Bran Castle (Dracula) in Romania

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Bran Castle is the most interesting place for travelers and lovers of mystical buildings. Indeed, according to legend, this is the ancient abode of Count Dracula himself. It was here that the famous film of the same name about a terrifying vampire was filmed.

Atmosphere of darkness

Tourists who want to visit the world of a mystical negative hero and feel the atmosphere of despair reigning in his chambers should visit Romania. It is there, in the Carpathian mountain range, that there is a fascinating building - Bran Castle. The famous residence of Dracula is made in the Gothic style. Inside, it is divided into many corridors, labyrinths, small rooms and large halls, which adjoin each other in surprising harmony. The atmosphere in the castle is really gloomy. It seems that the doors are about to open - and a silhouette of His Majesty Count Dracula will appear in the next room. The spirit of mysticism reigns everywhere here. What is the old well, located in the courtyard of a unique fortress. After all, it is he who is the only entrance to the underground premises, which are considered secret. Near the castle is the Dracula market, wheretourists are actively offered to buy vampire-themed souvenirs.

The "Dark" castle: myths and reality

The ancient building is shrouded in secrets and legends. For many years, locals believe that Count Dracula himself once lived here. But historical data refute this legend. Some sources claim that Bran Castle (Romania) is the residence of Vlad the Sazhatel.

In fact, in 1377, King Louis I the Great issued a document confirming that the inhabitants of Brasov (Saxons) have the right to build a stone fortress called "Bran". Before the construction of the legendary castle, there was a citadel here. In its place, construction work began. And very soon the locals saw the majestic stone fortress of Bran. Dracula's castle has become a real "salvation" for the urban population. In honor of the construction of a new fortress, the king freed the people from mandatory state taxes for several centuries. In the 13th century, the castle was ruled by the royal principality of Alba. The legendary building was also in the possession of Mr. Mircea the Old, and later became the property of the inhabitants of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire.

Modern history

In 1920, the people of Brasov decided to thank Queen Mary for her merits: in 1918 she united all Romanian lands. As a gift, the Queen received Bran Castle in her own possession. Gradually Maria turned it into a summer residence. From 1920 to 1927 the fortress underwent restoration, which was led by the Czech architect Karel Liman. The result isthe most beautiful residence with parks, alleys, small paths leading to a small picturesque lake. Later, the Romanian Bran Castle underwent another restoration. In 1992, Francis Ford Coppola asked to "finish" the old building for the subsequent filming of the film "Dracula".

Castle exterior

Irish writer Brem Stoker described the residence of the Transylvanian vampire very beautifully: “Bran Castle rises on the edge of a mighty cliff. From its western side, a huge valley can be seen, ending in jagged mountain ranges. The sheer cliffs on which the stone fortress rises are overgrown with mountain ash and thorny bushes clinging to recesses, cracks and crevices in the stone. The windows of the castle are located in such a way that arrows and stones cannot get there, but at the same time it was light and comfortable in the rooms.”

As you can see, Bran Castle (Romania) was built with a defensive purpose. Now he looks exactly the same as in the descriptions of Bram Stoker. The majestic stone structure might really appeal to vampires. Its serpentine staircases, long corridors, underground passages, secret rooms create a mystical atmosphere. In fact, the ancient fortress occupies a small area - 8 hectares. It includes only 4 levels, united among themselves. Bran is now a museum. Tourists have the opportunity to walk through its many rooms, examine medieval weapons and admire the territory adjacent to the fortress.

Why Bran is the abodeDracula?

The legendary castle has changed many rulers. Locals claim that it once belonged to a prince named Vlad Dracula.

Bram wrote that this ruler was distinguished by cruelty. He went to the extreme: he drank the blood of his enemies. That is why they called him a vampire. And although these historical data did not find proper confirmation, they served as a source of inspiration for directors. Numerous feature films and documentaries have been made about Bran. Dracula's castle has become a real legend. Rumor has it that screams and satanic laughter are still heard from the fortress at night. But local residents are not afraid of this fact. On the contrary, they believe that Dracula is a friendly host and likes to receive "guests".

Bran's current status

Architectural monument is considered the main attraction of Romania. It is also included in the list of the creepiest places on Earth. To increase interest in the strange castle and attract tourists from all over the world, the guides do not forget to mention that the fortress is the real residence of the famous vampire. And, although historical records do not confirm the fact that Count Dracula lived in the castle, it is still unknown whether his personality is fictional or still real. For a long time, Bran was in disrepair. The castle was transformed when American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola began restoring it at his own expense for subsequent filming.

Dracula's Castle in winter

The ancient stone fortress was estimated at $140 million. Tourist symbol of Romaniaattracts many travelers from all over the world both in summer and winter. With the advent of autumn, Vampire Castle (Bran) looks even more mysterious and mysterious. In the evenings, it is shrouded in misty haze, and the fortress seems ghostly. And in winter, the snow cover on the roofs makes the architectural structure cold and gloomy. When you look at the castle from afar, the thought involuntarily creeps in that now Count Dracula himself is examining his possessions there. In winter, a magnificent view opens up from the fortress - a picturesque winter panorama. Here you feel like a guest of a mysterious country: the mystical fortress is surrounded by snow-covered mountains; below you can see a snow-white valley.

How to get to Dracula's castle

There are two ways to get to the ancient fortress from Bucharest.

Drive along highway DN3.
By train through Brasov and from there by bus or taxi to the village of Bran.

Entrance to the castle is paid. After purchasing a ticket, tourists are allowed onto a narrow, stone-lined path that leads to the fortress. The architectural building is located on a mountain peak. To reach it, you need to take about 1400 steps. At the foot of the mountain is a concrete staircase that leads up to the ruins. Here, a picturesque landscape opens up to the eye: the glare of the sun is reflected in Lake Vidraru, the peaks of the Fagaras Mountains are visible in a foggy haze, and even further - the lands of the Papuza Mountains. Citizens of Romania come for the weekend to look at Bran Castle, the photos of which are simply mesmerizing. Near the ancient fortress there are manysmall cozy hotels. Romanians and visiting tourists especially like to stay there. In Brasov, where Bran Castle is located, there are many religious sites that visiting guests enjoy visiting.