1689 Brașov fire

The 1689 Brașov fire took place in the town of Kronstadt in the Principality of Transylvania (now Brașov, in Romania).

The fire broke out on the afternoon of 21 April, on the Vár street (German: Burggasse; Romanian: Ulița Fânarilor, today Str. Castelului) and the lower parts of the Fekete street (German: Schwarzgasse; Romanian: Ulița Neagră, today Str. Nicolae Bălcescu). Spread by a powerful wind, it soon engulfed the entire part of the town facing the Tâmpa mountain. Local fires also appeared in the gate of Lópiac (German: Roßmarkttor; Romanian: Poarta Târgul Cailor; today George Barițiu Street) and Kapu street (German: Purzengasse; Romanian: Str. Porți, today Republicii Street). Within a few hours, the entire town was in flames. The White Tower, the Black Tower, the Council House and the Black Church were all destroyed. The latter building received its nickname following this fire; services were held outdoors for a long time. Johannes Honter's renowned library perished.[1]

Around 300 people died, the town was practically destroyed and its economic power was severed. For years, Kronstadt remained a ruin city blackened by smoke with a lingering penetrating smell. It was said that Habsburg troops deliberately set the blaze during the Great Turkish War. Most houses were of wood, which facilitated the spread of flames. Moreover, water was scarce in the mountain town. Subsequently, the authorities banned wooden houses, which is why the historic center of Brașov features only stone and brick houses. Reconstruction of the city took over many decades.[1]