Bran Castle (Dracula) in Romania

Bran Castle is the most interesting place for travelers and lovers of mystical buildings. After all, according to legend, this is the ancient abode of Count Dracula himself. It was here that the shooting of the famous film with the same name about the horrific vampire took place.

The atmosphere of darkness

Tourists wishing 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 mountain lining of the Carpathians, 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 are surprisingly harmonious bordering each other. The atmosphere in the castle is really gloomy. It seems that the doors are about to open - and in the next room will appear the silhouette of his Majesty Count Dracula. The spirit of mysticism reigns everywhere. That there is an ancient well in the courtyard of a unique fortress. After all, it is he who is the only entrance to the underground rooms that are considered secret. Near the castle is the market of "Dracula", where tourists are actively offered to buy souvenirs of vampire subjects.

"Dark" castle: myths and reality

The ancient building is shrouded in secrets and legends. For many years now, local people believe that the Count Dracula himself once lived here. But the historical data refute this legend. Some sources claim that Bran Castle (Romania) is the residence of Vlad Sozhatel. In fact, in 1377 King Louis I of Great issued a document confirming that the inhabitants of Brasov (Saxons) have the right to build a fortress of stone called "Bran". Before the construction of the legendary castle there was a citadel. In its place, construction work began. And very soon the locals saw the majestic stone fortress Bran. Dracula's castle became a real "salvation" for the urban population. In honor of building a new fortress, the King freed the people from compulsory state taxes for several centuries. In the XIII century, the castle was ruled by the royal principality of Alba. The legendary building was also in the possession of Mr. Mircea Old, and later became the property of the inhabitants of Brasov and the Habsburg Empire.

Modern History

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

The appearance of the castle

Irish writer Brem Stoker very beautifully described the residence of the Transylvanian vampire: "Bran Castle rises on the edge of a mighty rock. From its western side is seen a huge valley, ending with jagged mountains. The steep cliffs on which the stone fortress rises are covered with mountain ash and prickly bushes, clinging to excavations, cracks and cracks in the stone. The windows of the castle are located in such a way that arrows and stones can not get there, but in the rooms it was light and comfortable. " Apparently, Bran Castle (Romania) was built with a defensive purpose. Now it looks exactly the same as in the descriptions of Brem Stoker. A majestic stone structure could really attract vampires. His 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, combined with each other. Now Bran is a museum. Tourists are given the opportunity to stroll through its numerous rooms, view medieval weapons and admire the adjacent territory to the fortress.

Why is Bran the abode of Dracula?

The legendary castle was replaced by many rulers. Local residents claim that he once belonged to a prince called Vlad Dracula. Bram wrote that this ruler was very cruel. He reached the extreme: he drank the blood of his enemies. That's why he was called a vampire. And although these historical data were not properly confirmed, they served as a source of inspiration for the filmmakers. A lot of feature films and documentaries about Bran were filmed. Dracula's castle became a real legend. There are rumors that from the fortress shouts and satanic laughter are still heard at night. But local residents are not afraid of this fact. On the contrary, they believe that Dracula is a friendly host and loves to receive "guests."

The modern status of Bran

An architectural monument is considered the main attraction of Romania. He is also included in the list of the most eerie 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 of the residence of Count Dracula in the castle, it is still unknown whether his personality is fictitious or still real. For a long time Bran was in desolation. The castle changed when American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola began his restoration at his own expense for the subsequent filming of the film.

Dracula's castle in winter

Ancient stone fortress was estimated at $ 140 million. The tourist symbol of Romania attracts many travelers from all over the world both in summer and in winter. With the advent of autumn, the Vampire Castle (Bran) looks even more mysterious and mysterious. In the evenings it is enveloped by a hazy haze, and the fortress seems ghostly. And in winter, the snow cover on the roofs gives the architectural structure a cold and gloomy appearance. When you look at the castle from afar, the thought involuntarily creeps in that the Count Dracula himself is now examining his possessions there. In winter, the fortress offers a magnificent view - a picturesque winter panorama. Here you feel yourself a guest of a mysterious country: a mystical fortress is surrounded by snow-covered mountains; Below is a snow-white valley.

How to get to Dracula Castle

An ancient fortress can be reached from Bucharest in two ways.

1. By car on the highway DN3.
2. By train on Brasov, and from there by bus or taxi to the village of Bran.

The entrance to the castle is for a fee. After buying a ticket, tourists are passed on to a narrow, stone-lined path that leads to the fortress. An architectural building is located on a mountain top. To reach it, you need to make about 1400 steps. At the foot of the mountain there is a concrete staircase that leads up to the ruins. A beautiful landscape opens up here: the Vidraru lake reflects the glare of the sun, the peaks of the Fagarash mountains can be seen in the misty haze, and even further - the lands of the Papusa mountains. Citizens of Romania come to see Bran Castle on a weekend, the photo of which is simply fascinating. Near the ancient fortress there are many small cozy hotels. Romanians and visiting tourists especially like to stop there. In Brasov, where Bran Castle is located, there are many religious attractions that visitors visit with pleasure.