As the Easter weekend approaches, many Brits will jet off across the world to make the most of the longer break. But one European city remains a hidden gem uninvaded by tourists and overlooked by travel guides As Pepa Lopez, a senior editor at Trendencias magazine, describes, the city of Brasov in Romania is “a place frozen in time” and “one of the most beautiful in Europe”.
Surrounded by forests and the Carpathian Mountains, Brasov sits in the heart of Transylvania and is a city reminiscent of the Middle Ages, featuring cobblestone streets, pastel facades and characterful medieval architecture. Lopez said: “I travel around Europe whenever I have the chance and tend to avoid the most popular cities because the tourist overcrowding overwhelms me and I end up longing to return home. The biggest advantage of this is that I end up discovering unusual, little-known places that retain their charm.” Brasov is just one of those locations, compared by Lopez to the great medieval European cities of Prague, Budapest, Dubrovnik and Avila.
Featuring its own airport, Brasov was founded in 1211AD and its oldest building dates from just a few years after this date.
She writes the city’s main attraction is the Black Church, a 15th century gothic temple that burned down but did not collapse, with its now-black walls surviving to the present day.
This imposing building lies just a few steps from Sfatului Square, or Town Hall Square, which is the heart of the city and often bustling.
Featuring terraces to enjoy food and drink alongside Brasov’s characteristic medieval buildings, it is an excellent spot to soak up the sun.
Much like most medieval cities, Brasov has retained its defensive walls from an era when it was regularly attacked by Turks and Tartars.
In the late 14th century, walls up to 12 metres high were constructed and some evidence of this remains to this day, an interesting sight for any tourist.
Overlooking the city is a giant sign at the top of a mountain which spells “Brasov” in a style much like the Hollywood sign in California.
There is a cable car which transports tourists to this popular viewpoint, but Lopez warns the surrounding hiking trails run through forests with one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe, so likely best to take in the sign and return to the city.
Also nearby is the famous 14th century Bran Castle, or Dracula’s Castle, swirling in legend and a perhaps tenuous connection to Vlad the Impaler, the figure who inspired Dracula.
Journeys between Brasov and the castle take around 35 minutes by train, making it a great afternoon trip for sightseeing.
