Discover Brașov

A taste of Brașov

Braşov is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania — a perfectly preserved medieval Saxon town tucked into the steep horseshoe of the Southern Carpathians, with the dramatic Mount Tâmpa rising 940m directly behind the main square and the imposing Gothic Black Church anchoring the centre. Founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights and one of the seven walled Saxon towns of Transylvania, Braşov was famously prosperous on the medieval Saxon trade routes; the German-speaking Saxon population that built the city has dwindled since WWII, but the architecture survives largely intact. The cobbled Council Square (Piața Sfatului) is its heart, framed by colourful baroque burgher houses and the Gothic Council House (now the County History Museum). The Black Church — so called because the 1689 fire blackened its walls — is the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul, with the largest collection of Anatolian rugs outside Turkey hanging in the gallery (donated by 17th-century merchants). Climb the panoramic Mount Tâmpa cable car for the view over the red-tiled rooftops. Don't miss the narrow Rope Street (Strada Sforii — one of the narrowest in Europe), the medieval Catherine's Gate, the Schei district outside the walls (the historic Romanian quarter), and a day trip up to Bran Castle (28km, 'Dracula's Castle') or to the Romanesque Preăl Resort for skiing in winter.