Nestled majestically below the peaks of the lush Southern Carpathian Mountains in Central Romania lies the historic, medieval city of Brasov, one of Romania’s most visited cities. Awash with gothic, barque and renaissance architecture, this once walled city is home to many beautiful historic buildings and churches dating back to the 12th century.
Brasov was founded on an ancient Dacian site by Teutonic Knights in 1211 at the crossroads of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and the rest of Europe. Beautiful churches and buildings were built along with fortifications (a wall and three lookout towers) to protect the city against enemies in medieval times. Today, it remains a charming city to wander and explore, enjoying its stunning architecture, its delightful walking streets and mass of fabulous outdoor restaurants and cafes. It is also an excellent launching off point to many hiking trails and medieval castles.
One of the most famous streets in Brasov is Strada Sforii also known as “Rope” and “Skinny” Street as it is the narrowest street in Eastern Europe. Dating back to the 13th century, Strada Sforii is approximately four feet wide and it links Cerbului Street with Poarta Schei Street. The street was originally used as an access route by firefighters but today is one of the most interesting and fun tourist attractions in Brasov as visitors and locals alike wander its narrow, winding path.
I had been in Brasov for three days and nearly missed Strada Sforii. I would never have explored this narrow street if it hadn’t been for a friend who asked if I’d seen the famous skinny street. Located right off the heart of Old Town not far from the main square between Cerbului Street with Poarta Schie Street was a tiny sign marking the entrance to the street. I realized that I’d probably walked by it several times without even noticing it, it was so small.
I’m certainly glad I found this lovely little street as it was a great place to take pictures. You could even see the Hollywood-like Brasov sign through the narrow angles of the street. I had to grab a picture of it of course. The sign is at the top of Mount Tampa, where you can either hike up or take a 1950’s Communist-era cable car to the top to get stunning views of Brasov.
I had a lot of fun on this tiny little street. I can imagine it would be a fabulous place to take photos at night as well with the beautiful light. I also adored the various angles of the buildings and of course the red terra-cotta rooftops.
If you go:
To find Strada Sforii, head down to Piața Sfatului, the main square in Brasov. Strada Sforii located between Cerbului Street with Poarta Schie Street.
This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Narrow.
You show good judgment in selection of subject and equally good skill in its presentation. It appears that the narrow street is two-way; there is much to be made of that.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
This looks adorable love the architecture 🙂
It is really cool and Brasov is an amazing little town. I loved it there!
I have been to Brasov, but only briefly, so I don’t think I saw this street!
I love Brasov Sue! We stayed there for three days and it is such a wonderful town with great restaurants.
What a wonderfully romantic street!
Thanks Tannie!
I wanted to suck in just looking at the photos Nicole. 🙂
Glad you liked it Sue! I bet it is lovely at night. Didn’t get back there though.
RUT!,,, s
Yes it was! Great trip!!!
This area of Europe does look beautiful. And this narrow street very quaint.
What a fascinating place – perfect for the challenge. Lovely pics with interesting angles, & I love the colours.
Thanks so much! I loved the pretty hues of painting too!
How convenient to have seen this right before the “Narrow” prompt! Very cool little street.
Yes it is Lexi! Just in time!
How fascinating! I’d never heard of this burt really want to go now! I have been to a very narrow street in Stockholm in Gamla Stan but it’s probably nothing on the one you found! Fab post!!!
I really love the history. So amazing!
Neat!
Thanks! 🙂
What a fun group of photographs! I love the combination of color hues. The pastel “whitewashed” surfaces of the walls are quite lovely.
Peta
Thanks Peta! Sounds like you have some fun travels ahead and a wonderful place to live!
What a wonderfully quirky street, Nicole. It makes for some enchanting shots 🙂
Yes it was a fun find Jo! 🙂
You have an amazing gift for photography Nicole. How long were you and your family in Romania?
Oh LuAnn you don’t know how much I appreciate your compliment! Every time I look at my photos from a trip, I’m always disappointed. So thank you so much. 🙂 I went with my Dad and it was very short…too short! We used miles so that dictated a bit of the length of the trip and I didn’t realize it took so long to get there! We were gone a week but I was only on the ground for five full days and six nights. I am still amazed at how much we did in that short amount of time and my dad got a terrible cold the second day we were there. It was still worth it but I would have rather have had a few more days.
