Brasov
Brasov is the capital city of Brasov county and it has 283,901 inhabitants. It is located at 170 kilometres from Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The highway from Bucharest to Brasov goes through Valea Prahovei (Prahova Valley) and Predeal passage. The first archaeological evidence show that this area was inhabited during the Palaeolithic era through the Iron Age. Archaeological discoveries unveiled the Dacian settlements and showed that Dacian and Roman peoples inhabited the areas of Bartolomeu, Schei and Sprenghi Hill at the base of Tampa Mountain. The most impressive monuments of antiquity is the Dacian Sanctuary from Racos. However, this is a hard to reach by visitors. Roman castra from Rasnov is also one of the witnesses of the North-East boundary of the Roman Empire that was in the 2nd century near Brasov. A stone inscription refers to the ancient Dacian name of Brasov, Cumidava. Other documents show that Brasov was named Corona in 1234, Barasu in 1252, Braso in 1288 and Brasov in 1294.
Getting to Brasov
By air
A new international airport is being developed near Brasov so that one will be able to get to Brasov via air. The nearest other airports are found in Bucharest (170 km) and Sibiu (150 km).
By train
Brasov is a very important railway junction. There are five train stations: Centrala, Bartolomeu, Stupini, Triaj, Darste.
These are routes going through Brasov:
- Brasov - Predeal - Bucharest
- Brasov - Sfantu Gheorghe - Gheorgheni
- Brasov - Rupea - Sighisoara - Oradea
- Brasov - Fagaras - Sibiu - Teius
- Brasov - Harman - Intorsura Buzaului
- Brasov - Zarnesti
- Route E54 - Arad - Deva - Teius - Vanatori - Brasov – Bucharest (in Romania) attains to the Pan-European Corridor IV
By Bus
Brasov is crossed by the Pan-European Corridor IV, European Highway E60 and the national highway DN1. There are three coach stations in Brasov ensuring connections all over Romania. The following highways go through Brasov:
Class A international routes:
- E60 Brest - Nantes - Orleans - Auxerre - Zurich - Vienna - Budapest - Oradea - Cluj Napoca - Targu Mureş - Brasov - Bucharest - Constanta
- E68 Szeged (Seghedin) - Nadlac - Arad - Deva - Sebes - Sibiu - Fagaras - Brasov
- Class B international routes:
- E574 Bacau - Onesti - Targu Secuiesc - Brasov - Pitesti - Craiova
National routes:
- DN1 Oradea - Sibiu - Fagaras - Brasov - Bucharest
- DN1A Brasov - Sacele - pasul Bratocea - Valenii de Munte - Ploiesti
- DN10 Brasov - Harman – Buzau passage - Buzau
- DN11 Brasov - Harman - Oituz passage - Onesti
- DN12 Brasov - Sfantu Gheorghe - Baile Tusnad - Miercurea-Ciuc - Toplita
- DN13 Brasov - Rupea - Sighisoara - Balauseri - Targu Mures
- DN73 Brasov - Bran - Campulung - Pitesti
In 2004 the works have started for the Transylvanian Motorway that will go through Bucharest – Brasov Cluj Napoca – Oradea – Budapest. This motorway will go around Brasov through Predeal – Rasnov – Cristian – Ghimbav – Codlea – Fagaras.
Attractions in Brasov
Black Church (Biserica Neagra)
It was built in 16th century, initially known as Church of Sfanta Maria, the Black Church is the most representative monument of Gothic architecture in Romania.
The church was burned before the year 1384 and its reconstruction lasted until 1477. An inscription discovered in the walls of the church establishes as the first founder a man named Thomas who died in the year 1410. The design used by the architects was that of a three-nave basilica.
The Black Church is the biggest worship place built in Gothic style in the South-Eastern Europe. The building measures 89 meters in length, 38 meters in width, 21 meters interior height and 40 meters exterior height. This church would accommodate around 5000 people. This was approximately the entire population of the city in that time. It was badly damaged after the fire in 1689 but rebuilt with the help of constructors from Gdansk, since local constructors did not know how to build arched roofs that large. The new arched roofs are not in Gothic style but in Baroque style.
