Egg Hill, Dealul Oului, is a gentle rise near the village of Șintereag in Bistrița-Năsăud, and the Romans used it as a watch post on the north-eastern frontier of Dacia. Like the other sites in this area, it is part of the frontier listed by UNESCO in 2024, and like many of them, it is more a place to imagine than to see: a low hill, a few traces in the ground, a wide view over the valley of the Șieu and the hills toward Bistrița. Șintereag, a village of a few thousand, lies close by, with Șieu-Odorhei and Cociu as neighbours.
The nearby city of Bistrița is known around the world for a reason that has little to do with its real history: it appears in Bram Stoker's Dracula as the town where Jonathan Harker stays at the Golden Krone before heading to the count's castle. The real Bistrița was a prosperous Saxon trading town, with a fine Gothic Evangelical church and a tall tower. East of the city, the road climbs to the Tihuța pass, the Borgo pass of the novel, at over a thousand metres, before descending into Bucovina.
The riding is good, especially if you head east into the mountains. The road toward the Tihuța pass is a classic, with long curves, forests and views of the Călimani mountains. The roads around Șintereag are calmer, crossing gentle hills with farms and orchards. Surfaces vary, and there are horse carts and livestock on the roads. Watch for local drivers overtaking on blind bends. Weather in the hills is mild, but the mountains bring storms in summer and snow in winter.
Beclean, about eight kilometres away, is the nearest town with fuel and services, and Bistrița has everything. Food here is typical of northern Transylvania, with soups, polenta, cheese, smoked meats and cakes. Plum brandy is a local pride. The Roman site is quiet, often with just a farmer and a dog for company, so enjoy the view and the peace. Then, if the light is good, ride east to the Tihuța pass and see the mountains that Stoker never visited but described with such gothic relish.