Atop a steep cliff nestled high within the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, is a castle of historical significance containing centuries of intrigue, along with a healthy dose of folklore, that attracts global visitors each year eager to explore its storied past and separate fact from fiction.
Bran Castle is a dramatic structure rising imposingly above the landscape in the geographical region of Transylvania, approximately 170 kilometers north of Bucharest, Romania’s capital. Initially a wooden structure built in the 1200’s, it began as a fortress to defend the southeastern border of Transylvania, since its position provided an exceptional view of the surrounding area and potential invaders. The first documented mention of Bran Castle was an act issued by Louis I of Hungary in 1377 granting permission to the people of nearby Brasov to expand the fortress and build a stone castle at their own expense with their own labour force.
The castle was inhabited primarily by soldiers and mercenaries who were stationed there to stop the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. It was during this time that a figure by the name of Vlad III emerged, whose story has given rise to the Dracula tale that has largely taken over the narrative of Bran Castle.
Vlad’s father, Vlad II, was so admired by the king of Hungary he was made a knight in the Order of the Dragon. Vlad II was so proud of this knighthood he had the Order’s emblem, a dragon, minted onto coins and used as his personal seal. People began calling Vlad II Dracul which meant ‘the Dragon’ and his sons were given the name Dracula. Consequently, Vlad III became known to foreigners as Dracula.
Vlad III was also nicknamed Vlad Tepes or ‘Vlad the Impaler’ because of his practice of impaling enemies and those that disobeyed him. It was a horrifying method of punishment and death, and as such he has been depicted by historians as ruthless and bloodthirsty. Twice he lost and reclaimed his throne, once by defeating his own brother. He died in battle in December 1476.
Author Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula” was published 400 years later and his setting for the tale was a castle that seemed to match the description of Bran Castle, even though Stoker himself never visited Romania. Having seen illustrations in a book published in 1865, Stoker based his fictional castle upon that image, and Dracula has been connected to Bran ever since. Stoker’s use of myths, legends and the popular belief in ghosts and vampires that was prevalent throughout the region formed other aspects of the character Stoker created and named Dracula.
Vlad III was ruler of Wallachia (which later became part of Greater Romania) from 1456-1462 and again in 1476, and likely had associations with Bran Castle, including a two month period when he might have been locked up and held within the fortress. Other historians believe he never set foot in Bran Castle and was actually imprisoned in a fortress near Budapest, but the Bran location painted a far more dramatic and haunting picture, and helped build the Dracula narrative. Lack of written accounts mean neither viewpoint can be proved nor discredited.
Through its eight centuries of history, the castle has experienced changes of fortune, sieges, the ravages of time and weather, and even a landslide. It has undergone renovations but nothing has taken away from its imposing nature. Vlad himself recognized the importance of the location and ordered extensive repairs as he turned it into one of his main fortresses.
The role the castle played changed over time and transformed from one of defense and commerce to one that was more administrative. Its significance remained high, prompting the people of Brasov to work to regain their rights to it, since they had funded and built it. The residents and their descendants spent nearly 150 years attempting to establish their legal entitlement, until finally on April 24, 1651,Transylvanian Prince Gheorghe Rakoczy II gave the town a guarantee that Bran Castle would remain in their possession, which it did for almost 300 years.
Change came in the 1920’s when the region formally became part of Romania, and the citizens of Brasov graciously offered it to Queen Maria of Romania. Bran Castle quickly became a favorite of hers and she restored it for use as a summer residence by her family. She also turned the area around the castle into an English park complete with ponds and a tea house.
But in 1948 the royal family was exiled by the communist regime, leaving Bran Castle unoccupied. It was turned into a museum featuring pieces of royal heritage and medieval customs, but the royal family never forgot this favored residence. Queen Maria’s daughter, Princess Ileana, made a return visit in 1990 and just five months later she died. In her grave was placed a small box containing earth from the foot of Bran Castle.
By this time the connection to the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula was firmly entrenched and even encouraged by the government who recognized its importance as a marketing tool to increase tourism. With its dramatic architecture, story of Vlad III and the popularity of Bram Stoker’s novel, the government decided to market the location as the “Real Dracula Castle”. It became one of Romania’s top tourist attractions, but its ownership remained in question.
In 2005 a law was passed allowing claims on properties that had been illegally expropriated. This included Bran Castle which was consequently turned over to the children of Princess Ileana who were living in the United States. After some refurbishment it was opened as the first private museum in the country in conjunction with local governments to ensure its prominent role in tourism and to contribute to the economic base in the area.
Visitors to the castle are treated to impressive displays chronicling the depth of history contained within its walls--and secret passageways--and discovering the aura of mystery that surrounds its past. Winding stairways and stone corridors lead to dozens of different rooms that house collections of furniture, art, weaponry and armor from centuries past. The view from the soaring towers and lofty turrets demonstrate what made it such an important fortress, while the vast number of rooms and uniqueness of the architecture makes it easy to see why it was a favored royal residence.
With its mix of the macabre and myth, reality and royalty, it is no wonder more than 800,000 tourists each year make the climb to tour the castle and explore its history. Once there, it is a delight to discover that the true story of Bran Castle is far more interesting than any fictional tale ever could be.
