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Brasov - Monuments
Catherine's Gate (Poarta Ecaterinei)
Catherine's Gate, erected in 1559, had a mobile bridge over a water ditch. One main tower comprising other four small towers in each corner covered the gate. Having fire holes in all three exterior parts, the tower belonged to the tailors' guild being one of the only two old entrances to the Medieval fortress that still exist today. The other one is The Scheii Gate situated on the right side, not far from Catherine's Gate.
Above the entry the coat of arm of the town was carved representing a crown over a log with 7 groups of thick roots. The walls that formed the gate were demolished in 1827. Nowadays only the exterior tower can be seen.
Schei Gate (Poarta Schei)
Erected in the 19th century, in place of another gate, the Schei Gate appears for the first time in documents under the name of Wallachian Gate. The actual gate, built in Baroque style in one year, between 1828-1829, has on its walls Latin inscriptions. It is placed on the Nicolae Balcescu Street, not to far from the old center of the citadel.
The Weavers' Bastion (Bastionul Tesatorilor)
Built between 1421-1573, the Weavers' Bastion, the biggest in country, is the best-preserved comparing to the others citadel's bastions. Placed on the George Cosbuc Street, the bastion was built by a guild of weavers as a defense point. It has massive walls that connect towers and an inner yard that could shelter hundreds of guilders and their goods. Inside, the building includes galleries on two levels, massive built from oak beams.
The southern corner of the bastion was used as a tower for surveillance purposes. This was the place where the guild preserved their documents. Also, the bastion served as training camp. Today, the bastion, being restored at the beginning of the 20th century, displays the exposition called "The Brasov's Fortress and Fortifications from Barsa Region". Also, the Weavers'Bastion, having an outstanding acoustics, serves as a symphonic concert hall for open-air performances.
The Blacksmiths' Bastion (Bastionul Fierarilor)
The Blacksmiths' Bastion, located on the Northwest side of Brasov citadel, on the Baritiu Street, was first attested in 1529. It had a gate with defense possibilities and three inside multi-stage corridors. At the beginning of the 20th century it was turned into the archive.
Ropemakers' Bastion (Bastionul Funarilor)
It is located outside of the citadel's walls toward Tampa Mountain, on the Tiberiu Breticeanu Alley. The bastion was built in 1416 in hexagonal shape. Destroyed by fire in 1461 it was rebuilt but after the second fire it was never rebuilt, today being just a ruin.
The Drapers' Bastion (Bastionul Postavarilor)
Being placed on the East corner of the citadel, the Drapers' Bastion was one of the most powerful defense spots of the old fortress. Built between 1450-1455, in ellipse shape, it was renovated last years and it can be seen even today. The tower is 12.7m in high, 16m in diameter and the walls are 2m in thickness. Initially the tower belonged to the guild of goldsmiths and was transferred to drapers only in the year 1640.
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The Graft Bastion (Bastionul Graft)
Built in 1521, in rectangular shape, the Graft Bastion is placed between the citadel's walls and the Straja Hill. Built to assure the communication with the White Tower, the bastion has four levels, accessible through interior staircases. It serves as a museum and resting place for tourists.
White Tower (Turnul Alb)
Located 60m far from the citadel's walls and 30m higher then the rest of the fortress, the White Tower was erected between 1460-1494, near the Graft Bastion. Having 18-20m in height and built in semicircle shape, the tower had a defensive role being fortified with fire holes.
Black Tower (Turnul Negru)
Built above the Blacksmith's Bastion in 1494 on a rock, on Straja Hill, the Black Tower, having walls by 10 meters in high, a square shape and a pyramidal roof, was linked to the fortresses of the city through a mobile bridge. The Black Tower was built with two purposes: the first was to stop the approaching of the enemy, and the second purpose was to use the tower for fire alarms. On July 23rd 1599 a lightning destroyed the tower, its walls being blackened by the fire started by the lightning. From this moment the tower received a new name: the Black Tower.
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