The city is placed in the inner Carpathian curve, at the foot of Tampa Mountain.Its history is ancient, with numerous settlements dating from the Neolithic era. Later, the Dacians had stable settlements in these valleys, which stretched up to the present city’s gates.

Its existence was first mentioned in a scroll dating from 1234. Brasov has thrived during those times due to the craftsmen who lived in the city and the intense trade relations it maintained with Wallachia and Moldavia’s cities.

At the end of the 13th century, Brasov’s people began building a fortress, but its walls were not yet ready when the Ottomans first invaded Transylvania (1421). As the city was conquered and burned by the Turkish army, the fortress never reached completion. However, the Turkish occupation did not last for long, and by the time the Ottoman Empire tried once again to conquer the area (in 1432), strong walls surrounding the city had been built, so the Turkish army’s attempt failed. Sheltered by its walls, the city became a thriving cultural center, which grew and became one of the most influential cities to this day.
Walking on Brasov’s streets means walking through history; with every step you take, you discover very well preserved remains of ancient times.

The Black Church is the most important monument created by the Transylvanian Saxons. Its construction was started at first by the priest Thomas Sander, in 1383, where another church, dating from the first half of the 13th century, had been. When it was almost complete, the church suffered serious damage during the first Turkish invasion in 1421. Nevertheless, by 1477, its construction was completed, and the church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.

Between 1710 and 1720, lateral Baroque galleries were added to increase the church’s capacity so that all faithful people could attend the religious services held there. The galleries were built with great finesse, fitting perfectly into the architectural ensemble.

Because of the frequent earthquakes occurring in this region and because soft sandstone was used for the construction, the building required ongoing maintenance works over time. Extensive restoration works were carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries. The statues placed in the lofts, dating from the 15th century, were heavily damaged due to bad weather, so they were replaced with replicas. The columns decorated with floral crosses had to be replaced as well. Between 1970 and 1984, extensive and costly restoration works were carried yet again. The roof above the southern façade and the inside of the church was repaired. All the windows were also replaced with new ones, which filter the light, preventing the ultraviolet rays from harming the valuable collection of oriental carpets displayed inside the church. The pews inside the church represent another important element included in the Black Church’s heritage, as well as the famous organ with 4,000 pipes, installed in 1839.
The Council Square is probably the best known and the most visited place in Brasov, sought after by travelers looking not only for a place where they can relax but also for a suitable spot from where some of the city’s unique sights can be admired. It is also a place where one can have a lot of fun: cultural and artistic events, outdoor concerts, or fairs (The Craftsmen’s Fair, The Flowers’ Fair) are frequently organized here. Moreover, Council Square is the best place to start your exploration of the Old Town.

Brasov also benefits from well-preserved fortifications dating back to the Middle Ages. Among them, the Black Tower – built in the 14th century as an observation point, integrated into the city walls. In the past, the tower was connected to the city through a bridge, which was later replaced by the Blacksmiths’ Bastion. The original roof was destroyed by lightning in 1559 and then again, by a fire, in 1689. The walls darkened with soot – hence the current name. In 1991, the tower’s southern wall collapsed after a heavy rain, but restoration works were carried in 1996.

Descending from the Schei Gate (former border between the Saxon and Romanian parts of the city), about 100 m on the right, you will come across one of the narrowest streets in Eastern Europe, the Rope Street. This tiny alley dates back to the early 13th century, and it is the only street in the town where you can touch the walls as you walk on it. It is only 1.32 m (about 4.3 feet) wide and 83 m long. Rope Street has recently been restored, and it’s now one of the important sights in the Old Town.

As it has been called because of its shape, the Graft Bastion or the Gate Bastion was built between 1515 and 1521. It was originally designed to connect the city and the White Tower. Located near the middle of the north-western part of the city, the bastion had strategic purposes: the route passing near the river bearing the same name, and the outer walls of this part of the city could be more easily defended from here.

Shaped as a pentagon, the Blacksmiths’ Bastion was the city’s defensive point at the north. The earliest mention of the bastion in a document dates back to 1529. Today, it houses the Brasov branch of the State Archives. Among many other valuable documents, this institution preserves the oldest letter written in the Romanian language and preserved until today – the letter written by a merchant named Neacşu from Campulung in 1521.

The Draper’s Bastion was one of the strongest points of defense of the medieval fortress. Its walls are 2 m thick, and it has a diameter of 16 m, with a height of 13 m. Located in the eastern corner of the city and designed in the shape of an ellipse, the bastion that can be seen today results from various restoration works that have been carried over the last years. The bastion originally belonged to Goldsmiths’ guild, which received 10 bombers and 16 harquebuses ordered from Prague as a gift. In 1640, the bastion was entrusted to the Drapers by the Goldsmiths.

The Ethnographical Museum in Brasov boasts collections that include ceramics, 18th, and 19th-century glass items, a vibrant collection of costumes and textiles, painted eggs, and icons painted on glass, metal, leather, and even on bone. The heritage preserved in this museum includes over 13,600 objects dating from the 17th to the 20th century.
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The fortress overlooking Brasov

The Brasov Citadel, originally a wooden fort with four towers, was built in 1524 on the hill where the city’s central part lies today. A high fortress wall had been on the same spot where the wooden fort was later built, but it had burned in 1618. It was rebuilt in 1625 and 1630, four towers were added at the corners. These towers have been preserved until today. An 81 m deep well was built in 1627, and the city’s emblem was imprinted in 1630 on the entrance wall. In 1688, when the masses rebelled against the Habsburg rulers, the city leaders were imprisoned in this fortress. The fortress became the headquarters of a military garrison in the 18th century.

The First Romanian School Museum is housed in the old Romanian school that belonged to St. Nicholas Church. The edifice was first mentioned in documents in 1495, but the current building dates from 1760-1761 when it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Deacon Coresi, an important Romanian scholar and printer of the 16th century, was active in this school. Editor and translator of various books in Romanian, Coresi laid the foundations of the Romanian literary language.

Don’t forget to ask your Balkantrails guide about all the other ancient treasures of BRASOV’s history, such as the Franciscan Church of Saint John, The White Tower, Catherine’s Gate, The Roman Catholic Church, or St. Bartholomew’s Church. Some of them might be a bit off the beaten track but are well worth a visit.