Braila is the county seat of Braila county, located in the easternmost part of Muntenia, on the left bank of the Danube. Braila can be reached by DN2B Buzau - Braila - Galati, DN21 Calarasi - Slobozia - Braila, DN22 Ramnicu Sarat - Braila, DN23 Focsani - Braila, DN22B Galati - Braila and DN22D connection with E87 (DN22) between Tulcea and Constanta. There are 215 km to Bucharest which can be covered by road in 3 hours. Between Braila and Galati is under construction a bridge over the Danube. Braila is also a port on the Danube.
Braila is located at an average altitude of 25 meters above sea level, covers 77 square kilometers and has about 180.000 inhabitants, about 90% are Orthodox Romanians.
Coordinates: 45°16′9″N 27°57′27″E
(click on objectives for extended version)
The address is 4A Edmond Nicolau Street.
Opening hours: open daily from 10 am - 5 pm
The best starting point for visiting Braila is the Tourist Info Center. A center very well set up, well documented and where I was pleased to find out that in Braila also organizes guided tours.
Near the Info Center there are several tourist attractions of Braila, but we will visit the most distant ones.
Tourist Info Center
From the National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion follow Calea Galati to Traian Square and after 200 meters the last building on the left is
The address is Traian Square 3.
It is open from Wednesday to Sunday as follows: in October - April from 9 am to 5 pm, in May - September from 10 am to 6 pm.
In this building was formerly the Grand French Hotel. It is a building from the first half of the 19th century, modernized in neoclassical style in 1897. It was the main meeting place of the merchants of Braila. In fact, besides the main museum in this building, the Braila Museum also manages the Nicapetre Cultural Center, the Natural Sciences Section, the Fanus Neagu Memorial House, the D. P. Perpessicius Memorial House, the Panait Istrati Memorial House and the Ethnography Section.
Braila Museum
We turn a quarter of a quadrant in Traian Square and at the end of Mihai Eminescu street after 100 meters is the next important objective.
The address is 2 Mihai Eminescu Street.
It is located in the former Dumitru Ionescu House. The building dates from 1862. The building was modernized in 1896 in baroque style. Here functioned one of the oldest performance halls in the city. It has two halls: the Great Hall and the Studio Hall.
"Maria Filotti" Theater is a prestigious institution of Romanian theater, with a tradition of over 150 years. The building is today an architectural monument.
Maria Filotti Theater
We continue on Mihai Eminescu Street, a street with old, well maintained buildings, palaces built in the 19th century. It is also called royal street. Somewhat opposite the theater is the Museum of Humor.
The royal street set the price of wheat in Europe, just as the street was known for the delicious food prepared by the ethnic groups living in Braila. It was also the place where Elvira's daughters stood out.
The buildings have geometric and floral ornaments and statues typical of the late baroque and neoclassicism. The facades are renovated and illuminated in the evening. Here is the place to discover the history of Braila where Romans, Greeks, Turks, Russians, Bulgarians, Jews, Armenians, Saxons, Romans, Turks, Bulgarians, Armenians, Jews, Armenians, Saxons lived together.
We will walk on one sidewalk and on the other 500 meters one way and another 500 meters back to return to Traian Square.
In the center of the square, organized as a small park, is the Statue of the Emperor Trajan.
Bust of Emperor Trajan
Old Center
Royal Street
Old Center
Museum of Humor
Old Center
The Hepites, Ana Aslan and Scolii streets lead us past the "Sf. Nicolae" Church, after 500 meters in Calea Calarasilor, a main artery of the city.
The address is Calea Calarasilor 29.
The building was built in 1894 in eclectic style. It was formerly the Administrative Palace. Braila's higher education had its first educational institution in 1971 as a section of the University of Galati. Until today several specializations have been developed at the Faculty of Engineering and Agronomy.
St. Nicholas Church
Faculty of Engineering and Agronomy
Our road continues along the Calarasilor Path 700 meters to the exit of the city.
The address is Calea Calarasilor 52.
It was built between 1923 and 1928 according to the project of architect Florea Stanculescu in neo-Romanesque style to house all the agricultural institutions in the county. It is a testimony of the rebuilding program of Great Romania after the First World War.
Palace of Agriculture
Traversam.
The addresses are Independentei Square / Calea Calarasilor / Esplanada 1.
We are in front of Independence Square, where the Town Hall and the Prefecture are, in front of a widened plateau. At the end of it after 200 meters we enter a promenade area.
