Like any old city, Brasov has plenty of history at its founding. But it also has plenty of myths, some exaggerated over the time for narrative purposes. Or are they?
Witches’ lake
At the exit of the Brasov Citadel, nowadays being the Republicii street and Modarom store, there used to be a lake in the 19th century. There, the witches or women who were suspected to be witches were thrown in, with weights attached to their feet, and if they rose up to the surface, they were considered to be servants of Satan and they were burned at the stake.
The same story says that the young, unmarried women were kept away from looking at the “witches”, because it was rumored that they would turn ugly and sinful if they did so.
In the place of the lake there lies a cross today, which is said to protect from evil spirits.
Solomon’s Rocks/Pietrele lui Solomon
The story comes from the 11th century, and it is tied to the hungarian King Solomon. There are two versions of this story. The first one says that Solomon was chased by invaders and he ran up to Brasov. In order to not be discovered, he left his crown at the bottom of a tree. The invaders thought that the king fell off a cliff and died and so they gave up the chase. Solomon ended up in the cave , with his riches. Hundreds of years later, a peasant found the crown where now lies the Council House and took it to the Black Church.
The second version of the story is more bloody. It is said that King Solomon murdered his brother. who was supposed to take the throne and their mother cursed him so badly, that anyone he would meet they would kill him. So he ran away, his crown falling along the way. At some point, he tried to jump the cliff to the other side, but failed. The place where he fell divided and that’s how the two big stones were formed. Solomon survived, and in order to not be recognized, he left his crown at the bottom of a tree. This is also where the other name of Brasov, Kronstadt (Crown City) comes from.
Legend of the wolf kid
Sometime along the second half of the 19th century, a young man at the age of 20 years old has been found by a man from Brasov and taken in care. The young man only ate fruits, leaves and raw meat. He would not speak, only emitted sounds when he was seeing Tampa Massif or the man taking care of him. Sadly, he never managed to be a part of the society.
The child on top of the Black Church
At the top of the Black Church, there sits a statue of a child who is bent over the edge. One of the two versions of the story says that there was a child who used to work in the church’s construction, and an older master, who was jealous of him and afraid that he will take his place pushed him off the church. After he found out that the boy was speaking highly of him, he was filled with regret and built a statue of him at the top of the church. After, the master admitted his action and was sentenced to death.
The second version of the story says that a man and his so were both working at the church’s construction. There was an accident, in which the boy fell of the edifice to his death, in front of his father’s eyes. Engulfed in pain, the father decided to sculpt a statue of his son in his last moments.
Tâmpa Massif
There are three legends about the Tâmpa Massif.
The first one claims that under the massif there is a cave with a lake. Others say that there are leftovers of an ancient sea. The claim of a lake would be more viable, because of the little, now almost dried, springs on the mountain.
The second one tells the story of the bench carved in the mountain. In 1817, two lovers were sitting on the bench, when a rock came off the top of the mountain and killed the girl. The bench still exists to this day and anyone can sit on it.
The third one is about a dragon that is presumed to have lived in a cave on Tâmpa. It killed the leaders’ children and it had been hunted for years. Then, they came up with the idea of filling a carriage with limestone and put veal meat on top of it. The dragon ate it and he filled up so much, that he blew up. Nowadays, it is said among people that the Tâmpa Massif has the shape of a sleeping dragon.
Sources: ghidlocal.com, adevarul.ro, brasovtour.com, brasovultau.ro
We hope you enjoyed these myths and legends about Brasov! Which one did you find the most interesting? Tell us in the comments below.
If you ever find yourself around some of these places, show us too on Instagram by tagging us!
Until next time,
We are Brasov Team
wearebrasov.home.blog 