Brașov was founded by the Transylvanian Saxons that came here from Western Europe as of the second half of the 12th century, on a territory with roots dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age.
The medieval town of Brașov received the status of free city of Saint Stephen's crown and enjoyed significant political and commercial privileges granted both by its liege lord, the king of Hungary, as well as by the rulers of the two neighbouring Romanian medieval states, Wallachia (The Romanian Land) and Moldova.
Built at the exit of the most important pass through the Transylvanian Carpathians, Brașov took advantage of its location on the trade route that ensured the shortest connection between the trading area south of Danube and the Black Sea and then further to Central Europe. Up until the end of the 19th century, Braşov was the largest city in Transylvania.