I know what you mean about your photos Nicole. When I sit down to decide which photos to put into a post, I find that all of a sudden I don’t like any of them! I tend to be my own worst critic though. Even though we have two months in Europe, I still think we will be running around trying to see so much more than our time will allow.
Your photos are always gorgeous LuAnn! I always wish I knew more about photography. I just point and shoot. Someday I’m going to truly learn! As for your trip it will be absolutely wonderful.
Thanks Nicole. I am so excited to finally get to Europe. Hopefully this is just a start of much more international travels.
Try creative cropping…I always blast away, then adjust edges and pick out details at leisure. Digital age makes it so much easier, saves darkroom time (what’s a darkroom?).
Sounds good! Will have to give it a whirl.
Reblogged this on basheerabdulwahab.
Great article! I’d love to come and visit this skinny street.
Thank you and so glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
Please check out my blog. I just started it and I would appreciate it BETOND BELIEF if people checked it out and passed it along to other.s this isn’t spam, I would really like, to see people visiting my page,
Thank you! Will do
Thank you so much! You have no idea how much doing this means to me, and I honestly thought that you were going to report block me. I really love what you do on this website, by the way!
Thanks! I always read my comments and of course respond. 😌 I started my blog almost six years ago now and am still doing it. You will fall in love with the WordPress community!
Very interesting!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!
Omg im claustrophobic already 😩
Yes it is pretty narrow!
Parking allowed on only one side of the street. And that by Tonka Toy cars.
Ha ha yes indeed!
Great, fascinating photos! I know Brasov very well, I love this street. Brasov is a city full of history. Romania it is a wonderful country. I would share!
Yes Romania is beautiful and I found the people very wonderful and friendly. It was a lovely place to visit!
I know it’s not much yet, but I’ll be posting more photos and stories in the next few days, so keep a heads up!
Sounds great!
You made a narrow street like that, one that looked soooo much like an apartheid street, look nice. Supposing it was an apartheid street, it shows that everything in a way has its own way of showing off. Even walls and streets, that could be passed by as rubbish.
It is a beautiful street with so many colors that all fit and blend together like humanity.
Thats amazing
Thanks!
Your welcome please follow my blog zachy200213.wordpress.com
Wonderful to read :). Talking of skinny streets here we in India have innumerable skinner streets across cities..:) 😉
Would love to see
More of India someday! I’ve only been to Delhi but twice. India is such a large country but so amazing!
Thats awesome.
Thanks!
It’s not quite as picturesque, but Parliament Street in Exeter (UK) probably gives it a run for it’s money in terms of narrowness!
Oh I was just in the UK and wish I would have known!
Words and pictures interwoven with such skill are enough to entice an armchair travelers to get off their ass!
Love this! 😊
That part of Europe looks so fantastic…love the street and your skill of presentation… definitely planning a trip to go there
Thanks! Brasov is pretty spectacular.
Nnicely
Thanks!
Been there many times, such a lovely place!
Yes Brasov is wonderful and Romania is a beautiful country.
Hey…come to India…in India there so many narrowest street than this…this street is nothing
I love India it is amazing!
Such a quaint street, it looks great. The photos are brilliant too! There are so many places in Europe I’d have never thought of going, it’s posts like this that make me realise these places are worth a visit. 👍🏻
Thanks! Brasov is fantastic!
Maybe one day in the future I will visit. I was in Ljubljana in Slovenia a few weeks back. Another unexpectedly beautiful place!
Fun read. The inspiration for your post – the photo challenge seems interesting
Thanks! The weekly photo challenge is wonderful. I’ve been doing it for years.
Great article, I loved it!!
– https://simplysouthernsparkle.wordpress.com/
Thanks !
