History of Bran (Dracula) Castle
Located 30km southwest of Brasov, between the Bucegi Mountains and Piatra Craiului Mountain, the town of Bran developed a lot since the revolution against communism mainly because of the famous Bran Castle but also because of the splendid location in-between two impressive mountains. Bran Castle is a very important destination for the Romanian tourism, because of its beauty, architecture, scenery and legend of Count Dracula.
It is the only medieval castle chosen by a part of the former Romanian Royal family to become summer residence and more than that it is the oldest construction of the royal family. It was the favorite castle of Queen Marie of Romania, the English princess, granddaughter of the famous Queen Victoria. In fact without this queen, the castle probably would have crumbled. She is the one who renovated the castle in the 1920s.
Built on a rocky limestone crag, also known as Dietrich Rock, Bran (Dracula) Castle overlooks the pass road between Transylvania and Wallachia. The first construction, made of wood, was built in 1212 by the Teutonic Order. In 1370 was attached by the Turks, suffering many damages. It was reconstructed in 1378 by the people of Brasov, back then part of Hungary, during the reign of Louis I by Anjou, king of Hungary; its main purpose was to protect the pass against the Turkish incursions. For a brief period of time, between 1412 and 1418, the castle was under the control of the Wallachian prince Mircea the Elder. John of Hunyadi, regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, also known as The White Knight, controlled the castle, ordering new works which reinforced the castle. The presence of Vlad the Impaler or Dracula at Bran Castle couldn’t be documentary certified.
Since 1948 till the middle of the 18th century the castle belonged to the people of Brasov. Its military purposes lost and it was mostly as a custom point. Bran Castle was under the authority of 2 castellans nominated by the Senate of Brasov.
In the 19th century the castle was occupied by an Austrian regiment till 1883 when it was given back to the right owner, the city of Brasov. It was renovated and given to the Office of Forestry.
In 1916 Dr. Karl Shnell, mayor of Brasov, was almost to give Bran Castle as a gift to Karl I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Kingdom. The new historic realities made impossible this donation since the king abdicated and Transylvania joined Romania in 1918. Ironically, in the end the castle donated by the same mayor but to a different royal family, the Romanian one. Since 1920, 1st of December, Bran Castle belonged to Marie of Romania.
As for architecture, the main feature of the castle is the impressive donjon built in the northern part and used as a watching point. Bran Castle has another round tower built in 1593 in the south-western corner and a gate tower built between 1622 and 1625. In the same period of time another tower is added by Gabriel Bethlen, prince of Transylvania.

The New Life of Bran (Dracula) Castle
Queen Marie will start in the 20s a complete restoration of the castle being helped during this hard task by the chief architect of the Royal House.
Two new towers with staircases were added, the former loopholes were transformed into windows while new ceramic stoves were built. In 1931 a new terrace was built at the 4th floor. Even today it offers a great view over the surrounding mountains.
A room located at the base of the round tower was transformed into a small chapel.
With all these transformations the queen was very careful not to damage the medieval atmosphere of Bran Castle.
In order to make life at the castle worthily for a royal family, the castle was equipped with all modern facilities. Water was provided by a 57m (187ft) deep fountain while in 1928 the works for running water had begun. In 1932 the queen asked the construction of an electrical power house in order to illuminate the castle. In the same time 3 surrounding villages were given electricity for free. Since 1938 these villages had to pay for it. For communication the royal family was using the telephones installed in the castle and modernized in the 40s at the request of Princess Ileana.
The castle, built on 4 levels on a high rock, was equipped with a “Stigler” elevator installed in 1937. The elevator was connecting the park with the castle by using the old fountain, 57m deep and the access to the elevator was done through a tunnel dug at the base of the rock. Each day Queen Marie was enjoying the Five-o’clock tea in the Tea House built in the park. In order to facilitate the transportation of food a funicular was installed between the castle and house. In fact, the park at the base of the rock-castle had many other buildings, among them a hunting house, a wooden church, a wooden house and 2 shanties, one for the queen and another one for her daughter, Princess Ileana. The wooden church had been donated in 1928 by the locals of Luceriu village. Built in 1731, the church was dismantled by the communists in 1954.
The Park, surrounding the castle was arranged by Queen Marie of Romania. She personally took care of flowers and trees. More than that, she asked for several swans which were brought to populate the lake in front of Bran Castle.
Queen Marie of Romania, the most loved by the Romanians, died in 1938 leaving the castle to Princess Ileana, her favorite daughter. Princess Ileana was already married with Anton of Habsburg and she was living in Austria. She came back permanently only in 1940 when her brother, King Carol II had abdicated.
Queen Marie wrote in her will that her heart should be buried at Balchick, back then part of Romania, where she built a small castle. When the Bulgarians conquered that territory, her heart was brought to Bran and placed in a niche behind a chapel located very close to the castle. In 1968 the casket with the queen’s heart was taken in the castle for safe kipping but unfortunately 2 years later the communists sent it to Bucharest at the History Museum where it is even today.
After the World War II Princess Ileana was forced by the communists to leave the country while her all estates were nationalized. In January 1948 the princess took farewell from the castle and left Romania.
Since 1956 the castle was transformed into a museum of history and medieval art. The castle was renovated between 1987 and 1993. In 2006 Bran (Dracula) Castle was given back to the descendents of the former owners. Today, as a private museum, the castle became one of the main tourist attraction of Romania, if not the most important, with an average of 500 000 visitors each year.

