Catherine's Gate is a popular tourist destination in Brașov. The central tower is only a part of the original gate and is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. The gate was built in 1559 by the Tailors' Guild, to replace an older gate that was destroyed by a flood in 1526. St. Catherine's Monastery, which was located nearby in former times, gave the name to the gate.
The gate is made of brick and stone and has four corner turrets. It is decorated with the Brașov coat of arms and the four symbols of the Evangelists. The original model can be found in the Weavers' Bastion, where a large model of Brașov in 1600 is shown.
Old records refer to it as Porta Valacce, the Vallah’s Gate. This was the only entrance to Șcheii Brașovului allowed for Romanians and Bulgarians, as they were forbidden from using the other four entrances.
During the rule of the Saxons from the 13th to the 17th century, Romanians were not allowed to own properties within the fortress walls, so they settled outside the walls in the neighbourhood called Șcheii Brașovului. Romanians had specific times when they could enter the town and had to pay a toll at the gate to sell their goods inside the citadel.
It was in Șchei where the first Romanian School was established, next to the Romanian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas.
Catherine's Gate can be found in Brașov's Old Town, which is easy to reach by public transportation or on foot. This place is a popular spot for tourists to take pictures and is also a great starting point for walking tours of the city.
