I imagine the Gothic Bran Castle sitting high on its 200-foot rock with a full moon behind it, a little bit of fog and enough wind to make the trees creak. The magnificent medieval structure is open to visitors and houses a museum with furniture and other items of Marie of Romania, the last queen of Romania, who lived there. It offered an air of solitude and I could really feel the souls of those who lived, worked and fought in Bran Castle all those centuries ago. This is "bran castle" by Stephen George on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Seventy-nine-year-old Dominic Habsburg, spent his childhood at Bran Castle in Brașov, Romania, where his grandparents Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I lived. A medieval fortress against a dramatic scenery in a valley at the Carpathian foothills, Bran Castle is located in Bran, close to Brasov, and is truly a sight to see! However, by many accounts, Bran Castle is not all that. Castelul Bran – Dracula’s Castle – Casa din Bran României se află în Pasul Bran-Rucăr. Dracula’s Castle is situated between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, right where you enter Rucar-Bran Pass. It is the same with Bran Castle. I enjoyed seeing preserved bedrooms of the royals and looking out … Some rooms are sparsely decorated with furniture, while others are dedicated to museum-like exhibitions covering Romanian folklore and royal family trees. A guide to Bran Castle, Dracula’s Castle History of Bran Castle . Since picturesque Brasov was the first stop on our Transylvania road trip, a half day trip from Brasov to Bran Castle was one of the very first things we enjoyed in Romania. Bran Castle is almost always at the top of the list of Famous Castles in Romania. It is unknown if he used Bran Castle. Bran Castle originally dates back to the year 1212, where it was constructed on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold, and the first time it was documented was in November 1377, after an act was issued that allowed the Saxons of Kronstadt, or current day Brasov, with permission to construct the citadel. In fact there is no evidence that he had any connection with Bran Castle at all. Almost everyone knows this as “Dracula’s Castle” and unfortunately, that is a completely wrong information brought about by Bram Stoker and tourism marketing that rode the … Bran Castle is a castle in Bran, 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of Bra?ov. The first prove of the castle existence date historic since 1263. Bran Castle (also known by its touristy name Dracula Castle) is the #1 tourist attraction in Romania, thanks to the popular novel and movie. [3] Although history of the castle is complex, the legend that now attracts waves of tourists is related to Dracula. Bran Castle had a very different atmosphere compared to other castles I’ve visited in the past, like Edinburgh Castle. During the late Middle Ages, from the 10th to the 16th centuries, kings and lords lived in castles. The Teutonic knights lived in Bran Castle. Bran Castle is often called "Dracula's Castle" because of rumors that Dracula once lived in that very castle. Now unlike Peles Castle, Bran Castle needs very little introduction. I have always wanted to visit Transylvania Romania at Halloween. Visiting Bran Castle. However, there are some market stalls with plenty on display to keep you entertained whilst you wait in line. Bran Castle was built in the 14th century. Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle): Dracula never even lived or stayed in this castle - See 5,870 traveller reviews, 9,211 candid photos, and great deals for Bran, Romania, at Tripadvisor. Bran Castle, Finding Dracula in Transylvania Romania. During the Second World War Bran becomes a military hospital and in the communist era it is transformed into a museum. Poenari Castle, also known as Poeanri Citadel, is a now ruined castle in Romania located on the plateau of Mount Cetatea. Astfel, Castelul Bran se situează la aproximativ 30 de kilometri de oraşul Braşov , pe şoseaua ce iese prin vechiul cartier Bartolomeu şi care leagă Braşovul de Câmpulung Muscel, prima capitală a Ţării Româneşti, acolo unde se întâlnesc Munţii Piatra Craiului cu masivul Bucegi. Bran Castle is an easy place to sightsee because you can follow the castle interior round in a loop, reading informative boards about the history of the castle and coming out where you started. This fort has a long history going back to 1212 at least. Nevertheless the Bran Castle is … Our tour guide told us that the man who built Bran Castle was a grandson of the famous Vlad the Impaler, a.k.a. If you can, try and avoid visiting the castle during the weekends in summer, as it gets even busier during these times. Bran Castle today He successfully stole back the throne, but his triumph was short-lived. One million tourists visited the castle, which was used by local kings throughout history, in Bran, Romania, last year. Bran Castle Where: Transylvannia Arriving in Bran Castle. Vlad Dracula. So a discussion has to be made. Dracula! Bram Stoker’s Dracula studied the character of Vlad III Dracula and decided to