White Tower (Turnul Alb)

The Basics

The White Tower rises to 59 feet (20 meters) tall, and inside there are five wooden levels. See the battlements and offsets with slotted windows where a shower of stones would be dropped on invaders. Damaged by fire in 1689, the tower was restored in 1723. The White Tower got its name from the whitewash used to coat its walls.

Some walking tours of Brasov include a stop at the White Tower, in addition to other top attractions like the Black Church, St. Nicholas Church, and the First Romanian School. You can also see most of the sights on an e-bike tour, which will also include Tampa mountain.

Things to Know Before You Go

• You should have a reasonable level of fitness to attempt the climb to the White Tower.

• Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes to climb the steep, uneven steps.

• Be careful while climbing up; the handrails are not always securely fixed, and some steps are missing.

• Don’t forget to bring your camera for panoramic city views from the tower.

• To see more of the landscape, descend on a path through the woods back down to the city.

How to Get There

White Tower is located on top of Warthe Hill, on the northern side of Brasov. It’s located directly above the Graft Bastion and can be accessed via a steep set of stairs. There is a much longer path behind the White Tower, through the woods, back down to the city.

When to Get There

The White Tower is open Tuesday to Sunday. For the best views and photos, visit around late afternoon or sunset. It may be difficult in the winter to navigate up the steep steps to the tower.

Black Tower

Also built around the same time as White Tower, the 36-foot (11-meter) Black Tower, which is actually the same color as the White Tower, is smaller than the White Tower but also worth a visit. From the White Tower, there is a path through the forest that leads you on foot to the Black Tower, just a few minutes away.