The locality received city status in 1950 and is currently the third urban center of Brașov County. Located at the foot of the Codlei Mountains, which the locals consider their barometer.
The Codlea Mountains (1292 m) are part of the Codlea Mountains, representing a transition between the Făgăraș Mountains and the Persian Mountains. They present common elements with the Făgăraș Mountains through the presence of crystalline schists in the central and western part of the massif and with the Persian Mountains through the presence of sedimentary rocks on the eastern side. A notable crystalline area is the Poiana Mărului Platform, located at an altitude of 850-1000 m, characterized by a landscape with scattered settlements among three meadows and clumps of forests, reminiscent of the Apuseni Mountains.
In contrast, the flat landscape of this platform is shaped on limestone, being dominated by the peak of Măgura Codlei, a rocky peak that shines in the sun only around noon, announcing mealtime for those working in the fields. The locals call these rocks the "noon stone".
Also, when the peak of Magura is shrouded in fog, the locals interpret this phenomenon as a sure sign of bad weather.
The age of the settlement is very old, and material evidence from prehistoric periods has been discovered on its territory.
In the 13th century, the Teutonic knights built the "Black Fortress" on Măgura Codlei to control the passes of the Persian Mountains and to host the Transylvanian voivode in 1267. Functioning as a center of resistance against the Hungarian royalty, the fortress was demolished in 1335 and did not was rebuilt, only traces of the foundation remaining visible today. Next, the settlement at the foot of Magura evolved into a community of craftsmen, organized into four, then five guilds, each building a tower around the local church.
In the 19th century, guild workshops gave rise to small manufactures, which later became factories. The fortified church in the center of the town, built after the Turkish invasion of 1432, was surrounded by a strong wall with defensive galleries and towers built by each local guild. Currently, three towers can still be seen, among them the blacksmiths' tower, later converted into a belfry, and the weavers' tower, with wide firing holes for archers.
The citadel, having an ovoid shape, was considered the largest fortification in Șara Bârsei. Among the three remaining towers, the one of the blacksmiths is highlighted by the three 5-meter thick walls at the base. The church within the fortress, built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style, has undergone several reconstructions, still retaining original elements through the Romanesque portal. After the year 1500, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style, and in 1702 it was rebuilt after the fires of 1685 and 1701. It should be noted that it is the only church in Șara Bârsei without a tower.
Source: Tourist itinerary Brașov - Sibiu - Alba Iulia (Ministry of Tourism, 1982)
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On the southern slope of Măgura Codlei, at an altitude of 980 meters, there are the ruins of an old fortress. They remind of the inhabitants who lived in these places in the past.
The first documentary attestation of the fortress dates from the second half of the 13th century. Documents from the first decades of the 14th century also mention the fortress.
In the 15th century, the fortress was a refuge for Stephen V, prince of Transylvania, and for some nobles who opposed the king of Hungary.
Starting in 1964, archaeologists from the Museum of History in Brașov carried out research on the archaeological site of the citadel. They discovered a powerful fortification system, located in a strategic area. The citadel was 100 meters long and 12 to 55 meters wide. 140 meters from the fortress, a strong wall blocked the only access road to the area.
Excavations have revealed a variety of archaeological objects, including pottery, knives, locks, keys, arrowheads, spurs and bone tools. Charred grains of wheat and animal bones were also discovered.
The archaeological objects discovered prove that the area was inhabited even before the construction of the fortress. They also prove that Romanians, Germans and Hungarians lived together in the area.
The fortress was destroyed by a fire.
Source: Brașov memorial - Ștefan Petraru, Constantin Catrina (Ed. Sport-Turism 1976), page 63
