The best running trails in Rezervația Naturală Lempeș

Brașov was founded in the 13th century by German settlers (Transylvanian Saxons), who were called by King Andrew II of Hungary to settle and defend the Burzenland (Țara Bârsei). The Saxons shaped the city for centuries as a center of trade and crafts, making Brașov one of the most important cities in Transylvania. In the Middle Ages, Brașov was an important hub on the trade routes between Europe and the Ottoman Empire and housed one of Romania's first printing presses. The city was also a center of the Reformation and was home to a strong Hungarian and Romanian community.

The heart of Brașov is the Old Town (Cetatea), which is surrounded by a completely preserved city wall with eight towers and seven bastions. The narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, and colorful houses from the 16th to 18th centuries give the city a fairytale charm. Particularly worth seeing is the Great Square (Piața Sfatului), the central square of the city, which is lined with patrician burgher houses and the Old Town Hall. The famous Christmas market, one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe, also takes place here.

The heart of Brașov is the Old Town (Cetatea), surrounded by a completely preserved city wall with eight towers and seven bastions. The narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, and colorful houses from the 16th to 18th centuries give the city a fairytale charm. Particularly worth seeing is the Great Square (Piața Sfatului), the city's central square, which is lined with patrician burgher houses and the Old Town Hall. The famous Christmas market, one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe, also takes place here.

Highly recommended. With live music and a great atmosphere.

The Black Tower is one of the four watchtowers of the Brașov Citadel, built as an independent fortress outside the citadel walls. The tower, a good eleven meters high, stands not far from the Blacksmiths' Bastion on a rock on the Warta Hill. Its walls are two meters thick at the base and have six loopholes on each side. In the past, the tower was connected to the citadel by a movable bridge leading down to the Blacksmiths' Bastion (Graft Bastion). The tower was built in the 15th century, at the same time as the White Tower. Its first documented mention dates back to 1541. The original roof is no longer preserved, having been destroyed by lightning in 1559 and by fire in 1689. The fire blackened the walls of the tower, giving it its current name. It was destroyed again by lightning in 1696, but was rebuilt.

The Old Town Hall, located on Town Hall Square in the historic center, is Brașov's most important secular monument. The town hall was originally a watchtower, the foundations of which lay on those of the present tower. The adjacent building was constructed later, with construction work beginning on December 23, 1420. The Turkish invasion of 1421 and the resulting destruction, as well as the arrest of the city judge, delayed construction. The building was only later converted into the town hall. It was first mentioned in 1503, when it appears as the "Praetorium," the seat of the city administration. From 1950 onward, the Old Town Hall housed the Brașov State Museum, which later became the Brașov County History Museum.

The Black Church, along with the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, houses Europe's largest collection of oriental carpets from the 15th and 16th centuries. The interior of the Black Church is dominated by the vibrant colors of the approximately 110 oriental carpets on display. Even a layperson will be impressed by the multitude of nuances and patterns of this unusual decoration. To adorn the church, wealthy members of the community and guild masters donated brightly colored Ottoman textiles, especially carpets. Produced in Anatolia, these were traded to Kronstadt, where they were acquired by the citizens to decorate the altar, pulpit, or pews.

The Black Church (Biserica Neagra) is the parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran parish of Brașov. The late Gothic building was partially damaged in the fire of 1689, and the soot stained its walls black. The popular name "Black Church" after the fire was officially adopted in the 19th century. The present Black Church stands on the site of an older Romanesque church from the 13th century, which was destroyed during the Tatar invasion of 1241. Construction began in 1383. The Turkish invasion of 1421 interrupted construction and forced the city to focus on fortifications. The year 1477 can be considered the final year of construction on the church. At 89 meters long and 38 meters wide, the Black Church is the largest Gothic religious building in Southeast Europe. It can accommodate approximately 5,000 people.