The Black Church
Brașov, Brașov County · Transylvania
About The Black Church
At a glance: Monasteries and churches in Brașov, Brașov County. Opening hours: Monday 12:00 – 19:00, Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 – 19:00, Sunday 12:00 – 19:00. Ticket: 30 lei. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 8 October 2026.
The parish church of the Brașov Saxons was begun around 1383, on the site of an older church, and largely finished by 1477, after almost a century of work interrupted by invasions and earthquakes. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and built as a hall church, with a nave and two aisles of the same height, on the model of churches in the German lands. It is 89 metres long and 38 metres wide, and the tower, the only one finished of the two planned, rises to 65 metres.
In October 1542 the first Lutheran service in the country was held here, and the church has belonged ever since to the Evangelical community, which still uses it. According to tradition, it owes its name to the great fire of 1689, which destroyed its roof and interior; some researchers attribute the blackened walls rather to 19th-century pollution, which is also when the name appears. Rebuilding after the fire took decades and gave the church Baroque vaults and furnishings.
What you can see
On the west gallery stands the organ built between 1836 and 1839 by the Berlin organ builder Carl August Buchholz: 3,993 pipes, four manuals and 63 stops, the largest mechanical organ in Romania. Along the gallery parapets and the pews hang Ottoman carpets brought from Anatolia and given to the church by guildsmen and merchants from the 17th century at the latest; the collection numbers around two hundred pieces.
Look out too for the bronze font of 1472, still in use, the pulpit of 1695, the guild pews and the 17-metre-high altar of 1866. Outside, walk around the church: the choir has buttresses with statues of saints, and in the tympanum of the south-east door is a wall painting of the enthroned Virgin, framed by the coats of arms of King Matthias Corvinus and Queen Beatrice. A 6-tonne bell hangs in the tower, and in front of the south side stands the 1898 statue of the reformer Johannes Honterus.
Good to know
Visits are suspended for services, ceremonies and concerts; changes are announced on the church's website a few days in advance. The courtyard around the church is due to be restored in a project run by the city and the parish until 2029, so some areas may be fenced off.
- The 1839 Buchholz organ on the west gallery, with 3,993 pipes, the largest mechanical organ in Romania.
- The Anatolian carpets hanging from the gallery parapets and the pews, donated by guildsmen from the 17th century onwards.
- The bronze font of 1472, still used for baptisms, and the pulpit of 1695.
- The wall painting of the enthroned Virgin with the arms of Matthias Corvinus, in the tympanum of the south-east door.
- An Organ Nights concert, on Saturday evenings between June and October, beneath the church's vaults.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: from Bucharest it is ~170 km on the DN1 through the Prahova Valley (~3 hours, longer at weekends, when the road is busy); from Sibiu ~145 km on the DN1 via Făgăraș (~2 hours 30 minutes); from Cluj-Napoca ~270 km via Târgu Mureș and Sighișoara (~4 hours 30 minutes). The church is in the historic centre, just off the south-west corner of Piața Sfatului (Council Square), ~100 m from the Council House; the centre is largely pedestrianised, so you leave the car in a nearby car park.
Public transport: Brașov railway station, with direct trains from Bucharest, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, is ~3 km from the centre: ~15 minutes by city bus or taxi, or ~40 minutes on foot. From Piața Sfatului it is a two-minute walk to the church entrance in Curtea Johannes Honterus.
- Where to park
Parking in the historic centre is paid, and there are few street spaces, which fill up quickly, especially at weekends and in summer. The paid public car parks on the edge of the centre, for example on Bulevardul Eroilor, are a 5–10 minute walk away.
- Fees & discounts
Adults 30 lei; pensioners and students 25 lei; pupils up to 18 years 20 lei (with proof). Free for children under 7, people with disabilities (with ID card), one teacher per ten pupils, one adult per ten visitors in groups and one guide per group. Organ Nights concerts (Saturdays at 18:00, in 2026 from 6 June to 17 October): 35 lei, free under 18; a pass for any 5 concerts costs 80 lei. Concert tickets go on sale in the week of the concert at the INSPIRATIO shop at Curtea Johannes Honterus 8, or online at booktes.com.
- Rules
This is a working church: keep quiet and be respectful during your visit; services and ceremonies take priority. Photography and filming for private use are allowed, but without flash, tripod, telephoto lenses or other accessories; commercial photography and filming require the parish's written consent. Guided tours are free, depending on the guides' availability, and are requested by e-mail at [email protected].
- Facilities
free guided tours, requested in advance · INSPIRATIO Gift Studio souvenir shop opposite the church (Curtea Johannes Honterus 8) · café at no. 9, in the same courtyard · organ and sacred music concerts · good mobile signal
Frequently asked questions about The Black Church
- How much is a ticket to The Black Church?
- A ticket to The Black Church costs 30 lei (reduced 20–25 lei). Adults 30 lei; pensioners and students 25 lei; pupils up to 18 years 20 lei (with proof). Free for children under 7, people with disabilities (with ID card), one teacher per ten pupils, one adult per ten visitors in groups and one guide per group. Organ Nights concerts (Saturdays at 18:00, in 2026 from 6 June to 17 October): 35 lei, free under 18; a pass for any 5 concerts costs 80 lei. Concert tickets go on sale in the week of the concert at the INSPIRATIO shop at Curtea Johannes Honterus 8, or online at booktes.com.
- What are the opening hours of The Black Church?
- Opening hours at The Black Church: Monday 12:00 – 19:00, Tuesday–Saturday 10:00 – 19:00, Sunday 12:00 – 19:00. Summer hours, 1 April – 15 October. From 16 October to the end of March it closes at 18:00 (Monday and Sunday 12:00–18:00, Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00). Last entry 20 minutes before closing. On concert days, visits end 30 minutes before the concert starts (on Saturdays in the Organ Nights season, at 17:30). For religious ceremonies and sacred music concerts, visits are suspended for 2 hours, announced on the website 2–3 days in advance. Closed on 1 January and 25 December.
- How long does a visit to The Black Church take?
- A visit to The Black Church takes about 45 min (plus the Saturday organ concert).
- Can you visit The Black Church with kids?
- Yes, The Black Church is suitable for children (free under 7).
- Where can I park at The Black Church?
- There is paid parking at The Black Church (around the historic centre). Parking in the historic centre is paid, and there are few street spaces, which fill up quickly, especially at weekends and in summer. The paid public car parks on the edge of the centre, for example on Bulevardul Eroilor, are a 5–10 minute walk away.
- How do I get to The Black Church?
- The Black Church is located at Curtea Johannes Honterus 2, Brașov, Brașov County. By car: from Bucharest it is ~170 km on the DN1 through the Prahova Valley (~3 hours, longer at weekends, when the road is busy); from Sibiu ~145 km on the DN1 via Făgăraș (~2 hours 30 minutes); from Cluj-Napoca ~270 km via Târgu Mureș and Sighișoara (~4 hours 30 minutes). The church is in the historic centre, just off the south-west corner of Piața Sfatului (Council Square), ~100 m from the Council House; the centre is largely pedestrianised, so you leave the car in a nearby car park. Public transport: Brașov railway station, with direct trains from Bucharest, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, is ~3 km from the centre: ~15 minutes by city bus or taxi, or ~40 minutes on foot. From Piața Sfatului it is a two-minute walk to the church entrance in Curtea Johannes Honterus.
- When is the best time to visit The Black Church?
- The best season for The Black Church: All year round (organ concerts June–October).
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