Bran Castle, Dracula and Bram Stoker
Many legends are connected to Bran Castle. It is said the castle belonged to Count Dracula (Vlad the Impaler), but there is no proof. Maybe Vlad passed through this area l but never stopped in the fortress. The real castle of Dracula, called Poienari fortress, lies on the Arges Valley, on the Transfagarasan road. Bran Castle became famous in 1897 because of Bram Stoker's novel, Count Dracula.
In reality Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula because he used to sign with his father's name Dracul, meaning The Devil, was Prince of Walachia. Vlad the Impaler introduced a very strict order in Walachia, punishing the thieves, the boyars (noblemen) and others by impaling them. Also, he enforced the army, assisted trading with the neighboring countries and was merciless towards those who turned against him. He adopted a totalitarian leadership and fought against The Ottoman Empire.

Village Museum, Custom Buildings and Bazaar
At the entrance of the castle’s park there is a village museum representing the evolution of the peasant dwellings and the main activities the local economy based on. Occasionally, local craftsmen are invited to demonstrate their skills and sell their products.
The old custom buildings, located at the feet of the castle-rock, were gradually enlarged and used first by the queen’s functionaries. Later they became the winter residence of Queen Marie because the rooms were smaller and easier to be heated. In the communist time they served as headquarter of the Forestry Office and since 1987 as a museum of Bran. Starting with 2006, when the descendents of the royal family received back the castle, the old furniture own by the state, was moved in the rooms of the old custom building. The exhibition is open to the public.
The Bazaar offers a wide variety of souvenirs, from those made in China to those done by talented craftsmen, antique shops or music shops. If you are interested in Dracula T-shirts then this is the best place for buying one of them. More than that, you could buy even a bottle of Dracula wine. And as a tip, don’t miss the tasty cake called Kurtos Kalacs, a traditional Szekely sweet cake.

Bran Castle schedule:

Summer time (May 1 – October 30)
Monday: 12:00 – 18:00
Tuesday – Sunday: 09:00 – 18:00

Winter time (November 1 – April 30)
Monday: closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 09:00 – 16:00

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Rucar-Bran Corridor
One of the most picturesque tourist itineraries in Romania can be found in the area of Rucar and Bran. Who crosses the mountain corridor that divides Leaota and Bucegi Mountains from Piatra Craiului and Iezer Papusa Mountains is astonished by the beauty of the road. It links Brasov with Campulung Muscel, passing through Rucar and Bran. The remote villages like Sirnea, Dambovicioara, Fundata, Moeciu de Sus with splendid landscapes, are the best places for accommodation in guesthouses. The villages, not only have amazing views, but also represent true starting points toward the mountains like Piatra Craiului and Bucegi. Here you can discover the real beauty of the Romanian villages, seeing shepherds, cow breeders and peasants walking on the roads with their carts drawn by horses. Fed up with eating only from plastic boxes? Well, here you'll eat only fresh food, directly from the source.
In the town of Podu Dambovitei there is a secondary road which goes to the remote area of Dambovicioara Gorge, a beautiful 2km (1.2mi) long defile with cliffs on each side of the road which in some parts can reach even 200m (656ft). This place hides a small remote village with many guest houses. Beside Dambovicioara Cave, hiking tours for one or more days can be done in the surrounding mountains. see more pictures from here...