First Romanian School (Prima Scoala Romaneasca)

Located outside the fortified walls of Braşov’s medieval heart, the district of Schei is a charming tangle of narrow streets and multi-colored houses. It was here where Romanian nationals congregated in the city and the area became a symbol of Romanian unity and pride. Schei is also site of the Orthodox church of St Nicholas, which was built around 1290; the first school for Romanian people was built in its grounds in 1495 and it became a great center of learning. At this time, all religious tracts were written in Slavic and it was not until a century later that these were translated into Romanian and printed at the school in the 1550s, including bibles and hymn books. 
The original school was replaced by a fine, pastel-hued Baroque building in 1760 and today it serves as a museum showcasing Romanian life in Schei down the centuries. Visits incorporate the schoolroom with its simple wooden benches, early printing presses, gleaming gold and silver icons, a library of thousands of books and an exhibition of traditional costumes worn by the residents of Schei.

Practical Info

Piata Unirii nr.2-3. Open daily 9am–5pm; admission is adults 5 lei, children 3 lei.