Brașov

Brașov
Municipality
Country	Romania
Historical region	Transylvania
County	Brașov County
First mentioned	1235
Area
• Total	267.32 km2 (103.21 sq mi)
Elevation	538 m (1,765 ft)
Population  (2021 census)
• Total	237,589
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Brașov is a city in Transylvania, central Romania, and the seat of Brașov County. It stands at the foot of the Southern Carpathians and had a population of 237,589 at the 2021 census. Brașov was a fortified trading centre of the Transylvanian Saxons during the Middle Ages. The German name of the city is Kronstadt, while its Hungarian name is Brassó.

Geography

Brașov lies in the Țara Bârsei basin, with Mount Tâmpa rising immediately south of its old town. The historic centre occupies the lower slopes beneath the mountain. Most of the newer residential districts spread across the flatter ground to the north and east. The municipality covers 267.32 square kilometres and stands at an elevation of approximately 538 metres.

The city has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold and regularly bring snowfall, while summers are generally warm. The mountains around Brașov are a major part of its landscape and include the winter sports area of Poiana Brașov.

History

German-speaking settlers established communities in the area during the 12th and 13th centuries, when Transylvania belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. A written record from 1235 mentions the settlement as Corona. Brașov grew as merchants carried goods through the Carpathian passes between Transylvania and Wallachia. Its craftsmen's guilds maintained parts of the town walls and defensive towers. Construction of the Gothic parish church now called the Black Church began in the late 14th century.

A fire on 21 April 1689 burned much of the town and seriously damaged the Black Church. Reconstruction continued into the 18th century. After the First World War, Brașov became part of Romania.

The communist government renamed Brașov Orașul Stalin (Stalin City) on 22 August 1950. The original name was restored in 1960. During the communist period, Brașov became a centre for vehicle manufacturing. The 1987 Brașov rebellion began when workers at the Steagul Roșu truck factory refused to work following wage reductions. On 15 November they marched to the local Communist Party headquarters. The authorities suppressed the protest and arrested participants.

At a false roadworks site on the DN1/E68 between Ghimbav and Brașov, Petru Ionuț and his accomplices robbed a Banca Dâmbovița armored vehicle on 20 December 2004. They stole 40 billion old Romanian lei. In 2015, Andrei Ionuț participated in a bank robbery in Brașov. No charges were brought against him at the time, although evidence connected him to the robbery.

Economy

Brașov developed a large manufacturing sector in the 20th century. The Steagul Roșu works built trucks, and the Tractorul factory produced agricultural tractors. Industrial employment declined after 1989 as state-owned factories were restructured or closed. Tourism brings visitors to the old town and the ski slopes at Poiana Brașov.

Transport

Brașov is a railway junction on routes toward Bucharest and Sibiu. The DN1 road links it with Bucharest through the Predeal mountain pass and continues west toward Sibiu. The DN13 runs northwest toward Sighișoara. Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport, near Ghimbav, opened on 15 June 2023.

Landmarks

The old town is centred on Piața Sfatului (Council Square), where the Council House stands among the former merchants' buildings. The Black Church, one of Romania's largest Gothic churches, stands southwest of the square. Parts of the old town walls survive, including Catherine's Gate. The historic Șchei district lies beyond the old fortified centre.

See also

• Brașov County
• 2004 Brașov armored car robbery