Tucked behind a row of buildings on Poarta Șchei Street in the heart of Brașov, the Beth Israel Synagogue is one of Romania's finest examples of historic Jewish architecture — a stunning Hungarian Secession gem designed by renowned architect Lipót Baumhorn and completed in 1901. Still an active place of worship, it offers visitors a rare chance to experience living heritage right in the centre of Transylvania's most visited city.

The building blends Gothic Revival and Moorish Revival styles in a way that feels both grand and intimate. Step inside to discover stained-glass windows bearing the coats of arms of 32 Israeli settlements, soaring columns with women's balconies, and a roofline crowned with the symbol of the Ten Commandments tablets. The atmosphere is calm and contemplative, a welcome contrast to the busy streets outside. The synagogue is open Monday through Friday and charges an entrance fee.

• Brașov city centre (Piața Sfatului) — on foot, approx. 10 minutes, 29 Poarta Șchei Street, no terrain difficulties

• Address: 29 Poarta Șchei Street, Brașov
• Open Monday to Friday; entrance fee required
• The building complex includes a community headquarters and a kosher restaurant
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Monuments in Romania

A remarkable footnote: when it was built, the synagogue cost 1.2 million crowns — more than the celebrated Szeged Synagogue. In August 2014, a monument was unveiled in the courtyard to honour the Transylvanian victims of the Holocaust.