Brașov county brings you face to face with a gothic mountain world. You walk through the old city where the Black Church holds the largest collection of carpets in Europe. Mount Tâmpa stands right behind the buildings and you can take a cable car to the Brasov sign on top. The cobblestone streets are narrow, like Rope Street, which is one of the skinniest in the world. It is the most popular mountain hub for a reason.
Take a short drive to the high rock where Bran castle sits. This fortress has dark towers and secret wooden stairs hidden behind a fireplace. It is the most famous spot in the country for a spooky thrill. The mist often wraps around the stone walls in the early morning. It is a rugged place that feels like a jump back in time.
The surrounding forests are home to the Libearty Sanctuary, where over 100 rescued brown bears live in the oak trees. The roads climb high into the pine woods toward Poiana Brașov, a world-class mountain resort. Every turn offers a new view of the grey Piatra Craiului peaks. It is a must for any nature lover. You can find mountain huts that serve hot blueberry schnapps to hikers.
Brașov (county) highlights
- Bran Castle Climb the rocky stairs of this iconic fortress to see dark towers and secret passages that haunt the hills. Known for its links to old legends, the castle offers a spooky and dramatic mountain vibe for every guest. The views from the balcony look out over the winding mountain roads and the village below.
- Râșnov Fortress Explore a massive peasant castle that sits on a high limestone rock overlooking the entire green valley. You can walk through the old stone streets where people once lived for safety during the ancient wars. It is a rugged and powerful site that feels like a real step back into the middle ages.
- Zărnești Bear Sanctuary See over one hundred rescued bears playing in a massive oak forest that covers the rolling hills. This park offers a safe and respectful way to watch these great animals in their natural forest home. It is a heart warming stop that adds a layer of nature to your mountain road trip.
- Piatra Craiului Ridge Tackle the trails along a sharp limestone ridge that looks like a giant stone saw blade in the sky. This range offers some of the most rugged and beautiful hiking paths in the entire country for guests. The views from the top show a wild and rocky world that is truly unforgettable for any fan.
- Viscri Fortified Church Drive to a world famous village with bright blue houses and a strong stone church on a hill. Time has stopped here and the old ways of the farm and the craft are still very much alive. It is a peaceful and authentic spot that shows the unique mix of local and Saxon cultures.
- Făgăraș Citadel Visit a grand water castle that has never been taken by force during its long and heroic history. The moats are still full of water and white swans, making the stone walls look very pretty and calm. You can walk the battlements and see the deep dungeons that once held the enemies of the state.
- Racoș Volcano Walk through an old volcanic crater that looks like a red and orange desert in the middle of green hills. The nearby basalt columns rise like giant stone pipes made by the cooling lava of the ancient earth. It is a strange and beautiful landscape that offers great photos and a unique nature walk.
- Prejmer Fortress Step inside a church protected by a massive circular wall that holds hundreds of small rooms for safety. This site was built to keep an entire village safe and has stood against many invaders over the years. It is a fascinating look at the clever ways the local people defended their lives and faith.
- Sâmbăta de Sus Find a grand monastery at the foot of the highest peaks where the air is fresh and cold. This is a center for art and spirit set in a lush mountain meadow filled with wild flowers. The stone carvings and the quiet ponds create a sense of deep peace and lasting beauty for everyone.
- Transfăgărășan North Start your climb into the high clouds from the northern side to see the famous zig zag road from below. This section of the highway offers a steep and thrilling drive past waterfalls and jagged grey rock walls. It is the ultimate mountain road that every traveler should experience at least once in their life.
The local Four
History of Brașov (county)
Brașov is a medieval titan that has guarded the mountain passes of Transylvania for over eight hundred years. Founded by the Teutonic Knights and developed by Saxon merchants the region became a wealthy trading powerhouse between the Ottoman East and the European West. The massive Black Church remains the largest gothic structure in the region and still carries the soot marks from the great fire of 1689. Its thick walls and surrounding bastions tell the story of a city that was forced to become a fortress to survive centuries of nomadic invasions.
The county is world famous for Bran Castle which sits on a limestone hook overlooking the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. While the castle is linked to the dark tales of Vlad the Impaler it served for centuries as a vital customs post and later as a favorite summer home for Queen Marie. Nearby the Rasnov Fortress stands as a rare example of a peasant citadel where an entire village would hide with their livestock during sieges. These stone guardians were the front line of defense for the entire Transylvanian plateau.
A road trip through these mountains reveals the history of the Saxon fortified churches in villages like Viscri where the clock has seemingly stopped in the 18th century. The high roads lead to Poiana Brașov which was once a humble grazing field for the city sheep before becoming the premier mountain resort of the country. You can see the old city gates where different ethnic groups were once forced to live apart under strict medieval laws. Brașov is a place where every mountain peak holds a watchtower and every cobbled street carries an imperial secret.