On June 11, in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, a special event was held to mark seven years since the launch of the Via Transilvanica project and three years since the full 1,400 km route was inaugurated in Alba Iulia. This year’s edition of Via Transilvanica Day focused on a key theme: cultural heritage, according to Romania Journal.
Recently, Via Transilvanica added 170 new kilometers in Brașov County through the launch of Terra Borza Teutonica. The organization also announced a 20-year development strategy for the project. Until now, the endpoint of the Via Transilvanica trail was located at the foot of Trajan’s Bridge in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. But as of June 11, the trail symbolically extends to Șimian Island.
Tășuleasa Social, the association behind the project, in collaboration with Front la Dunăre and strategic partner Banca Transilvania, with support from local authorities, placed a symbolic andesite milestone on Șimian Island. Sculpted by a Romanian artist, the milestone celebrates continuity and serves as a bridge to the local Turkish community and its cultural legacy. It also honors the memory of Ada-Kaleh, the lost island now preserved in Romania’s collective memory.
The milestone was unveiled in an intimate setting by His Excellency Mr. Özgür Kıvanç Altan, Ambassador of Turkey to Bucharest, alongside Ömer Tetik, CEO of Banca Transilvania and long-time supporter of the initiative.
Via Transilvanica Day concluded with a unique concert by Ada Milea and Alex Neagu, who brought the character Apolodor to Drobeta-Turnu Severin for the first time. Ada Milea has been a close friend of Tășuleasa Social for over 20 years and is a proud ambassador of The Road that Unites.
Launch of the Via Transilvanica Membership Program
The event also marked the launch of a new Via Transilvanica membership program, inviting the public to support the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the trail. It aims to give back to those enabling the development of this national infrastructure—one that has become a powerful ambassador for Romania worldwide.
Alin Ușeriu, president of Tășuleasa Social, stated: “The road that unites is more than a long-distance trail. It’s a path to our identity. Via Transilvanica creates a much-needed dialogue between rural and urban spaces—built on emotional connections and sustainable economic activity. It reminds us that the foundation of our identity is the peaceful coexistence of diverse ethnic communities whose legacies we must protect”.
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