Brasov, Romania

The house where I'm staying is divided into apartments on four floors.

The house is behind a gate and down a hill. Most of the homes in the old section of Brasov are behind locked gates.

These buildings date back to the 1300-1400s.

-Steep cobblestone street on the way to the town square-

The population of Brasov is approximately 275,000. The first documentation of its existence is from 1234 AD.

"Strategically located on a hill overlooking the town and the plains to the north, the citadel was part of Brasov's outer fortification system. Built of wood in 1524, it was replaced with a stone structure in the 16th century, only to be abandoned in the 17th century after technological innovations made cannons stronger than the building." -Romanian Tourism

The citadel is a 10-minute walk from my house.

In the old section of the city, the streets are connected by alleyways, arches, and corridors from centuries long past.

Braşov’s main landmark, the Black Church is the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul. Built between 1383 and 1480, it was named for its appearance after a fire in 1689. 

Many of the buildings from the 14th-17th centuries are very colorful.

The streets are narrow. Pedestrians must keep a wary eye out for speeding vehicles.