Brasov

The birth city of the bride proudly shown and toured by Mrs Van's sister. Pictures by Mr Van.

Strada Sforii (Rope Street) one of the
narrowest streets in Europe

Postavarului end of Strada Sforii

Buildings in the old city center of Brasov

Council House (Casa Sfatului) of Brasov was built in 1420

Public Library

Behind the citadel walls (Dupa Ziduri)
newly renovated walking paths

The White Tower (Turnul Alb) LE Black Tower (Turnul Negru) one of the
defence towers around city of Brasov

Ecaterina Gate (Poarta Ecaterina) one check point before entering medieval trading city of Brasov was built in 1559
















And now some trivia about Brasov compliments of Wikipedia:

The city was first attested in 1235 AD under the name Corona, a Latin word meaning "crown", a name given by the German colonists. The current Romanian and Hungarian names are derived from the Turkic word barasu, meaning "white water" with a Slavic suffix -ov.

The first attested mention of Braşov is Terra Saxonum de Barasu ("Saxon Land of Baras") in a 1252 document. The German nameKronstadt means "Crown City" and is reflected in the city's coat of arms as well as in its Medieval Latin name, Corona. The two names of the city ', Kronstadt and Corona, were used simultaneously in the Middle Ages.

From 1950 to 1960, during part of the Communist period in Romania, the city was called Oraşul Stalin (The Stalin City), after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The location of the city at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence. They contributed a great deal to the architectural flavor of the city. Fortifications around the city were erected and continually expanded, with several towers maintained by different craftsmen's guilds, according to medieval custom. At least two entrances to the city, Poarta Ecaterinei (orKatharinentor) and Poarta Şchei (or Waisenhausgässertor), are still in existence. The city center is marked by the mayor's former office building (Casa Sfatului) and the surrounding square (piaţa), which includes one of the oldest buildings in Braşov, the Hirscher Haus. Nearby is the "Black Church" (Biserica Neagră), which some claim to be the largest Gothic style church in Southeastern Europe.