The kinetic fountain was realized in 1988 by sculptor Constantin Lucaci.
Perpendicular to the boulevard, this is where the Esplanade begins, which leads down past several fields, an open-air stage and a children's park to the Danube shore.
Esplanade
Independence Square
Kinetic fountain
The Danube waterfront stretches for the next more than 2 km right on the banks of the Danube river, offering views of the Danube and the opposite shore, the Dobrogean one, where is the Lipoveneasca Beach, and from where you can travel to the Macin Mountains. Several boats are anchored at the quay, some of them offering accommodation and restaurant options. The waterfront should be landscaped a bit more.
We will pass, in the direction of flow of the Danube, near the "Violatos" Mill, the Port Captaincy and the River Station. The river station is one of the symbols of Braila. It was built by the architect Anghel Saligny between 1904 and 1906.
From here we change direction by 90 degrees to the left, and in easy uphill we head towards Traian Square, 700 meters, from where we will resume the next day's walk through the city.
River station
River station
The Danube at Brăila
Danube Cliff
On the east side of the small park in Traian Square is another symbol of the city: the Public Clock or Brailei Clock, overlooking Imparatul Traian Street, which we climbed yesterday from the Danube. The Brailei Clock was built in 1909 by the Czech firm Carol Sakar from the donation of Petru Naum. It is a rare piece of urban furniture. The clock has 4 dials, 11 meters high and imitates an indoor clock.
The Braila Clock
200 meters northeast of Traian Square is Poligon Square.
The address is Poligon Square 4.
Open Monday from 11am - 7pm, Tuesday to Friday from 8am - 7pm and Saturday from 11am - 7pm
In addition to over 300,000 book titles that can be read here, the library organizes other activities, events, clubs, workshops. It has a media library, a toy library, a maker space, a reading room and a multicultural center.
P. Istrati County Library
The address is Poligon Square 2A.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm
The house was built at the end of the 19th century in neoclassical style and belonged to the painter Petre Alexandrescu, grandfather of the opera singer and teacher Petre Stefanescu Goanga from Braila. It is a historical monument. The museum opened to the public in 2013.
P. Ș. Goangă
We go another 200 meters following the map.
The address is on Belvedere Street.
Visiting hours: from Wednesday to Sunday between 10 am - 6 pm
Embiricos House, as it is also called, hosts the Cultural Center "Nicapetre". It was built in 1912 according to a design by the architect Predinger as the headquarters of the Embiricos firm, famous in the world at that time. It belongs to the Braila Museum.
On the fence of the house were presented outstanding personalities who lived in Braila, such as Hariclea Darclee, Panait Istrati, Nae Ionescu, Mihail Sebastian or Ana Aslan.
Ana Aslan
Nicăpetre Cultural Center
We continue the walk, 1 km, on Belvedere street and then left on Gradinii Publice street, then in the park. At the entrance to the park we notice Thueringer House, where Panait Istrati was a "running boy" as a teenager.
The addresses are Belvedere Street / Public Garden Street.
Museum opening hours: 8 - 17, except Monday - Tuesday
The "Panait Istrati" Memorial House is actually in the park. As soon as you enter the Public Garden, at the end of the alley on the right you will find the charming museum house.
The Gradina Publica or Gradina Mare covers 7 hectares and is located on the site of the former fortress of Braila. In the park, under renovation, is also the Water Castle. The alleys invite you to stroll or rest. On the alleys we find several busts including busts of Panait Istrati and Mihai Eminescu.
Public Garden
bust of M. Eminescu
to the Public Garden
bust of P. Istrati
Public Garden
P. Istrati Memorial House
Thüringer House
From Gradina Publica we head towards Calarasi, via Calea Calarasilor, 4 km.
In the park you can find the Natural Science Section of the Braila Museum, the stadium, a children's playground, alleys and jogging paths. I didn't find it a welcoming park. I liked the plane trees at the main entrance.
Monument Park
Monument Park
We go on, more than 2 km, towards the exit to Calarasi and Slobozia, to the outskirts of the city.
The address is on Soseaua de Centură.
Open daily from 9 am - 6 pm
The Braila Zoological Park, founded in 1983, is quite small, spread over 5 hectares. It houses over 300 animals of 50 species. It also has a riding stable and several playgrounds.
Zoo
Zoo
We end our walk through the city of Braila, leaving with a pleasant impression about the intentions of tourist promotion here. I liked the 19th century palaces and buildings, the clock and the Panait Istrati House.
All the best!
Steps:
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