The Black Church is not only famous due to its impressive size. Its belfry accommodates the largest bell in Romania, which is made out of bronze and weighs 6 tons. The Black Church is also known for its organ (the largest in South-Eastern Europe) with more than 4000 tubes.The Oriental carpet collection of Black Church is the largest collection of this type in Romania. The weekly concerts held here (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) are not to be missed.
The old town hall (Casa Sfatului)
Initially erected to serve as watch tower, the building was later converted in town hall as the city developed. On 23rd of December 1420, an agreement is entered by the Assembly of the District of Barsei Region and the furrier guild regarding the construction of the Town Hall. According to this agreement the representatives of the furrier guild of Brasov have allowed the 9 communes of "Barsei Region" to build on top of the arch a room for the court of justice and for the judge meetings. Due to the Turkish invasion in 1421, the destruction of a very large part of the town, as well as the arresting of the town judge, the project ha postponed. Another reference to the Town Hall (Casa Sfatului) of Brasov dates in 1503, when the building is referred to as the “Praetorium”. The building has suffered a number of alterations during the years, many of these alterations were due to the damages of natural events:
- 5th of July 1608 – lightning strikes the tower of Casa Sfatului ; the fire could not be contained until wine, vinegar and milk was poured on the fire;
- 17 June 1662 – an earthquake heavily damages Casa Sfatului ; 2 thirds of the tower collapsed;
- 24 July 1682 – a thunderstorm strikes again the “tower of trumpetists” (named so because a trumpetist announced the passing of every hour) ;
- 21 April 1689 – the great fire (put by the habsburg armies besieging the town) destroys a great part of the building.
After almost one century, in the year 1780, the reconstruction works for the Casa Sfatului come to an end and no major alterations have been done to it since. The administration of the town moves out of the building in the year 1876 into a new building at the junction of the streets Republicii and Mihail Sadoveanu.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Casa Sfatului was proposed for demolition and to be replaced by a modern building. This was avoided only due to an ample press campaign for preservation of the old historical monument. The last architectural alteration to Casa Sfatului took place in 1909-1910 when the baroque roof was replaced by the present pyramidal roof. As of 1950 the building accommodates the County History Museum.
CETATUIA (Little fortress)
Built on top of a hill in 1395, the fortress was one of the strongest in Transylvania. The old fortress on the St Martin hill was destroyed in 1529. The fortress was reconstructed in mid 16th century by the general count Arko to the approximate shape it is in nowadays. Next century refortification was performed and the fortress was renovated several times. It proved to be a safe refuge especially during revolts during Rakoczi. High maintenance expense determined the town administration to give the fortress away to Maria Tereza. The fortress returned to the municipality possession and served as prison until 1954, archive sorage facility (until 1975), and after restauration, in the year 1981 becomes a tourist attraction. Today the building serves as premises for a Romanian restaurant.
STRADA SFORII (Rope Street)
The narrowest street in eastern Europe ; this is another attraction of Brasov. The street connects the Poarta Schei Street and Cerbului Street. Its width varies between 111 and 135 cm and its length is 80 m. Although it is classified as street, the Rope Street is in fact a corridor that served as access for firefighters. Since it was real attraction for tourists, the street was restored, fitted with signs and lights in 2003 and entered into the tourist circuit.
POARTA SCHEI (Schei Gate)
Poarta Schei, also named “Wallachian gate” in other documents, was built in 1827-1828 to facilitate the communication with the fortress for the inhabitants of Scheia Bravovului. Most of the funds for the construction were provided by the Romanian tradesmen from Schei. The gate is in neoclassic style that was dominating at the time in the architecture of Brasov. It has the shape of a triumphal arch and it has three entries, a main one and two smaller ones on each side.
PIATA SFATULUI (Town Hall Square)
Piata Sfatului used to be the place for periodical fairs during the Middle Ages and Modern Era. Due to Brasov’s role in trading, Piata Sfatului was the place where tradesmen from Romanian Pricipalities, Hungary came for business. The merchandise was taxed near the gate that is found at one end of the Vamii Street (Customs Street). The town judge and the clerks of the town ensured the compliance with market regulations, as to all traders had to sit their merchandise in places established by the Town Council. Therefore, there were several fairs in the square and it proximity : Cattle, Horses, Fish Market, Linen, Wheat and Fruit Markets.
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