I lived in Romania for 24 years. I have been to Brasov so many times and don’t know how I missed it. It is so pretty! I have seen narrow streets in Prague and they are so beautiful to visit. Another town in Transylvania with beautiful streets and history is Sighisoara. That is where Vlad Tepes lived with his dad, Vlad Dracul, for a while. I also have a blog. I am new to it. I am still learning. It’s mostly about education. I plan on adding some other interesting stuff.
Wow that is great! Yes Romania is an amazing place with so much culture and beauty.
The colors and the design really take you back. Made me feel like I’m looking back in time.
Yes very true indeed!
Good one
Thanks !
Great post.
Thank you very much!
I would love to visit that place 🙂
Thanks! It is beautiful!
Loved the photos!
Thanks so much!
Great photography.
Thank you!!!
Enjoyed reading this post and the wonderful photos you shared helped me feel parts of the experience you had. Thanks
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post. Many more coming on Romania!
Looks like such a cute place! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks!
Reblogged this on DEN4Teachers and commented:
I don’t know what happened with my post… I have lived in Romania for 24 years and have been to Brasov many times. I don’t know how I missed it. It is very pretty. Prague is also famous for narrow streets. Sighisoara is another place with beautiful narrow streets in Transylvania. You will find there the house where Vlad Tepes lived for a while with his dad, Vlad Dracul.
Thanks for stopping by! That is great that you lived in Romania for 24 years. It is such a beautiful country! I was actually just in Prague in May, about two months before Romania. I loved it very much.
How very quaint and lovely. 🙂
Thanks! I only found out about the street from a fellow blog reader who asked me while I was in Brasov if I’d seen the skinny street! Had to look it up on the internet and track it down. Glad I did! 🙂
Glad you did and you shared it on your blog. 🙂
this is interesting. thanks for sharing 🙂
Glad you enjoyed! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Feels like I was there! Great job
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed!
Looks claustrophobic!! Like the walls are closing in!!
It is small but enough to fit two people across!
Love this, your photos and writing are lovely !
Thanks!
This sounds like an interesting place to visit! It’s nice to read a short introduction to the city first followed by the focus on one particular attraction in that city :). Also, I never knew about the photo challenge! Looks like something I’m gonna try 😀
Thanks! I just threw this post on my blog due to the photo challenge. I probably would have just included the photos in another post all together on Brasov which I have yet to write. The photo challenges are great!
Not sure how I missed this one Nicole! Wonderful captures. Congrats on being featured on Discover!
I actually am a little surprised this particular post was featured as I honestly don’t think it is even close to my best. I almost deleted the post in fact. Thanks Tina.
The photos are beautiful!
Thank you!
Awesome photos! Interesting place to show & thanks for the historical background!
Thanks so much! This is the first of many more posts on Romania to come. 🙂
And it left me thinking..can it be a good destination for a Honey moon?? Haha.
It is a beautiful place that is for sure!
I’m off to Romania next month, I hope I get to see this little street!
You will love it! Brasov is fantastic and if you can drive around the countryside, it is purely magical.
I’m sorry, but I think I beat you there…. This street in Remich, Luxembourg is definitely narrower I think 😉
https://whyfilmcameras.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/the-narrowest-street-in-luxembourg/
That is one cool street! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful pictures!
Thank you!
How awesome is Brasov! I visited it on a day trip from Bucharest whilst on my honeymoon and discovered one of the best second hand shops EVER!! Lovely post! Xo
Thanks! Yes Brasov is quite magical! I loved staying there.
Awesome!
Thanks!
String Street!
Great pics! Btw; “narrowest in EASTERN Europe”… Yup: You’ll find even more narrow ‘streets’ in Alfama, Lisbon… THINK among if not the narrowest in (western?) Europe… 😉
I’ve learned about so many narrow streets in Europe! Will have to visit them!
Try Parliament Street in Exeter, UK. It is less than 4ft wide at the thin end. Blink and you would miss it!
Thanks! Will do!
Beautifully captured!
Thank you!
Fantastic! Just added this to my Next Trip to Europe file. The way you wrote it made me imagine a movie sequence. Well done.
Wonderful! More coming soon on Romania.
I like this article … looks like a great place to visit.
Thank you!
Looks very charming
Yes it was! Thanks for stopping by!