Braila

Braila - General Information

City Highlights

The settlement of Braila, located on the banks of the Danube River, was first mentioned in several Catalan portolan charts around the year 1325/1339 and in the 1350 Spanish Libro de conoscimiento {Book of knowledge} with the name of Drinago. In Greek documents the town was referred to as Proilabum or Proilava, an adaptation of its Slavic name, Brailov. From 1538–1540 until 1829 the town and its surroundings were controlled by the Ottoman Empire, who changed its name into Ibraila.

During the 19th century, the town became one of the three most important ports on the Danube River in the region of Walachia, the other two being Turnu Magurele and Giurgiu. Most of the goods exported from Romania where loaded and shipped from here.

Braila's Old Town, severely damaged in 1828 during the Russo-Turkish war and rebuilt in the 1830s, retains some of its 19th century grandeur when the city's investors made fortunes in the shipping business and built elegant villas, some of which have been fully restored.

The Old Town, spread around Traian Square (Piata Traian), features several points of interest: the Romanian Orthodox Church (Sf. Mihail si Gravril), which served as mosque during the Ottoman rule; the Greek Church built between 1862 and 1872, displaying frescoes painted in 1890 by Romanian artist Gheorghe Tattarescu; the 1865 St. Nicholas Church (Biserica Sf. Nicolae), the 19th century Maria Filotti Theatre - named after the Romanian actress, Maria Filotti (1883-1956), the Braila County Museum, and the historical Water Tower.

For a view of the nearby Macin Mountains, stroll through Braila's public park, located above the bank of the Danube River.

Museums

Braila County Museum (Muzeul Judetean Braila)
Address: Piata Traian 3
Telephone: 0339 401.002
www.MuzeulBrailei.ro
Open:
Wed – Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (May – September)
Wed – Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (October – April)
Admission charge
Located  in the former French Hotel (Hotelul Francez), an elegant two-story building dating back to 1855, the museum features an Archeology section focusing on local Neolithic and Bronze Age sites, a History section with numerous furniture and traditional objects displays, an Art section, as well as an Ethnographic and Folk Art section. A valuable collection of sepia photos provide an interesting foray into the history of Braila during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Nearby Attractions

Macin Mountains National Park

Where: 15 miles (25 km) east of Braila
Access: car (on DN22 D)
www.ParcMacin.ro

400 million years ago, this mountain range stretched all the way to Western Europe. Its traces can still be found in Bohemia and the French Central Massif. Today, Tutuiatu Peak, the highest peak of the oldest mountain range in Romania, reaches just 1,495 ft.

Sarica Niculitel Vineyards & Niculitel Basilica

Where: 30 miles (50 km) west of Tulcea
Access: car, bus
Address: Str. Viticultori 2, Macin
Telephone: 0240 573.368
Email: office@vinuridemacin.ro
www.vinuridemacin.ro

The town of Niculitel is well known for its vineyards, but also for a Christian basilica built in 370 AD during the reign of Emperor Valerius. In 1971, a violent storm washed away the ground concealing the church, revealing a unique monument, a crypt housing the bones of four Christian martyrs (Zotikos, Attalos, Kamasis and Phillipos). The four coffins can now be seen at Cocos Monastery.

Day Trips

The city of Tulcea

Location: 48 miles (80 km) east of Braila
Access: car, bus
www.RomaniaTourism.com/Tulcea.html

Exploring the Danube Delta

Location: 48 miles (80 km) east of Braila
Access: car or bus to Tulcea and then ferryboat
www.RomaniaTourism.com/Danube-Delta.html

The Danube Delta is comprised of an intricate network of waterways and lakes divided between the three main estuary channels of the Danube. The area of floating reed islands, forests, pastures and sand dunes covers 3,000 square miles and is home to a vast array of wildlife. Located at the tip of the three channels, Tulcea makes a great starting point for exploring the Delta.

