Piata Sfatului

In Brasov’s Piata Sfatului or The Council Square, 18th-century medieval charm conceals a history so deep that the stories will knock you off your feet. The former financial and political center of Transylvania was once a site for the violent witch trials and public executions. Several bloody events mark the square’s past. Among the most famous is the beheading of a shoemaking patron who stood up to the Austrian forces trying to enter the city. Years after, it became an unseemly parking lot under Communist Rule—a strategy to discourage inhabitants from forming social bonds.

Aside from history, the soul of Brasov also resides here. From the symbolic Council House to the invaluable Black Church, the main attractions of the city embellish it on all sides. The Council House is currently home to the Brasov County Museum of History, a must-see sight to learn about the city’s intriguing past. Another popular spot is Republicii Street, Brasov’s main thoroughfare stretching away from the square, seemingly suspended in time. This is the place to be if you are looking for a leisurely stroll.

Pay a visit to Piata Sfatului on an ordinary afternoon, and you will witness hearty scenes of local children running among pigeons and Romanian folk chattering. It is the best place in all of Brasov for people-watching. Many of the alfresco cafes flank the square, too. They offer flavorsome delights like cheese donuts. Sincerity is the spice of life in Brasov, where a time-worn air is roaming in every corner.