Brașov historic centre: Council Square and the Council House

Saxon Kronstadt below Mount Tâmpa

Brașov's old town lies in a sheltered valley below Mount Tâmpa, on the south-eastern edge of Transylvania. This was Kronstadt — one of the main towns of the Transylvanian Saxons, a wealthy centre of crafts and trade on the routes to Wallachia and Moldavia, enclosed by stone walls with towers and bastions maintained by the town's guilds. Its heart has always been Council Square (Piața Sfatului), where for centuries the market bustled and merchants from all around gathered.

In the middle of the square stands the Council House (Casa Sfatului) — the former town hall and Brașov's most important secular monument. At first there was a watchtower here, used to keep an eye on the little bridge over the stream that flowed across the square. The start of the town hall's construction is documented on 23 December 1420 in an agreement between the assembly of the Țara Bârsei district and the furriers' guild: above the guild's trading vault a room for justice and magistrates' meetings was allowed. By 1503 the building is mentioned as the "Praetorium", the seat of the town authorities. In 1521–1528 thirty masons raised the tower to more than 50 metres and built the council house around it; a clock, one of the oldest in town, appeared on the tower at that time. The cellar held a prison. Today the Council House is home to the Brașov County History Museum.

Why go

Brașov is one of Romania's most beautiful old towns, and it is best felt on foot. In an hour or two you can walk around Council Square with its colourful merchants' houses, look into the Black Church, squeeze through narrow Rope Street, reach the old town gates and look out over the roofs from the White Tower or Mount Tâmpa. Brașov is a convenient base for trips to Bran, Sinaia and the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului mountains.

What to see

• The Council House with its tower of over 50 metres — the former town hall, now the history museum.
• Council Square with merchants' houses in Gothic, Baroque and Classicist styles and a fountain in the middle.
• The Black Church — the Saxons' Gothic church a few steps from the square.
• Rope Street (Strada Sforii) — a narrow passage between houses just over a metre wide.
• Catherine's Gate of the sixteenth century with its four turrets and Șchei Gate, which led to the Romanian suburb.
• The White and Black Towers and the Weavers' Bastion — parts of the medieval fortifications with views over the old town.

Practical information

Council Square is in the middle of Brașov's historic quarter; from the railway station it is about 3 km by city bus or taxi. From the Porubne — Siret border crossing to Brașov it is about 385 km (via Suceava and Bacău or across the Eastern Carpathians), and from Solotvyno — Sighetu Marmației about 390 km. The centre is best explored on foot; traffic is restricted in part of the old town, so leave the car in the paid car parks on the edge of the centre. The square and streets are open at all times and free. The County History Museum in the Council House and the Weavers' Bastion have their own hours and tickets — check before you go; the combined Brașov Visit Ticket covers twelve museums of the county, including the Black Church and the First Romanian School museum. Allow 2–3 hours for the walk itself, half a day with Tâmpa.

Nearby

• The First Romanian School museum — beyond Șchei Gate, a 15-minute walk.
• Tâmpa — the mountain above the old town with a cable car and viewpoint.
• Postăvarul and Piatra Mare — mountain routes near Brașov.
• Bran Castle — 30 km to the south-west.

Photos: Constantin Barbu, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie from London, UK, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrei1907, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrei Dan Suciu, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.