Romurilor Hill (Warthe) and Graft Bastion

Romurilor Hill, historically also known as Warthe Hill, is the elevation right next to Brașov's historic center, on whose slope the White Tower and Black Tower were built — outer watch and defense towers of the medieval citadel, constructed in the second half of the 15th century. At the foot of the hill, on today's Castelului/După Ziduri Street, stands Graft Bastion, built between 1515 and 1521 to link the defenders of the White Tower to the rest of the citadel, via a movable gate. Its name comes from the German term "Graft" ("canal") — as early as the 14th century, excess water from the Șchei springs had been diverted through an artificial canal at the foot of the hill, used as a natural obstacle within the defense system. The rectangular bastion, with walls about 4 meters thick at the base, has firing ports with wooden shutters and pouring holes, controlling the entire length of the walls up to Curelarilor Bastion (demolished in 1887) and Fierarilor Bastion. It was defended and maintained by the saddlers' guild. A torrential rain on 24 August 1809 weakened the citadel walls near Graft, requiring reinforcement — three supporting arches were built over the stream, of which only one survives today, the other two demolished in the early 20th century. The bastion was restored and turned into a museum in 2003-2004, when the staircase leading up to the White Tower was also built; it now houses a branch of the Brașov County History Museum, with temporary exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events. Romurilor Hill and Graft Bastion are reached on foot from Brașov's historic center, via După Ziduri Street, about 5 minutes' walk from Council Square. Worth visiting for the concrete insight it offers into Brașov's medieval defensive logic, and for the direct visual context of the fortification system that protected one of Transylvania's most important trading centers.