Published on March 23, 2008

Bran Castle, Romania

Bran CastleThe Bran Castle is located in Brasov county, Romania, near Bran. The fortress, situated on Highway 73, on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, is a national monument and landmark.

Bram Stoker, who fashioned portions of his character Count Dracula from Vlad the Impaler, ruler of Wallachia, allegedly used Bran Castle as his model for Dracula's Castle.

Bran Castle was subsequently featured in multiple film adaptations of "Dracula", and has informally become known as "Dracula's Castle." While Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes, in Romanian language) did not actually live in the Bran Castle, it is believed he spent two months locked in the dungeon.

Inner courtThe castle is now a museum, and tourists can see the interior individually or by a guided tour. The local economy has made use of the connection to Bram Stoker's novel to boost tourism; a small market exists at the castle gates selling souvenirs related to Dracula and vampires.

The Bran Castle was originally built as a stronghold by the Teutonic Knights in 1212. The first documentary attestation of the castle is the act issued by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) the privilege to build the Citadel.

The castle was first used in 1378 in defense against the Turks, and later became a customs post on the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. The castle briefly belonged to Mircea the Elder of Wallachia, grandfather of Vlad the Impaler.

Inside the castleFrom 1920, the castle became a royal residence. It was the principal home of Queen Marie, and is decorated largely with artifacts from her time, including traditional furniture and tapestries that she collected to highlight Romanian crafts and skills. It was inherited by her daughter,
Princess Ileana, and was later seized by the communist regime after the expulsion of the royal family in 1948.