About Strada Sforii (Rope Street)
At a glance: Monuments and historic sites in Brașov, Brașov County. Ticket: Free. The visit takes 10 min. Information verified on 8 October 2026.
Strada Sforii, "Rope Street", is a pedestrian passage of about 80 metres linking Strada Cerbului with Strada Poarta Șchei, in the south-western corner of Brașov's walled town. Its width varies, depending on the source, between 1.10 and 1.35 m: at its tightest point, a person with outstretched arms touches both walls. It is the narrowest street in Brașov and usually ranks third in Europe, after Spreuerhofstraße in Reutlingen and Parliament Street in Exeter.
Seventeenth-century documents mention it as a simple corridor left between houses, used by firefighters as a shortcut between the two parallel streets; the first written record, in German, dates from 1674. Over time the Saxons called it the "dwarf lane" or "cord lane" (Schnurgässchen), while the Romanian name, Strada Sfoarei, appears only in 1937. The lane separated two "decuriae", the groups of ten houses into which the medieval town was divided. Restored in 2003, with new paving and old-style lamps, it was repaired again in 2017.
What you can see
What you see is the corridor itself: two tall walls of old houses, with small windows and iron anchors, a strip of sky overhead and lamps fixed to the walls. Walking through takes a few minutes. For years the walls have been covered in marker graffiti, scratches and chewing gum, and in summer the passage fills with tourists waiting to take photos, so it is quieter early in the morning.
It is worth combining with what is nearby: the Schei Gate and Catherine's Gate are at the Strada Poarta Șchei end, the Black Church and Council Square a few minutes' walk away, and the Weavers' Bastion a little further, below Tâmpa.
Good to know
The street has been closed since 18 November 2025, after the plaster and cornices of the houses on either side began to fall; both ends are blocked. In September 2026 the City Hall signed the contract for the works to make it safe, with no announced reopening date. Until then you can only see it from either end.
- The tightest point of the passage, where you touch both walls with outstretched arms.
- Looking up at the strip of sky between the walls of the old houses.
- The old-style lamps fixed to the walls during the 2003 restoration.
- The Schei Gate and Catherine's Gate, a few steps from the Strada Poarta Șchei end.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Brașov is ~170 km from Bucharest on the DN1 (~3 hours, longer at weekends through the Prahova Valley), ~145 km from Sibiu on the DN1 via Făgăraș (~2h30) and ~270 km from Cluj-Napoca (A3 to Târgu Mureș, then DN13, ~4 hours). Driving into the historic centre is awkward; leave the car in a car park on its edge and walk. Strada Sforii is ~300 m south-west of Council Square (Piața Sfatului): take Strada Cerbului towards the Schei Gate and the entrance is on the left.
Public transport: Brașov railway station has direct trains from Bucharest (~2h30–3 hours), Sibiu and Cluj and is ~3 km from the centre; bus 4 takes ~15 minutes to Livada Poștei / Council Square, then it is a 5-minute walk.
- Where to park
The historic centre is a paid parking zone, with few spaces on the streets inside the old walls. It is easier to use one of the paid car parks on the edge of the centre, for example on Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu, below Tâmpa, and walk for 10 minutes. In summer and at weekends they fill up quickly.
- Fees & discounts
The street is public, with free access.
- Rules
It is a public street, with no guide or ticket. Do not write or stick anything on the walls: graffiti has ruined the plaster, and the passage is under video surveillance. Because it is so narrow, pushchairs and bikes struggle to pass when it is busy; wait for the passage to clear rather than squeezing through.
- Facilities
No facilities of its own · cafés, restaurants and toilets in the places on Strada Cerbului and Council Square · tourist information centre on Council Square · good mobile signal
Frequently asked questions about Strada Sforii (Rope Street)
- How much is a ticket to Strada Sforii (Rope Street)?
- Admission to Strada Sforii (Rope Street) is free. The street is public, with free access.
- How long does a visit to Strada Sforii (Rope Street) take?
- A visit to Strada Sforii (Rope Street) takes about 10 min (a walk through, plus photos).
- Can you visit Strada Sforii (Rope Street) with kids?
- Yes, Strada Sforii (Rope Street) is suitable for children (short, on foot, no steps).
- Where can I park at Strada Sforii (Rope Street)?
- There is paid parking at Strada Sforii (Rope Street) (paid car parks in the centre). The historic centre is a paid parking zone, with few spaces on the streets inside the old walls. It is easier to use one of the paid car parks on the edge of the centre, for example on Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu, below Tâmpa, and walk for 10 minutes. In summer and at weekends they fill up quickly.
- How do I get to Strada Sforii (Rope Street)?
- Strada Sforii (Rope Street) is located at between Strada Cerbului and Strada Poarta Șchei, Brașov, Brașov County. By car: Brașov is ~170 km from Bucharest on the DN1 (~3 hours, longer at weekends through the Prahova Valley), ~145 km from Sibiu on the DN1 via Făgăraș (~2h30) and ~270 km from Cluj-Napoca (A3 to Târgu Mureș, then DN13, ~4 hours). Driving into the historic centre is awkward; leave the car in a car park on its edge and walk. Strada Sforii is ~300 m south-west of Council Square (Piața Sfatului): take Strada Cerbului towards the Schei Gate and the entrance is on the left. Public transport: Brașov railway station has direct trains from Bucharest (~2h30–3 hours), Sibiu and Cluj and is ~3 km from the centre; bus 4 takes ~15 minutes to Livada Poștei / Council Square, then it is a 5-minute walk.
- When is the best time to visit Strada Sforii (Rope Street)?
- The best season for Strada Sforii (Rope Street): All year round (mornings, without the crowds).
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