History and tradition in Rotbav
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Rotbav town belongs to Feldioara commune, county of Brasov, and lies on the European Road E60 connecting Brasov to Sighisoara. Here the legends and traditions were transmitted from father to son and are being promoted on the occasion of religious holidays and events taking place all along the year.
?The Red Brook?
Town Rotbav has had several names, all deriving from ?Paraul Rosu? (= the Red Brook): Roşie, Rotbac, or Roiderbrich, Rudjebich, Rűdebiχ (Saxon language), Rothpach, Rothbach (German) and Szászveresmart, Vörösmárt/Veresmart (Hungarian).
The two towns, Rotbav and Feldioara made the object of several archaeological researches, which proved that this town existed 1900 years B.C. According to the village legends in the first half of the 13th century, 20 Saxon families, while laundering in the valley, were attacked and killed, the brook turned red and hence the name of the town.
The fortified city
The Mayor of Feldioara commune, Mr. Sorin Taus, said: ?There are fortified Saxon churches and fortresses both in Feldioara and Rotbav commune, which were built for defensive purposes. The one in Rotbav was built in 1300 and the fortified walls in the 15th century. They still exist nowadays and tourists are highly interested to see them. We intend to develop tourist information centres around them. In order to promote traditions and customs we rehabilitated and opened the Cultural Centre of Rotbav. This event reunited Romanian, Hungarian, and German people, with their unique costumes.?
Historical and cult monuments
The President of the County Council Brasov, Mr. Aristotel Cancescu participated in the opening of Rotbav Cultural Centre and said: ?In 2008 alone, 200 billon lei were allotted for historical and cult monuments. In a single year Euro 40 millions were approved for the roads. If we solve the infrastructure issue, if we rehabilitate the historical monuments and if we promote customs and traditions we will be able to attract a lot of tourists. This is another town with a new Cultural Centre on whose stage all generations can come to define culture.?