City Essentials

Transportation

By Air

Braila does not have a local airport.
The nearest airports are located in:

Constanta (CND)
www.MK-Airport.ro / 137 miles south

Bucharest Otopeni - Henri Coanda (OTP)
www.BucharestAirports.ro / 105 miles south

By Car

The shortest route from Bucharest to Braila is:
Bucharest – Urziceni – Buzau – Faurei - Braila (E85 – DN 2B)
Distance: 137 miles (229 km)
Approximate travel time: 3 hours

Travel distances from Braila to:
City	Distance: Miles / Km
Bucharest	137 mi / 229 km
Arad	402 mi / 671 km
Baia Mare	350 mi / 583 km
Brasov	149 mi / 248 km
Constanta	123 mi / 205 km
Iasi	160 mi / 266 km
Oradea	401 mi / 669 km
Satu Mare	378 mi / 630 km
Sibiu	235 mi / 392 km
Sighetu Marmatiei	322 mi / 537 km
Sighisoara	219 mi / 365 km
Suceava	202 mi / 338 km
Timisoara	400 mi / 667 km
Tulcea	48 mi / 80 km

By Train

Braila Train Station
(Gara Braila)
Address: Str. General Eremia Grigorescu
For a list of international trains with service to/from Romania please visit: www.RomaniaTourism.com/Transportation.html#ByTrain

There are daily direct trains connecting Braila with:
Bucharest (journey time: 3 ½ hours)
Buzau (journey time: 2 hours)
Constanta (journey time: 3 ½ hours)
Galati (journey time: 45 minutes)

Travel from Braila to Tulcea / Danube Delta is only possible by car / bus.

To check train and bus schedules for domestic routes please visit our
Domestic Transportation section
Note: For departures from /to Bucharest, please select Bucuresti Nord.

By Bus

Braila Bus Stations
(Autogara Braila)
Address: Str. Siret 10
Telephone: 0239 619.220

Daily domestic bus service from/to: Bucharest, Bacau, Barlad, Brasov, Constanta, Galati, Iasi, Macin, Mangalia, Sibiu, Suceava, Tulcea, Vama Veche

Public Transportation

5 tramway and 9 bus routes connect Braila's main areas and tourist attractions.
Braila public transportation map

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Braila Taxi

Taxi company	Phone #
Ace Taxi	0239 683.333
Taxi Dan	0239 611.111
Taxi 949 Braila	0239 949
Unvip Taxi	0239 619.100

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Car Rental

Promotor Rent a Car
Address: Strada Grigorescu Eremia 1
Tel: 0734 403.403
Email: office@auto-rent.ro
Web: www.auto-rent.ro/rent-a-car/Braila.html

...

Tourist Information

Braila Tourist Info Centre
(CNIPT – Braila)
Address: Str. Edmond Nicolau 4 A
Telephone: 0786 478.494
E-mail

City Hall
(Primaria Braila, Directia Cultura - Turism)
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: 0239 649.947
E-mail
www.PrimariaBraila.ro

Postal services & Telephone

Main Post Office
Address:  Str. Danubiului 8
Telephone: 0239 672.222
Open:
Mon. – Fri.: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Sat. 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Note: Post offices display a postal horn symbol and the word Posta.

Telephoning Braila from Abroad
International Access Code + 40 (country code) + 239 or 339 (area code) + six-digit telephone number

Pharmacies & Hospitals

There are several pharmacies (farmacie) open 24 hours a day in the city.

Emergency Hospital
(Spitalul Judetean de Urgenta Braila)
Address: Soseaua Buzaului 2
Telephone: 0239 692.222

Braila — Useful Telephone Numbers

Braila Area Code (Prefix): 0239 or 0339

City Hall
(Primaria Braila)
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: 0239 649.947
E-mail
www.PrimariaBraila.ro

Braila County Archives
(Directia Judeteana Braila a Arhivelor Nationale)
Address: Str. Plevna 8 bis
Braila, postal code 810111
Telephone: 0239 613.147
E-mail
Opening Hours

Maps

- Braila City Map (Harta Orasului Braila)
- Romania Physical Map (Romania - Harta Fizica)
- Romania Detailed Road Map (Romania - Harta Detaliata)
- Romania Road Map (Romania - Harta Drumurilor, Sosele)
- Romania Rail Map (Romania - Harta Cailor Ferate)