Piata Sfatului

Brasov's showpiece Piata Sfatului (Council Square), known to the Saxon population as the Marktplatz, is one of the most beautiful main squares of Romania. Fully pedestrianised, the square was refurbished a couple of years ago. It has never looked better.

All around the square are sturdy houses with high lofts for storing goods, though few - if any - are still lived in. In the middle of the square is the Old City Hall, dating from 1420.

Elsewhere in Piata Sfatului you will find a number of places to eat and drink (all of which have terraces in summer), and the startling Romanian Orthodox Cathedral at No. 3. The square hosts the Carpathian Stag Music Festival (once the city's biggest annual event, but now held infrequently) and there is usually some kind of craft market too. No bargains, but plenty of good souvenir fodder.