Christmas market in Braşov, Romania

© Alpineguide/Alam

A Carpathian Christmas celebration

Legend has it that this magical-looking square is where the children of Hamelin emerged after being led away by the Pied Piper. In the real world, it’s the Romanian city of Braşov, tucked away at the foot of Mount Tampa in the southern Carpathian Mountains. Founded by Teutonic Knights in 1211, Braşov’s striking Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture reflect its rich history.

Come December, Braşov’s main square is dominated by a 90ft tall Christmas tree towering over its Christmas market, with stalls selling food, drink and crafts. The festival is known as 'Braşov - the city from the tales’, perhaps a reference to that Pied Piper story. It’s certainly a magical place to drink a cup of cheer but if you are staying local this year, we hope you’ll still get a bit of a warm glow from our festive homepage image.