Walking into Piața Sfatului — Brașov's main square — the Black Church rises at the southern end with a presence so immediate and so disproportionate to everything around it that it takes a moment to process. Its 65-meter tower acts as a constant, reassuring landmark that follows you everywhere — catch a glimpse of its steep, tiled roof from the trails of Tâmpa Mountain, spot it between the old fortress bastions, or simply admire it while crossing the square. It is the skyline of Brașov, not a feature of it.

Visiting hours are seasonal — summer (April 1 to October 15): Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–19:00, Sunday and Monday 12:00–19:00. Winter (October 16 to March 31): Tuesday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday and Monday 12:00–18:00

Buy your ticket at the souvenir shop just across the road from the church entrance — it's easy to miss if you don't know to look for it

The best exterior photograph is from Piața Sfatului in the late afternoon when the light hits the facade directly — wide angle lens recommended given the scale of the building