Surrounded by mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker’s Dracula.
Built on the site of a Teutonic Knights stronghold dating from 1212, the castle was first documented in an act issued by Louis I of Hungary on November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Braşov) the privilege to build the Citadel.
Although Stoker never visited Transylvania, the Irish author relied on research and his vivid imagination to create the dark and intimidating stomping ground of Count Dracula, leading to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Tepes, ruler of Walachia. While the association with Dracula is sketchy at best, the castle continues to hold a strong attraction for all fans of the Count.
From 1920 to 1957 Bran served as royal residence, a gift of the people of Brasov to Queen Marie of Romania. The castle is now a museum open to tourists.
Narrow winding stairways lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, and the castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran. While we were there Sister Hinson and Telford looked for Edward of the famed Twilight series, but he was nowhere to be found! We had a great time looking!!!! We also had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant high on top of a mountain with a view of Bran Castle. The restaurant had a reindeer that loved to have his head scratched.
