Tihuța Pass (Romanian: Pasul Tihuța, also called Pasul Bârgău; Hungarian: Borgói-hágó or Burgó) is a high mountain pass in the Romanian Bârgău Mountains (Eastern Carpathian Mountains) connecting Bistrița (Transylvania) with Vatra Dornei (Bukovina, Moldavia). It is crossed by national road DN17 [ro] (part of European route E58), which starts in Dej and ends in Suceava.

Tihuța Pass
Elevation1,201 m (3,940 ft)
Traversed byE58
LocationRomania
RangeBârgău Mountains
Coordinates47°16′48″N 25°01′30″E / 47.28°N 25.025°E / 47.28; 25.025
Tihuța Pass is located in Romania
Tihuța Pass
Tihuța Pass
Location of Tihuța Pass in Romania
Relief map of Tihuța Pass

The pass was made famous by Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, where, termed as "the Borgo Pass", it was the gateway to the realm of Count Dracula. Stoker most likely found the name on a contemporary map; he never actually visited the area.

Today the pass is home to Hotel "Castel Dracula"; located at an elevation of 1,116 m (3,661 ft), the hotel was built in 1976 and adopted its current name after 1989. The hotel has become quite an attraction due to its architectural style of a medieval villa, as well as the connection to the novel. In 2018 the property was put up for sale.[1] The Tihuța Pass is now part of the Via Transilvanica long-distance trail.[2]

Tihuța Pass in winter

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Marica, Irina (March 6, 2018). "Dracula-themed hotel in Romania put up for sale". Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Vasile, Roxana (August 23, 2023). "Via Transilvanica and the Romanian identity". Radio Romania International. Retrieved November 6, 2023.