Brașov, RomaniaThe most beautiful medieval square in Transylvania — a cobblestoned market square of pastel-painted guild houses, cafés, and the 15th-century Council House (now a museum) at its center. The medieval fortifications rise on three sides; the Tâmpa mountain forest looms above. One of Romania's most atmospheric spaces.
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The most important Gothic church in Romania — a 14th-century Evangelical church that turned black after a 1689 fire and kept the name. Inside: the largest collection of Ottoman rugs in Europe (hung from the balconies), a stunning Baroque organ, and walls covered in ancestral epitaphs. Essential Brașov.
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Dracula's Castle — a 14th-century hilltop fortress 30km from Brașov that became forever associated with Bram Stoker's Dracula (incorrectly — Stoker never visited Romania). The castle itself is a genuine medieval treasure; the surrounding village is a fascinating look at the Dracula tourism industry. The most visited tourist attraction in Romania.