Brașov (Kronstadt in German, Brassó in Hungarian) is one of the biggest cities in Transylvania and one of the seven old German burgs of Siebenbürgen. Its metropolitan area is quite big, making it the most difficult city to drive through in Romania, except perhaps only for the capital city. Strong touristic gateway to Carpathian Mountains, close enough to Bucharest so as to attract a huge crowd, it was built on the place of an ancient Dacian community by Teutonic knights sent to fortify the Burzenland area (Țara Bârsei). A crossroads city, it resembles to Bucharest in many ways; compared to it, Sibiu is a tranquil and cozy place. My photos will take you through the old town.

This is the Council House (Casa Sfatului), the former mayor’s office, now the History Museum. It lies in the middle of Marktplatz or the Council Square (Piața Sfatului), the main square of the old town.

The pink building to the right is the Muresenilor House, hosting the Toy Museum.

The West corner of the square and, in the background, the famous view of the Black Church (Biserica Neagră), apparently the biggest Gothic church in South-East Europe. Built in 1477, it was blackened by the smoke from the 1689 great fire.

To the left is the Museum of Urban Civilization and in the background is the Tâmpa Mountain, symbol of the city (it writes “Brasov” on its summit).

One can visit Tâmpa by a cable car, for an astonishing panoramic view of the region.

The East side of the square with the beginning of the “shopping” Republicii Street.

Here is a detail of this famous shopping street.

Muresenilor Street.

The massive Black Church.

With some details…

and just next to it is a statue of Honterus.

Johannes Honter brought the Lutheran reform to the Germans in Transylvania.

The Şchei Gate, separating the Romanian Şchei district from the German inner town; Romanians had to pay a fee to get into the city.

The Catherine’s Gate, the only original gate to have survived from medieval times.

The Rope Street (Schnurgässchen), the narrowest street in Romania and one of the narrowest in Europe.

Typical roads in the city centre.