Because Brasov and the surrounding region were
repeatedly raided by the Turks and Tatars the town decided to fortify
itself. In the 15th century the Saxons build a defence wall which was once
12 meters high and two meters thick and stretched for 3 km. They also
erected seven bastions around the city, and the guarding of the bastions
was entrusted to guilds. Parts of the walls still remain today and can be
seen along the Dupa Ziduri Street (Dupa Ziduri means Behind the Walls).
Of the original seven bastions a few survived, including the squared Black
Tower which lies at the west of the old city wall. The tower built in 1494
now houses a museum, and they charge a small fee for seeing a museum but
frankly there's not much to see inside. From the top you do get a nice
view of the Black Church but you get almost the same view from the iron
balcony surrounding the tower. Apparently the name comes from the tower
being severely burnt in 1559 (it doesn't look black today). Address: Str.
Dupa Ziduri.
