First Romanian School (Prima Scoala Romaneasca)

The Basics

The school was originally built in 1495. In 1760, it was replaced by a pastel-colored baroque building. It functioned as a school until 1941 and reopened as a museum in 1964. See an old classroom with wooden benches, as well as an early printing press and a library with some of the oldest books in Romania. Other exhibits in the museum complex focus on Stefan Mironescu paintings, Nicolae Titulescu, and traditional folk costumes from the region.

Visit the First Romanian School as part of a guided walking tour that features stops at top Brasov attractions, such as St. Nicholas Church, the Black Church, and Council Square.

Things to Know Before You Go

• This is a must-visit for those interested in Romanian history and culture.

• The curator of the museum offers guided tours of the school, and interesting insights about the school and Romanian history.

• In addition to the five rooms of the 2-story building, the museum complex incorporates a few other buildings nearby with different exhibits.

How to Get There

The First Romanian School is located on the grounds of St. Nicholas Church, at Unirii Square in the southwestern part of Brasov. It is about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) from Council Square. Or you can take bus No. 50 from Council Square to Unirii Square.

When to Get There

The First Romanian School is open daily, year-round. The guided tour takes less than an hour, and there are a number of other rooms and exhibits to explore, so allow time to spend one to two hours here. The school is on the grounds of St. Nicholas Church, and most people explore both sights when they visit.

First Romanian Printing Press

The first Romanian printing press displayed at the museum is notable for printing a number of firsts, including the first Romanian letter in Latin, the first Romanian textbook, and the first Romanian Bible. Only 39 books were ever printed on this press.