Black Church

Braşov's main landmark, just south of the Piaţa Sfatului (Council Square), is the Black Church, the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul and still used by German Lutherans today. Built between 1383 and 1480 (delayed by an Ottoman razing), its name comes from its appearance after a fire in 1689.

The original statues on the exterior of the apse are now inside (look back after you enter) and some 120 fabulous Turkish rugs hang from the balconies (gifts from merchants who returned from shopping sprees in the southern Ottoman lands). Worshippers drop coins through the wooden grates in the floor and hope for the best.

The church's 4000-pipe organ, built by Buchholz of Berlin in 1839, is believed to be the only Buchholz preserved in its original form. Since 1891, organ recitals have been held in the church during July and August, at 18:00 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Note the scrape marks outside the school; some locals swear it's from soldiers' sharpened swords from centuries past; others say 'nah, it was just a butcher sharpening his cleaver'. Also the original construction was intended to have a far larger bell tower (funds ran out); see how small it is in comparison to the mammoth base.