The settlement of Brăila, located on the banks of the Danube River, was first mentioned in several Catalan portolan charts around year 1325 and in the 1350 Spanish Libro de conoscimiento {Book of knowledge} with the name of Drinago.
Greek documents refer to the town 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.
Romanian biolgist and physician, Prof. Ana Aslan, founder of the Geriatric Institute in Bucharest and inventor of the anti-aging Gerovital H3 formula and musician Johnny Raducanu, Romania's very own Louis Armstrong, founder of the Romanian Jazz School, were born in Braila.
Braila features one of Romania's oldest electric tram (launched at the end of the 19th century and still in use).
Brăila Old Town, centered around Traian Square (Piața Traian), features several points of interest:
the Romanian Orthodox Church (Biserica 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 Tăttărescu; the 1865 St. Nicholas Church (Biserica Sf. Nicolae), the 19th century Maria Filotti Theatre - named after the Romanian actress, Maria Filotti (1883-1956), Brăila County Museum, and the historical Water Tower.
For a view of the nearby Macin Mountains, stroll through Braila's public park, overlooking the bank of the Danube River.
Brăila County Museum (Muzeul Brăilei “Carol I”)
Address: Piata Traian 3
Telephone: (+4) 0339 401.002
Website
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.
Discover Braila's Delightful Architectural Heritage WalkThisWayBraila.ro
Where: 15 miles (25 km) east of Braila
Access: car (on DN22 D)
Website
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.
Where: 12 miles (19 km) east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: Str. Viticultori 2, Macin
Telephone: 0240 573.368
E-mail
Website
Town of Macin is known for its wines obtained from native varieties of grapes Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Neagră.
Where: 42 miles east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: DJ229C 43, Niculițel 827165
Website
A Christian basilica, built mid-3rd century near the village of Niculițel, was revealed in 1971 when a creek overflowed its banks.
The relics of Saints Zoticus, Atallus, Camisius and Philippos, who endured martyrdom because they openly proclaimed their faith in Christ, were found in the basilica.
The relics of these can now be seen at nearby Cocoș Monastery.
Where: 44 miles east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Address: DN 22 Tulcea - 4 miles east of village Niculitel
Telephone: (+4) 0744 551.518
Website
Location: 48 miles (80 km) east of Braila
Access: car, bus
Tulcea info
Location: 50 miles east of Braila
Access: car or bus to Tulcea and then boat
Danube Delta info
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.
The nearest airports to Braila are:
Constanta (CND) - 102 miles south
Bucharest Otopeni - Henri Coanda (OTP) - 125 miles southwest
The shortest route from Bucharest to Brăila is:
Bucharest – Urziceni – Buzau – Faurei - Braila (E85 – DN 2B)
Distance: 135 miles
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 |
Brăila 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.
Braila Bus Stations
(Autogara Braila)
Address: Str. Siret 10
Telephone: (+4) 0239 619.220
Daily domestic bus service from/to: Bucharest, Bacău, Barlad, Brasov, Constanta, Galati, Iasi, Macin, Mangalia, Sibiu, Suceava, Tulcea, Vama Veche
5 tramway and 9 bus routes connect Braila's main areas and tourist attractions.
Braila public transportation map
...
Taxi company | Phone # |
---|---|
Ace Taxi | 0239 683.333 |
Taxi Dan | 0239 611.111 |
Taxi 949 Braila | 0239 949 |
Unvip Taxi | 0239 619.100 |
...
Promotor Rent a Car
Address: Strada Grigorescu Eremia 1
Tel: (+4) 0734 403.403
E-mail
Website
...
Braila Tourist Info Centre
(CNIPT – Braila)
Address: Str. Edmond Nicolau 4 A
City Hall
(Primăria Brăila)
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: (+4) 0239 649.947
E-mail
Website
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 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
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: (+4) 0239 692.222
Braila Area Code (Prefix): 0239 or 0339
City Hall
(Primaria Braila)
Address: Piata Independentei 1
Telephone: (+4) 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: (+4) 0239 613.147
Opening Hours
E-mail
- 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)