BRASOV

judet (county), central Romania, occupying an area of 2,066 square miles (5,351 square km). The Eastern Carpathians and the Transylvanian Alps (Southern Carpathians) rise above the settlement areas in the valleys. The area is drained southwestward by the Oltul River and its tributaries. Brasov city, the county capital, is one of the largest industrial and cultural centres in Romania. Machinery, metal products, chemicals, and textiles are manufactured there and in Sacele, Rsnov, and Codlea. Factories in Z arnesti produce paper and cellulose, and Feldiora has a building-materials industry. Iron mines are worked in the county. Harman and Prejmer villages were fortified between the 13th and 15th centuries and contain notable 13th-century churches. Persian-style carpets are made in Harman, and a textile factory, agricultural cooperative, and trout hatchery operate in Prejmer. Poiana Brasov is a ski resort, located at the foot of Mount Postavarul (5,912 feet ). Other tourist areas are found in the Bucegi mountain range and on Mount Piatra Craiului. Teutonic Knights built a citadel on the summit of Mount Timpa (3,150 feet ) during the 13th century. The citadel was destroyed by the vovode (military governor) of Ioan Corvin in 1455, and the stones were later used to fortify Brasov city. Archaeological remains, found near Brasov city, date from the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages. The area was subsequently occupied by Saxons (13th century), Turks (15th century), Austrians (17th century), and Germans (early 20th century). Highway and railway connections radiate in several directions from Brasov city, where there is a university. Pop. (1987 est.) 695,160. formerly (195060) Orasul Stalin, German Kronstadt, Hungarian Brass, city, capital of Brasov judet (county), central Romania. One of the largest cities of the country, it is on the northern slope of the Transylvanian Alps (Southern Carpathians), surrounded on three sides by mountains, 105 miles (170 km) north-northwest of Bucharest by road. Founded by Teutonic Knights in 1211 and first mentioned in documents as Brasov in 1251, it became the centre of a Saxon colony trading in cloth, weapons, metalwork, and wax throughout much of Walachia and Moldavia. The substantial autonomy of its German inhabitants was ended in 1876 with the abolition of their separate national status. The old (inner) town, heavily fortified in the 15th century against the Turks, survived with little damage and contains many historic buildings, including the town hall (1420, restored 1777); the 190-foot (58-metre) watchtower, also called Trumpeter's Tower (1528, restored 1910); the Orthodox St. Nicholas' Church (1392, restored 1751); and St. Bartholomew's Church (13th century, the oldest building in Brasov). The Gothic Protestant Church (13851477, restored 171115), is called the Black Church because of its smoke-blackened walls resulting from a 1689 fire. In Brasov are several theatres and museums and a university. The Apostle of Transylvania, Johannes Honterus (14981549), who led the Protestant Reformation in the area, lived and died in Brasov (then Kronstadt) and established the first printing press in Transylvania there in 1535. The first book printed in the Romanian language, by the deacon Coresi, was published in Brasov in the mid-16th century. Education in Romanian was introduced there in the first Romanian school in 1559. Toward the end of the 19th century the long tradition of merchants and craftsmen provided the foundation for industrial growth. In addition to factories manufacturing tractors, trucks, helicopters, and bearings, there are textile and chemical plants. Brasov is also an important road and rail junction. Pop. (1986 est.) 351,500.