Opel Insignia 6,000 km through Europe Country Tourer. Things we learned along the Danube river

When you launch a project in the Danube Delta go to that river sources must take into account that you will not just go along a river simple, but you'll traverse by car, a whole history. And if here and go to Paris and then come back, it's like time travel
Opel Insignia 6,000 km through Europe Country Tourer. 10 things we learned along the Danube 6,000 km Opel Insignia Country Tourer in Europe. 10 things we learned along the Danube

We came back a while the adventure called traveler along the Danube. There is nothing, and things have started to settle, because through 6,000 km in just 12 days fills you many sensations, memories and ideas, it is sometimes hard to tell how long are hot. As you know, our travel partner was an Opel Insignia Country Tourer, and the three major stages told them leisurely as many items on promotion.

Here, below, a summary manner, I hope, all those who want to make such a race in Europe.

1. Where better to leave the country if you go to the West?

If you come from Bucharest, quieter choice is to take the Turnu Severin - Caransebes - Timişoara - Cenad. Except Orşova area - Lugoj, fewer trucks and hazardous areas. If you do not catch any accident between Orşova and Caransebeş, it goes decent to good, and the scenery is superb. If you hurry or center of the country you come from or Moldova, obviously by Sibiu, will choose whether to go to Nadlac or Timişoara - Cenad (Cenad is less crowded).

Olt Valley can ruin your accounts. An accident here means waiting at least an hour!

The point is the average speed with which we managed to cross Romania took was 69 km / h, with a consumption of 6.7 l / 100km (Bucharest - Turnu Severin - Cenad with a generous portion of sloppy way the boilers) without me too quick, but he returned average speed was 78 km / h, the direction Cenad - Timişoara - Sibiu - Bucharest) because portions of the highway, but consumes a little higher. It is absolutely clear that Turnu Severin version will come out of the question when we have the highway Nadlac - Sibiu ready.

2. What not to miss in Romania while you go to the West?

Depending on the time that you have available, do not miss, as the driver, the road between Tulcea and Macin absolutely gorgeous, and the novelty of a ferry crossings to Calarasi (and the road between Cernavoda and Silistra is beautiful, although it's not really just asphalt OK everywhere). Make a stop at Sucidava city, next to the ship to see the remains of Constantine the Great bridge and tunnel leading to a secret underground fountain old over a thousand years, then a must not miss the Danube Gorges, one of the most beautiful roads the country (note the suspension and wheels here). If you take along the Danube, as we did, make a stop in Sibiu and one in Alba Iulia, to see the city renovated not regret it!

Dobrogea remains one of the most beautiful lands seen along the Danube

Any drive to the West should start with at least two days spent in Romania, but not run, but leisurely. If it's summer, you "risk" a Transfăgărăşan or Transalpina, you will enjoy a very picturesque mountains crossing. If you are still utterly hurry, take advantage of brand new highway cuts and give her fur. With moderation. :)

3. How to take vignettes for Hungary, Slovakia, Austria? And how much? But the rest of Europe?

For Hungary's MOL gas station stops in Romania and any you can buy at a very good price. Note that if you want to take it to the booths of the customs, you will get more expensive. For Austria you can take it directly in the first Shell after the Hungarian border. For Slovakia, as in petrol stations in this country.

In Hungary, the vignette is electronic (no longer have to stick anything on the windshield, just to keep your receipt) and costs 10 euros for a week, 16 euros and 141 euros a month for a year. In Austria, a vignette costs 8.5 euros for 10 days for two months and 24.8 euros 82.7 euros for 1 year. In Slovakia, a vignette for 10 days costs 10 euros, 14 euros and 50 euros a month for a whole year.

So far, Romanian motorway outside rovigneta not pay anything. But there are few! (A1 Deva - Sibiu)

In Germany you do not pay any fee, but note that in Austria, if you take the mountain roads, you may have to pay special fees for access tunnels and alpine area.

But the advantage of Austrian secondary roads, especially along the Danube. They are sublime!

In France you will pay on average about 13 euro per 100 km of highway, for a car. Paris - Strasbourg, for example, costs 38 euros!

4. How is the state of the roads and where I get faster?

DN's and Romanian highways are in very good condition in this direction, including the road to Cenad, which is going very strong. Unfortunately, between Turnu Severin - Caransebeş and Sibiu - Pitesti are two areas that have a high risk of accident and the speed is low because of overcrowded traffic. Motorways in Hungary are in very good condition (which I can not say about the state of secondary roads near Budapest, crossing, potholed, beautiful scenery), but highway entrance is in poor condition to Austria to Vienna. Not as bad as those in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are execrable, but thereabouts.

Secondary roads in Austria and Germany are the dream! Did I mention it? (Germany)

You work well and hard in Hungary and once you get to Vienna, almost everyone goes 136 km / h on the clock, but not you glad you came to Germany, because no speed limit portions are increasingly shorter and more crowded, which is why your average speed will decrease and, in fact, while consumption will increase because of frequent differences of speed - long portions of the highway is in progress and go 80-90 km / h, followed by sections without speed limit, but you'll sit quietly behind a column nene influencing the trucks with 110 km / h (without flashes in Germany or in any civilized country, right ?!).

5. Where worthwhile to stop in Hungary, Austria and Germany, if you go along the Danube?

Do not miss the old Hungarian capital Esztergom, just outside Budapest, where you can have a magnificent view of the Danube. The roads here are superb, although the tarmac is in poor condition, repeat. Go then along secondary roads that turn the Danube just north of Vienna and continued so until the Regensburg, Germany. I assure you that the landscape is incredibly beautiful.

If you spend the night in Melk area, do not miss Stiegl beer. Unfiltered, to draft. Sublime

Stops on the way, as I stopped and us: Melk, small Austrian town with a huge abbey at Linz, the monument Walhalla near Regensburg, but also Abusina Roman camp, near Ingolstadt. Enjoy leisurely entire area of ​​Sigmaringen and Donaueschingen, because here you have a lot of medieval castles, a more arrogant than another, and here is a river Danube as all other - even disappears under the ground at a time!

Yes, this is the Danube. Disappeared. Under earth. Path of several kilometers!

But beware that most castles are assaulted by tourists, so should your research in advance about the costs of visiting and especially parking areas available. Also, do not expect to see much from "sources" of the Danube, which are under renovation. Rather spend your time meandering roads and beautiful in the area, visiting other castles, especially those of Hohenzollern. And obviously, the magnificent castle of Sigmaringen, who gave us two of our kings!