ToewsTravels

i had an amazing time in brasov – the most famous, and arguably best, tourist city in transylvania! the city of about 200,000 has a picturesque main square, surrounded by a large, pedestrian-only old town. seemingly everyone in the city sits outside at cafe and bars until very late on hot summer evenings. the 1200 era “black church” towers over the old town. it got its name when the rest of the town was destroyed by a major fire soon after it was built, but its stone walls survived in a blackened state.

i also took a furnicular up a nearby mountain for great views over the old town of brasov. i hiked behind the hollywood-esque brasov sign which overlooks the city. interestingly, after this sign was built many other smaller towns in transylvania started building similar signs on surrounding mountains.

brasov is home to an ancient jewish community and has a nice synagogue. it also claims to have the narrowest street in europe.

nearby i went on a tour (in romanian) of a cave called valea cetatii, which was fun to see and freezing inside, which was very refreshing. i also hung out at the afi mall in brasov. i really enjoyed my time here!

 

peles castle, near the town of sinaia, is arguably the most impressive castle in romania.

i stopped in sinaia – a mountain resort town in the carpathian mountains of romania about 2 hours north of bucharest. the town was named after mount sinai in egypt. it is famous for its romanian orthodox monastery, on the grounds of which is the oldest church in romania, with some amazing icons. romanian orthodoxy is its own unique denominational strain, and has a storied and fascinating history. very nearby is the amazing peles castle.

i also went up some nearby mountains and hiked around a bit, chancing on a another orthodox church with views over the valley. there is a series of cable cars that are popular as well to get up the mountain.