The autumn colors of Brasov, showcasing all shades of gold, yellow, orange, red, rust, brown, and everything in between, are the result of the city being surrounded by densely forested mountains on all sides.
I was lucky enough to witness this beauty, since I spent the autumn in Brasov. At least the month of October, the best of autumn. The highlight of the trip was seeing the gorgeous colors of the forests of the Carpathians. Though this is the land of my childhood, since I left the country, over thirty years ago, I visited it mostly in the summers.
When returning now for visits, I can barely recognize the cities and roads of my childhood.
But the forests are still the same.
The trees have a permanence that calms us, inspire us, give us hope. I always feel better in a forest, especially in the shadow of mature, even centuries-old trees. They witnessed history unfold around them, they saw us, little humans, build, destroy, and rebuild worlds around them. I wish we could all listen to them, try to learn from them. And appreciate them. When we do, we can enjoy so much beauty, and learn to protect them.
This was the first time since I left that I witnessed a whole month of change in the surrounding forests, watching the leaves of the trees turn colors, then fall…
Enjoying the Autumn Colors of Brasov
After years of visiting the city in the summer, I realized that autumn in Brasov is the most beautiful season, offering the most pleasant stay.
Temperatures are perfect for long walks along the city streets, and along paths and trails in the surrounding forests showcasing their gorgeous fall colors.
Although the city, seeped in history, has plenty of things to see and experience, from a citadel on top of a hill, to towers, bastions, and colorful, ornate historic buildings, it is the surrounding mountains, filled with gorgeous deciduous tres, that offer the best of the autumn colors of Brasov.
Tâmpa Mountain Views from the City
During our stay in Brasov, we had a great view of Tâmpa Mountain from our apartment windows, and its rooftop balcony, where we watched the trees change into their autumn wardrobe day by day.
At first the change was barely discernible, as most of the mountaintop was still green when we arrived, with patches of lighter color. As the days passed, we noticed a variety of colors, from muted yellows, golds, oranges, and reds, to rust and shades of brown, brighter each day. Eventually, the whole side of the mountain turned shades of rust and brown, while the trees on the very top became bare.
The Colors of Tâmpa – Cenk in Hungarian, Zinne in German
Besides watching the mountain from our apartment, we also went up to the top.
We took the cable car one day, and hiked up another, enjoying both the views from the top, and the experience of hiking through the forested mountainside.
By chance, we chose one of the hardest trails uphill, but had no problem climbing up – until we hit a closure of the trail, along with a local yelling at us in Romanian to turn around. I was behind and didn’t hear him, so it took him a few attempts to get Jeff to understand what he was saying. As we found out, they were working on the cable cars, closing down not only the cable car route, but several hiking trails leading up to the top.
We felt lucky to have been there a few days before, since it didn’t open for the rest of our trip.
Colors Along the Under Tâmpa Mountain Promenade
We watched the colors change from green to yellows and golds on the trees lining the Promenade under Tâmpa Mountain during our (almost) daily walks.
Besides the trees lining the pathway, this walk also offered some of the most picturesque views of the center of the city, and the Citadel Hill.
Colors On the Citadel Hill
Walking the trails around the Citadel of Brasov several times, we enjoyed the changing colors of autumn leaves.
We walked the trail system in the forest around the Citadel, enjoying the autumn colors of several varieties of maples, European ash, English oak, Silver birch, bech, elm, and other deciduous trees.
An ancient tree greeted us along the trail, surrounded by its younger cousins, a sign near it identifying it in its Latin name as Fraximus excelsior.
A few late-bloomer crocus flowers added a splash of bright purple to the ground underneath the trees.
The views from the Citadel showcased more autumn colors.
Autumn Colors on the Way to Poiana Brasov
The most autumn colors we experienced during our stay was in the forests around Poiana Brasov.
We were immersed in autumn colors during our hikes through the forest up to Poiana. We walked several different trails in the area, enjoying all the colors of autumn leaves, from bright yellows, to oranges, reds, rust and browns, added to the green of an occasional pine or spruce.
More of a walking than true hiking trail, it took us through the forested mountainside on the “old road” cars and buses used to take up the hill. The road was never paved, so as soon as they built a paved road – leading up along a different route (in the early 1960s I believe), locals started using the old road as a footpath to the mountain, and to several mountain springs as a fresh water source.
Two separate roads lead to the top through the forest, and over our stay in town we took both. Views from each were different, but just as beautiful, filled with deciduous trees showcasing their gorgeous autumn colors.
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