Tihuța Pass (DN17), also known as Bârgău Pass or Borgo Pass, sits at an altitude of 1201 meters in the Bârgău Mountains, linking Transylvania to Moldavia through the connection between Bistrița and Vatra Dornei. The road has a rich history stretching back to Roman times and gained a particular fame through Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula,” which placed the vampire count’s castle in this very area.
At the summit stands the Castel Dracula Hotel, built in the 1980s in a Gothic style as a tribute to the literary legend. The surroundings are dominated by dark spruce and fir forests that lend the place a mysterious atmosphere, especially on foggy days. Views extend across the Bârgău Valley and the surrounding mountain massifs.
Tihuța Pass is open year-round and serves as an important transit route between two of Romania’s historic regions. In winter, the road can be affected by heavy snowfall and blizzards, but it is consistently maintained. The area is ideal for mountain hiking in the warm season and winter sports in the cold months, while also providing access to the resorts along the Dorna Valley.