 'the best road in the world' by Top Gear, with views of Balea Lake and the Fagaras range.
- 23 kmTransfăgărășan HighwayRomania's spectacular mountain road crossing the Carpathians - 'best road in the world' per Top Gear
- 23 kmBâlea LakeA glacial lake at 2,034m crowning the Transfăgărășan, reached by car in summer or cable car in winter.
- 23 kmBâlea Tunnel (Transfăgărășan)At 2,040 m the highest road tunnel in Romania, cutting through the ridge at the top of the Transfăgărășan.
- 23 kmTransfagarasan (DN7C)Ceausescu's road over the Fagaras mountains to 2,042m at Balea Lac, with stacked hairpins, a tunnel and a waterfall. Open only in summer.
- 63 kmTransalpina (DN67C)Romania's highest road at 2,145m at Urdele, a lonely ridge-running route over the Parang mountains.
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