For centuries the square was the city’s marketplace: from 1520 it held the right to host fairs, which drew Saxon, Hungarian and Romanian merchants. At its centre stands the Council House (Casa Sfatului), the old town hall. First documented in 1420, it had its watchtower raised to its present height in the 1520s and was rebuilt after the great fire of 1689, taking on much of its present appearance in the 18th century. Since 1950 it has housed a history museum.
Around the square, look out for the Merchants’ House (Casa Hirscher), one of Brașov’s oldest buildings, and the Orthodox Church of the Dormition. Just a few steps away rises the Gothic Black Church, which takes its name from the walls blackened by smoke in that same fire of 1689. The square also hosts concerts and festivals, including the Golden Stag (Cerbul de Aur) music festival.
Sit down with a coffee, look up at the Council House tower and watch the old town go by.
