The Darker Side to Romania History says that Vlad Tepes never lived in Bran , … Today it is mainly a museum to Queen Marie of Romania, who lived in the castle during her lifetime. So the castle really only is famous thanks to the Novel and the many movies made after the novel. Vlad Dracula. Bran Castle today I have always wanted to visit Transylvania Romania at Halloween. Many royalties have lived in the castle over the years, including Queen Marie, who lived there in the early 20th century. Bram Stoker’s Dracula studied the character of Vlad III Dracula and decided to use it as a titular character in his novel Dracula. There is no definitive evidence that suggests Vlad even stayed at Bran Castle during his travels. In that novel Bran Stoker tell about character of Dracula, who actually is based on a real individual – Vlad the Impaler. The first prove of the castle existence date historic since 1263. This is "bran castle" by Stephen George on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. A guide to Bran Castle, Dracula’s Castle History of Bran Castle . 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. However, by many accounts, Bran Castle is not all that. 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. He successfully stole back the throne, but his triumph was short-lived. Some were important officials, such as the constable who took care of the castle when the lord was away. In actual fact, Bran Castle isn't quite as closely linked to Dracula as you might imagine (or the tourist-touts might tell you). Bran Castle or Castelul Bran, one of the best castles in Romania, was definitely among the ones we wanted to visit. Bran Castle has dozens of tunneled stairs, and even a secret staircase, now open to tourists, which connects the first and third floors. Bran Castle Where: Transylvannia Arriving in Bran Castle. 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. This doesn’t take away from the breathtaking visual of this castle on the hill. Our tour guide told us that the man who built Bran Castle was a grandson of the famous Vlad the Impaler, a.k.a. Bran Castle (also known by its touristy name Dracula Castle) is the #1 tourist attraction in Romania, thanks to the popular novel and movie. In 1438-1442, it was used in defense against the Ottoman Empire, and later it became a customs post between Transylvania and Wallachia. 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. Now unlike Peles Castle, Bran Castle needs very little introduction. He also certainly never owned or lived in the castle. Visiting Bran Castle. Strangely enough, Bran Castle has extremely limited ties to Vlad Tepes. In fact, if we are to believe that he lived somewhere, it should be Poneari castle and not Bran. Nevertheless the Bran Castle is … Bran Castle - Royal History (II) BRAN CASTLE(1920-1947) - Royal Residence . Dracula’s Castle is situated between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, right where you enter Rucar-Bran Pass. 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. 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. After the Queen’s death in 1938, the castle was inherited by her favorite daughter, Princess Ileana. The Teutonic knights lived in Bran Castle. 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. Since Bran Castle was built as a residence for Wallachia’s ruling elite, many kings, queens, princesses, and princes have lived there. Dracula castle is also known like Bran Castle. However I don’t buy into this story, for the dates don’t seem to line up. 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. 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! Some interesting facts about Bran Castle. 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 … Poenari Castle, also known as Poeanri Citadel, is a now ruined castle in Romania located on the plateau of Mount Cetatea. This is an authentic medieval castle built in the 14th century. But Vlad Dracula himself never actually lived in this Castle! She lived here with her family until the end of 1947 when the communists forced her to leave the country. Dracula! Dracula, of course, is a fictional vampire created by Bram Stoker in 1897. If you can, try and avoid visiting the castle during the weekends in summer, as it gets even busier during these times. Bran Castle had a very different atmosphere compared to other castles I’ve visited in the past, like Edinburgh Castle. It is unknown if he used Bran Castle. Bran Castle is often called "Dracula's Castle" because of rumors that Dracula once lived in that very castle. The first documentary attestation of Bran Castle is the letter written in 1377 by the Hungarian Ludovic I D’Anjou, giving the inhabitants of Brasov some privileges. One million tourists visited the castle, which was used by local kings throughout history, in Bran, Romania, last year. 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. This fort has a long history going back to 1212 at least. 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. [3] Although history of the castle is complex, the legend that now attracts waves of tourists is related to Dracula. Solved: Who lived in Caernarfon Castle? Castelul Bran – Dracula’s Castle – Casa din Bran României se află în Pasul Bran-Rucăr. It had this name according to the Bram Stoker’s novel. I can now corroborate that. Bran castle is not the only Romanian castle linked to the bloody Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. 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. It is known that Vlad Tepes had passed through the valley, which surrounds Bran Castle, multiple times during his life. During the late Middle Ages, from the 10th to the 16th centuries, kings and lords lived in castles. 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. As well as the lord, the lady (his wife), and their family there were lots of staff. Check out where to find Dracula’s Castle on the map down the page. Bran Castle is very popular with tourists so the line to enter can get rather long. During WW2, she even built a hospital here where she took care of war victims just like her mother did 30 years before. 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 … However, there are some market stalls with plenty on display to keep you entertained whilst you wait in line. History of Bran Castle – Vlad Dracula. This post contains affiliate links. Also, Bran Castle might have been an inspiration from descriptions available to the novelist. Bran Castle, in Transylvania, modern day Romania, conjures up one name in most people's minds. So a discussion has to be made. I enjoyed seeing preserved bedrooms of the royals and looking out … But some say it is not true. Bran Castle as Dracula’s Castle The concept and inspiration for the character Dracula came from Vlad III Dracula, known in history as Vlad the Impaler. It is the same with Bran Castle. Bran Castle, Finding Dracula in Transylvania Romania. 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. Bran Castle is almost always at the top of the list of Famous Castles in Romania. Some rooms are sparsely decorated with furniture, while others are dedicated to museum-like exhibitions covering Romanian folklore and royal family trees. 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. Bran Castle is one of the seven castles of Wallachia, and although Vlad the Impaler ruled the region during his reign from 1448. The interesting part about Dracula Castle is the story about Vlad the Impaler, who acctually live in the Castle. During the Second World War Bran becomes a military hospital and in the communist era it is transformed into a museum. Bran Castle was built in the 14th century. 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