The Saxon Cities of Transylvania: Brasov

Until recently, Transylvania was a land populated mostly by ethnic Germans. It was only after the war and the rise of communism that most of them left. But there legacy still lives on in the form of the beautiful cities they built. In Transylvania, there are three main cities that form a ‘Saxon Triangle’ that forms the hub of tourist activity in the region. These three cities are Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara. In addition to these three ‘tourist’ cities, I also visited Medias, a city not on most itineraries. These cities will all be discussed over my next few blog postings.

This is perhaps the most touristy of the Saxon cities of Transylvania. While surrounded by a suburbia of unattractive apartment blocks, the center of Brasov is beautifully preserved and tourist friendly. The historical center is in a narrow valley flanked by two hills, one with huge ‘Brasov’ sign at the top, in imitation of the more famous sign in Hollywood. Tourists wander through the main tourist street and square, occasionally stopping to eat at one of the various restaurants with outdoor seating.

I liked Brasov a great deal. It was touristy, but not overrun, and there is lots to do there, mostly in the form of day trips. Sights around the city itself are limited. There is nothing I enjoy more during travel than sitting outside and having a meal surrounded by lovely buildings. This is something I could do in Brasov, although in many cases the food was disappointing.

The day trips around Brasov all involve castles, including Bran castle, which some claim is Dracula’s castle. In reality, he had nothing to do with it. The castle itself was disappointing. While it looks great from a distance, inside are just a bunch of uncomfortable rooms that are poorly lit.