Brasov in Romania - almost like Hollywood

In Romania, at the foot of the Carpathians, there is a city that greets visitors with large white letters. It is Brasov, which, in the image of Hollywood, placed its name on a green hill.

One of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania - Brasov lies at the foot of the menacing mountains. There is a street claiming to be the narrowest in Europe, i.e. Strada Sforii (Sznurowa Street), not exceeding 132 cm wide. These are not all the "best" that are associated with the city. In Brasov's Black Church, one of the main attractions of the region, you can admire the largest organ in Transylvania. They consist of 4,000 pipes. The temple also has the heaviest bell in Romania, weighing almost 6.3 tons.

Treasures of Brasov

In the past, Brasov was a center of trade - due to its location, it attracted merchants from different parts of the world. In slightly less ancient times it was called the City of Stalin (Oraşul Stalin), and today it is an important tourist, cultural and historical center. The most beautiful monuments are located in the center, surrounded by three hills. The heart of the old part of the city is the market square (Piaţa Sfatului) with a late Gothic town hall, which was built as an extension of the old watchtower. In the old days, it was used to warn residents against invaders. Currently, the town hall houses a historical museum.

The market square is surrounded by historic tenement houses built in various architectural styles. Near the town hall there is an orange Casa cu Cerb that looks a bit like the Cloth Hall in Kraków. Its function was the same as that of the buildings from the city of Krak - in the past, merchants used to exhibit their goods here, tempting the inhabitants with them.

On the north-eastern side of the square you will find the 19th-century Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God. "We'll find" is a good word, because to do so, you have to enter through the gate and then through a small yard. However, a monument that you do not need to look for, because you can see it from a distance, is the already mentioned stone Black Church (Biserica Neagră). It is the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe, a huge building that can accommodate approximately 5,000 worshipers. Its name comes from the color of the facade - the temple was scorched during the great fire in 1869, which burned down the entire city.

Brasov from a bird's eye view

Braov also looks beautiful from above. If we have more time, we can take the gondola to the Tampa Hill . Its top offers a wonderful panorama of the entire city center. While on site, you can make a pleasant trip to the nearby nature reserve.

The area invites to come at any time of the year. In the warm months, you can walk for hours in the forested hills, while in winter the town is visited by skiing enthusiasts. In the close vicinity there is a popular ski resort, Poiana Brasov .

Overnight at the foot of the Carpathians

Where can I stay while hiking in Transylvania? Many hotels as well as several campsites await the guests. One of them is Camping Dirste Brasov , where 2 people will spend the night in a motorhome or caravan for 65 leagues. A stay of a child aged 4-12 costs 12 lei a day. The campsite is located on the European E60 road in the picturesque Timis valley. The location at the foot of the Piatra Mare massif is another advantage, just like the size - it has 80 parking spaces with access to electricity and chemical toilets. Tourists can also stay in 1 of 8 bungalows, 108 cottages or 5 rooms in a mini-hotel. There are 180 places for tents here.

When going to Brasov, it is worth visiting the legendary house of Count Dracula, i.e. the Bran Castle located approx. 30 km away. And then you can move on through Romanian spaces.