About Graft Bastion
The Graft Bastion, also called the Gate Bastion (German: Torbastei) because of its shape, guards the middle of the north-west side of Brașov's walled town. It was built between 1515 and 1521, paid for and defended by the saddlers' guild, as a link between the defenders of the town and the White Tower on the hillside. The name comes from the artificial "Graft" canal ("ditch"), which carried the water of the springs from Șchei to the foot of the wall and also served as a natural obstacle; the bastion was designed as a bridge over it.
It is rectangular, with walls about 4 m thick at the base and two floors with an attic, with loopholes fitted with wooden shutters and murder holes that survive to this day. After the torrential rain of 24 August 1809 weakened the wall, three supporting arches were built over the stream in 1822, of which only one remains. The bastion was renovated in 1976 and again in the early 2000s, when it housed a branch of the Brașov County History Museum with the exhibition "Craftsmen of Brașov – Defenders of the Fortress".
What you can see
The path called Aleea După Ziduri runs beneath the wide arch of the bastion, above the Graft stream, so you can see the white wall up close, the loopholes with wooden shutters, the murder holes under the tiled roof and the attic dormers. Nearby you can still see the supporting arch of 1822, and right next to the bastion a flight of steps climbs the hillside towards the White Tower.
Good to know
The bastion belongs to the Brașov County History Museum, and the interior is closed to visitors. The exterior and the path beneath can be seen at any time.
Information verified on 24 October 2026.
- The wide arch the path runs under, above the Graft stream, with a wall about 4 m thick at the base.
- The loopholes with wooden shutters and the murder holes in the white wall.
- The supporting arch of 1822, the last of the three built over the stream.
- The flight of steps beside the bastion, climbing the hillside towards the White Tower.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Brașov is ~170 km from Bucharest on the DN1 / A3 (~3 hours), ~145 km from Sibiu on the DN1 (~2 hours 30 minutes) and ~270 km from Cluj-Napoca. The bastion is on Aleea După Ziduri, on the north-west side of the historic centre, ~200 m from Piața Sfatului (a few minutes on foot); access to it is pedestrian only.
Public transport: Brașov station is ~3 km from the centre; from there, RAT Brașov buses take ~15 minutes to the historic centre, from where you walk to the bastion. Direct trains run from Bucharest, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Sighișoara.
- Where to park
The historic centre of Brașov is a paid parking zone, and there are few spaces around the walls. The easiest option is to leave the car in a paid car park on the edge of the centre and walk; they fill up quickly in summer and at weekends.
- Fees & discounts
The exterior and the path beneath the arch can be seen without a ticket. There are no fees for the interior, as it is closed.
- Rules
The walls and the surrounding paths are a historic monument: do not climb the walls and do not leave litter. Drones may be flown in the historic centre only in compliance with local flight rules.
- Facilities
Benches along the path · no toilets or shop on site · cafés and restaurants in the historic centre
Frequently asked questions about Graft Bastion
- How long does a visit to Graft Bastion take?
- A visit to Graft Bastion takes about 15 min (exterior only).
- Can you visit Graft Bastion with kids?
- Yes, Graft Bastion is suitable for children (pedestrian path beside the stream).
- Where can I park at Graft Bastion?
- There is paid parking at Graft Bastion (central zone, paid). The historic centre of Brașov is a paid parking zone, and there are few spaces around the walls. The easiest option is to leave the car in a paid car park on the edge of the centre and walk; they fill up quickly in summer and at weekends.
- How do I get to Graft Bastion?
- Graft Bastion is located at Aleea După Ziduri, Brașov, Brașov County. By car: Brașov is ~170 km from Bucharest on the DN1 / A3 (~3 hours), ~145 km from Sibiu on the DN1 (~2 hours 30 minutes) and ~270 km from Cluj-Napoca. The bastion is on Aleea După Ziduri, on the north-west side of the historic centre, ~200 m from Piața Sfatului (a few minutes on foot); access to it is pedestrian only. Public transport: Brașov station is ~3 km from the centre; from there, RAT Brașov buses take ~15 minutes to the historic centre, from where you walk to the bastion. Direct trains run from Bucharest, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Sighișoara.
- When is the best time to visit Graft Bastion?
- The best season for Graft Bastion: All year round (exterior visible all year).
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