Black Church

Braşov


Romania’s largest Gothic church rises triumphantly over Braşov’s old town. Built between 1385 and 1477, this German Lutheran church was named for its charred appearance after the town’s Great Fire in 1689. Restoration of the church took a century. Today it stands 65m high at its bell tower's tallest point. Organ recitals are held in the church three times a week during July and August, usually at 6pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Draped across the church's spare interior are 16th- to 19th-century Anatolian rugs; these were once placed on pews reserved for church donors. Look closely at the columns, a couple of which bear scars from projectiles fired into the church during the events of 1989. Find also a collection of ornate funerary stones and a 4000-pipe organ (1839).

The exterior of the church bears scrape marks, thought to be from soldiers sharpening their swords – after all, who better than God to prime a weapon for battle?


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Braşov attractions

1. Johannes Honterus Statue

0.02 MILES

Standing outside the Black Church is a grave statue of Johannes Honterus, a Renaissance man who set up a printing press and established a major library in…

2. Hirscher House

0.09 MILES

The Renaissance Hirscher House, completed in 1545, was once the largest building in Braşov. It was commissioned by Apollonia Hirscher, the widow of Braşov…

3. Old Town Fortifications

0.09 MILES

Old Braşov was once enclosed by mighty fortified walls, 12m high and more than 3km-long. Built in stages between 1400 and 1650, these walls and defence…

4. Piaţa Sfatului

0.1 MILES

This wide square, lined with cafes, was once the heart of medieval Braşov. In the centre stands the 1420 Council House (Casa Sfatului), topped by the…

5. Strada Sforii

0.1 MILES

Formerly an access route for firefighters, Strada Sforii is one of the narrowest streets in Europe at 1.2m wide. Lurid tales have sprung up about Vlad…

6. Braşov Historical Museum

0.11 MILES

The old City Hall houses the two-floor, by-the-numbers Braşov Historical Museum, in which the region's history from Roman times via medieval military…

7. Mureşenilor House Memorial Museum

0.12 MILES

On Piaţa Sfatului's western side stands the intimate Mureşenilor House Memorial Museum, which honours the family of Jacob Mureşan, the first editor of the…

8. Schei Gate

0.14 MILES

In Saxon Braşov, Romanians were banished to the Schei quarter in the southwest; entry to this quarter from the walled city was marked by the Schei Gate…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "romania/transylvania/brasov/attractions/black-church/a/poi-sig/447811/360406",
      "destination": "Braşov",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Romania",
      "city": "Braşov",
      "position": "superzone"
    }