Brasov

School Aid Romania focuses its work on the city of Brasov and its environs. Brasov lies in Transylvania which is an extensive, elevated plateau that occupies most of central and north west Romania. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains and is a very visually attractive area to visit.

Translyvania is an ethnically diverse region. It was part of Hungary for many years and has a substantial Hungarian population. There is also a considerable, although decreasing, community of ethnic Germans whose settlement in the region dates back to the twelfth century. Indeed, Brasov was founded in 1211 by a religious and military order of German noblemen.





Transylvania and Romania in general has had a complex history involving considerable movements in population. A relatively recent example of this is that in the 1960's, thousands of villagers from Moldavia were brought to Brasov to work in newly established factories in an attempt by the local communist regime to foster a skilled workforce in the city. In visiting Brasov, School Aid Romania visits a city in a region of ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. Brasov is a commercial, manufacturing and railway centre. Its geographical location has, for many years, led to its being an important trading centre. If you visit the Black Church in the centre of Brasov you will see a beautiful collection of Turkish carpets hanging on the walls of the church. These give stunning visual evidence of the trade that existed between merchants in this region and those in far distant countries dating back many years.

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