use it as a titular character in his novel Dracula. Though I’m glad I went, the castle is really basic, the information is really haphazardly given, and they try to form links to Dracula and Vlad the Impaler (who never lived there) that only exist in myth. However I don’t buy into this story, for the dates don’t seem to line up. During WW2, she even built a hospital here where she took care of war victims just like her mother did 30 years before. In actual fact, Bran Castle isn't quite as closely linked to Dracula as you might imagine (or the tourist-touts might tell you). Vlad Dracula, a Wallachian prince who earned the post-mortem moniker “Ţepeş” (impaler) from his preferred form of execution, never lived in Transylvania’s vampiresque Bran Castle. Today it is mainly a museum to Queen Marie of Romania, who lived in the castle during her lifetime. On December 1 st 1920, the people from Braşov – through the voice of their mayor, Mr. Karl Schnell – have given the castle as a present to the Romanian royal family, in whose possession the castle … So the castle really only is famous thanks to the Novel and the many movies made after the novel. Bran Castle has dozens of tunneled stairs, and even a secret staircase, now open to tourists, which connects the first and third floors. Many royalties have lived in the castle over the years, including Queen Marie, who lived there in the early 20th century. He also certainly never owned or lived in the castle. As well as the lord, the lady (his wife), and their family there were lots of staff. Since Bran Castle was built as a residence for Wallachia’s ruling elite, many kings, queens, princesses, and princes have lived there. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. I can now corroborate that. It had this name according to the Bram Stoker’s novel. Bran Castle - Royal History (II) BRAN CASTLE(1920-1947) - Royal Residence . This post contains affiliate links. Bran castle is not the only Romanian castle linked to the bloody Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. Some interesting facts about Bran Castle. It is known that Vlad Tepes had passed through the valley, which surrounds Bran Castle, multiple times during his life. bran castle, Dracula, Count Dracula, Transylvania, castle of Dracula ... (1456-1462), called Dracula by the enemies, and that he lived here only 14 days during a winter. Bran castle also has many winding stairways and underground cellars that make exploring its many rooms real fun. Bran Castle – a remarkable gothic architectural design monument was built between 1377-1382 on a 60 m cliff as a result of privilege from November 19, 1377 the Hungarian king Louis I of Anjou. This is an authentic medieval castle built in the 14th century. History says that Vlad Tepes never lived in Bran , … Bran Castle, in Transylvania, modern day Romania, conjures up one name in most people's minds. In fact, if we are to believe that he lived somewhere, it should be Poneari castle and not Bran. Some were important officials, such as the constable who took care of the castle when the lord was away. The interesting part about Dracula Castle is the story about Vlad the Impaler, who acctually live in the Castle. Dracula castle is also known like Bran Castle. After the Queen’s death in 1938, the castle was inherited by her favorite daughter, Princess Ileana. But Vlad Dracula himself never actually lived in this Castle! Strangely enough, Bran Castle has extremely limited ties to Vlad Tepes. This doesn’t take away from the breathtaking visual of this castle on the hill. Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle): Dracula never even lived or stayed in this castle - See 5,872 traveler reviews, 9,311 candid photos, and great deals for Bran, Romania, at Tripadvisor. Bran Castle or Castelul Bran, one of the best castles in Romania, was definitely among the ones we wanted to visit. Bran Castle is one of the seven castles of Wallachia, and although Vlad the Impaler ruled the region during his reign from 1448. Also, Bran Castle might have been an inspiration from descriptions available to the novelist. Bran Castle is very popular with tourists so the line to enter can get rather long. Dracula, of course, is a fictional vampire created by Bram Stoker in 1897. She lived here with her family until the end of 1947 when the communists forced her to leave the country. But some say it is not true. In 1438-1442, it was used in defense against the Ottoman Empire, and later it became a customs post between Transylvania and Wallachia. History of Bran Castle – Vlad Dracula. In that novel Bran Stoker tell about character of Dracula, who actually is based on a real individual – Vlad the Impaler. Solved: Who lived in Caernarfon Castle? Whilst the castle is famous for being Dracula's castle, the real-life Dracula, Vlad Tepes (more commonly known as "the Impaler" because of his torture techniques) actually never lived in Bran Castle, but it was the sight that inspired Bram Stoker's bestselling novel. There is no definitive evidence that suggests Vlad even stayed at Bran Castle during his travels. 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