If you are visiting Romania, you should also visit the castle of the most famous vampire of the world: the Count Dracula. Bran Castle is always associated with Dracula and is a very popular monument for tourists.
Bran Castle, Transylvania
History of the castle
Bran Castle is located in the town of the same name, near Brasov in Transylvania, and is a national monument in Romania. It is also located near the border with Wallachia.
It was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1212. The castle was damaged by the Mongols in 1242. In 1378, it was used to fight the Ottoman Empire. After that, Bran becomes the border between Transylvania and Wallachia.
Many royal families have lived in the castle. In 1920, it was offered to the Royal family of Romania. Most of the objects and furniture that are in the castle were brought by the Queen Marie of Edinburgh. At her death, her daughter, Ileana, inherited the castle of Bran but it was confiscated in 1948 by the communist regime which was leading Romania.
In 2006, the castle returned to the son of Ileana, Dominic von Habsburg.
Dracula’s Castle
Castle’s fame is largely due to its most famous resident: Vlad Tepes, also known as the Count Dracula.
Vlad III Basarab got his nickname, Tepes (the Impaler), because of his cruelty against his enemies. It has been in power three times: in 1448, from 1456 to 1462 and in 1476. He died in combat, in 1476, in Bucharest. His body was decapitated and his head sent to the sultan in Constantinople which impaled it to prove his death. His body was buried in the monastery of Snagov but it is possible that he is actually buried in the monastery of Comana.
Bram Stoker revived Vlad Tepes in the guise of Count Dracula, an immortal vampire who survives by drinking human blood.
Bran’s Castle or Dracula’s castle has been transformed into a museum dedicated to the most famous ruler of Romania. Every year it is visited by more than 500,000 tourists around the world.
Interior of Bran Castle
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