Visiting the Black Church in Brașov, Romania
The Black Church in Brașov is one of the city’s best-known landmarks, visible from the city walls and from Mt Tâmpa. It is located just off the main town square and is very photogenic, especially when contrasted with the red-tiled roofs of most old-town buildings.
When visiting the city, the church is the most recognisable landmark. It is one of the top tourist attractions in Brașov because of its age and history.
Black Church Brașov History
Also known as Biserica Neagră, the Black Church was built by the city’s German community in the 14th century. They built it in the Gothic style, and it is the country’s main Gothic monument. The church is one of the most important Lutheran places of worship in the region. It is also one of the easiest landmarks in Brașov to admire from viewpoints around the old town.
It is 89 metres long, 38 metres wide, and 65 metres from the floor level to the highest point of the bell tower. It has a six-tonne bell, the largest in Romania. This is the biggest Gothic church in the country.
Black Church Brașov Visitor Information
- Location: Brașov old town, near Council Square
- Can you go inside? Yes
- Tickets: available on-site
- Photography: allowed without flash or tripod
- Best for: history, interiors, architecture, photography
When visiting, there are many information boards in various languages that tell the site’s history. The gift shop also has some books on the church and the Transylvania region.
What to See Inside the Black Church
The interior is worth visiting for its nave, organs, historic pews, altar and collection of Transylvanian rugs.
Nave
The nave gives a great overview of all the key features; the views from the pews and aisle are good.
Organs
There is also an impressive 4,000-pipe organ they made in 1839. This is above the entrance and makes for a superb view up the nave. They play the organ during weekly concerts.
There are some other smaller organs too, including a pretty white one near the altar and one on the balcony overlooking the nave.
Transylvanian Rugs
The Black Church has a collection of Transylvanian rugs dating back to the 15th century. Transylvanian Saxon merchants gave most of these to the church. Some rugs have been used to decorate walls and floors after the Reformation. I really like the woodwork and decor they used to display the rugs at the edges.
Freemasons?
Another thing that caught my eye was the old Freemason symbols on some furnishings. This was a rather decorative piece.
The woodworkers’ plane in the middle of the symbol represents the carpenters involved in building the church.
The High Altar
The most important part of evangelical churches is the high altar. It is the focal point for all worshippers, and all pews face towards it. They built the altar in 1865; it has typical elements of Gothic church altars. The central scene on the altar represents the Sermon on the Mount from the New Testament.
The Font
Johannes Reudel donated a bronze font in 1472, making it the oldest decorative object in the church. It has a few decorative features and is shaped like a chalice. You can find it near the altar at the front.
The Pulpit
The Black Church pulpit dates from 1695. They made this one from stone and wood and finished the decor with polychrome.
The pulpit is traditionally where the priest proclaims the word of God during the sermon. There are many biblical stories and quotes on the pulpit here.
The Tombstones
An interesting section is the tombstones in the porch area. These date from the 15th to the 18th centuries and are made of sandstone. People used to be buried in or near the church; however, for hygiene reasons, this practice stopped, and the tombstones were gradually removed.
They kept the most beautiful and displayed these in the two porches on either side of the main entrance. They also have information about the designs used on these historic stones. This text was only in Romanian.
Art – The Wedding at Cana Painting
Inside are some wonderful works of art. One that caught my attention was the painting The Wedding at Cana by Hans Eder, which dates from 1933. This painting depicts the Bible story of Jesus turning water into wine.
The Historic Pews
Another unique feature is the historic pews, which I really enjoyed seeing. These all date from the 17th to 19th centuries. Seating positions were related to social standing and wealth. Each guild in the city has its own section and decorated its own pews, some very elaborately.
The pews are carved and painted and wonderful to see. They usually include symbols of the craft and the master craftsmen’s monograms.
Black Church Brașov Photo Spots
If you want the best Black Church Brașov photos, there are several easy viewpoints around the old town. The best angles come from Mt Tâmpa, the White Tower, the Black Tower, Council Square and the city walls.
From the White or Black Tower is a brilliant spot to photograph the red roofs and church buildings from the front. The towers on the mountainside are an ideal vantage point.
The central square of the city is a brilliant spot to take a photo through the gap towards the church. This means that many of the square’s historic landmarks are in the picture too.
On the medieval city walls, next to Mount Tampa, are various vantage points to spot the church. This includes a walkway and the steps to the towers.
The statue of Johannes Honter in front of the church’s bell tower dates back to 1998 and was created to commemorate Johannes Honter’s 400th jubilee. Johannes Honter was a 16th-century Transylvanian humanist and reformer.
From the rear of the building, if you look up to the rafters, there is a statue of a child peering over the edge.
It is tricky to spot unless looking for it. I read about it on a blog about haunted Brasov.
One of the many towers of the city walls, taken from the Tampa promenade.
This is the facade of the Black Church. You can see the decor near the entrance and the clock tower. To take a close-up of the entire front, a wide-angle lens is best. Otherwise, the picture won’t include the entire front.
The area surrounding the church is also a pleasant place at sunset. If lucky, you might get some good photos.