Count Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle) :: Transylvania, Romania

Situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, Bran Castle is commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle” and is marketed as the home of the renowned character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Although there is no evidence Stoker knew about this castle, evidence suggests that Vlad Tepes (better known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula) actually did use the castle during raids into Transylvania. One of Vlad’s main residences, the real Dracula’s Castle (Poenari Castle), is now in ruins on the Arges River in Wallachia. Vlad was well known for his ruthlessness, including his habit of having his enemies impaled alive on massive stakes which earned him his nickname. Today, Count Dracula’s Castle is a major tourist draw in one of the last great European wildernesses.

The castle was first used in 1378 to defend against the Ottoman Empire. From 1920 through 1947 the castle became a royal residence in the Romanian Kingdom and was the principal home to Queen Kestine Marie, whose decorations and furniture still grace the grounds. The castle was passed down to Queen Marie’s daughter, Princess Ileana, and during her time there she established and worked in a hospital in Bran village. She named it the Hospital of the Queen’s Heart in memory of her mother. The communist regime that came to power seized the castle after expelling the royal family in 1948. In 2005, the Romanian government passed a law allowing restitution claim on properties such as Bran and in 2006 ownership was awarded to Prince Dominic of Tuscany, the son and heir of Princess Illeana. After placing the castle up for sale in 2007 the family decided to not sell the castle and instead turn it into a museum dedicated to the legend and history of Dracula.

The castle is home to a variety of valuable art collections including decorative furniture, ceramics and silver as well as fine sculptures and wood paintings. It also has an amazing collection of weapons and armor used and stored at the castle throughout its existence. The Customs House sits at the foot of the castle and was an important economic center in the Middle Ages. In the park next to the castle you will find the Village Museum. This museum portrays the evolution of the traditional folk architecture in the villages from the Bran area. Bran Castle is about 130 miles from the Romanian capital of Bucharest and is open to visitors on Mondays from 12:00 pm though 7:00 pm and Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:00 am through 7:00 pm. Tickets to the castle will run you around $4, about $2 for students and seniors. You can also purchase tickets to take photos and video in the castle, a photo ticket will also cost around $3 and a video ticket will run about $6.

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