Address: Curtea Johannes Honterus, nr. 2

Visit schedule:
- Summer time (15 June – 15 September): from Mon to Sat, 10:00 – 17:00, closed on Sundays
- Winter time: from Mon to Sat, 10:00 – 15:30, closed on Sundays
Entry fees: RON 4 (full), RON 2 (discounted)

About it

Biserica Neagra or the Black Church (German: Schwarze Kirche) is the most representative historic monument in Brasov. It was built by the German community of the city and stands as the main Gothic style monument in the country, as well as being the largest and one of the most important Lutheran (Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania) places of worship in the region.
Over 500 years old, the Black Church is the greatest Gothic church in Transylvania and, from some historians’ point of view, the greatest religious edifice from Vienna to Istanbul. More than that, inside the church there is one of the greatest organs in Europe, and also the largest collection of old carpets from Asia Minor. The construction of this Gothic Evangelic church began around 1380, in the time of Vicar Thomas Sander, and initially it was named Saint Mary’s Church.

After being finished to a great extent, the church was seriously damaged during the first Turkish invasion in 1421. The building was finished and the church was dedicated until 1477, its patron being the Holy Virgin.
Nowadays, the church has only three of the six bells which existed initially. The big bell, having a 6300 kilos weight, is the biggest church bell in Romania. It has an extremely beautiful sound and it can be heard on the occasion of the great church holidays.

The Black Church’s organ, with 4000 pipes and considered one of the biggest in Europe, was built between 1836 and 1839 by the Berlin organ maker Buchholz, and it is famous for its sonority.
 

Address: Piata Sfatului, center of the city

About it

Piata Sfatului, the former Markplatz square obtained its right to held markets in 1520, but it has been the place for annual markets since 1364 being visited by merchants from the country and abroad. The houses surrounding the square speak of a rich history.

A pillory, in the middle of the square, was used as a means for public humiliation, punishment and scorn. Witches were also punished here, but the head of the shoemaker guild, Stefan Stenert, who opposed the entry of the Austrian army into Brasov was also beheaded here in 1688. Until 1892 there have been two wells in the square. The most important building in the square is the Council House, which was built in 1420 and is located in the middle of the square. Today it houses the historical museum.

About it

Ecaterina's Gate was built in 1559 for defensive purposes. It is the only original city gate to have survived from medieval times. In fact the fairy-tale looking tower is only a part of the original gate; documents talk about the existence of a wooden structure which was demolished in 1827. The original structure can be seen at he Weaver's Bastion where the large model of Brasov in 1600 is displayed.

Old documents mention it also under the name of Porta Valacce,the Vallah's Gate because it was the only entrance for the Romanians living in Schei. They were not allowed to use the other four entrances. During the Saxon rule of the 13th to 17th century Romanians were forbidden from owning property inside the fortress walls and such they settled outside the wall in the neighborhood named Schei. Romanians could only enter the town at certain times and had to pay a toll at the gate for the privilege of selling their produce inside the citadel.
 

The four small corner turrets (also seen in other Transylvanian towns) symbolize the fact that the town had judicial autonomy, and the "right of sword" (ius gladii) which was the right to decide on capital punishment. Above the entrance the tower bears the city's coat of arms, a crown on a oak tree trunk and roots. The Gate represents a transition in style. Underneath the four symmetrical corner-spires there is a small neo-classical front-piece with an inscription. The Renaissance, which had begun 100 years earlier in Central Europe, was beginning to make its mark in Transylvania.

About it

Tampa Mountain is the natural landmark of Brasov and it can be seen from every place of the city. It is 900 m high and it has a large TV transmitter antenna on top. It is actually in the middle of Brasov, making a clear division between the old medieval part of the city and the new one.

The mountain is mostly made up of limestone formations, having risen up gradually from the Earth's crust.
Most of the mountain (1.5 km²) is officially declared a natural reservation, due to the rare animal species (bears, birds, butterflies—35% of Romanian butterfly species) and plant species (a rare Liverleaf variety, Transylvanian wind grass) that are found there.

A cable car makes the journey between the restaurant “Casa Padurarului” at the base of the mountain and the Restaurant Panoramic, on its crest, in less than three minutes. The view from the summit is spectacular, offering a panoramic view of the city; on a clear day.