BRAN CASTLE

 On our way to Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's castle, in the morning, we were expecting a dark and gloomy place. Of course, we were surprised to see such a beautiful and bright place. But, they say, it is necessary to see this place on a stormy day when the wolves howl in the distance… Then one would understand Anya and Konya.

Nestled between the Bucegi Mountains in the East and the Piatra Craiului Mountains in the West, Bran Castle, otherwise known as Dracula's Castle, is a gloomy Gothic monument when viewed from the outside.

Especially if there is fog, it is really scary with its gray walls and 60 meters high. Come see how bright and heartwarming it is inside.

This place has become the symbol of Romania over time, with some history and some with Bram Stoker's famous Dracula.

You can choose to go on a half-day guided tour from Braşov that visits the most beautiful castles of Transylvania such as Bran and Peles. So you don't have to worry about transportation. Click here to buy tickets for the Transylvanian castles tour. If you only want to take a guided tour of the castle, click here for a guided tour ticket at Bran Castle.

Built by the Saxons in 1388 to protect the city of Bran from Turkish invaders, the castle was later used as a customs point on the Bran Pass between Wallachia and the Principality of Erdel (Transylvania).

Wallachian ruler Vlad Ţepeş (Voivode the Impaler), who is thought to have inspired Bram Stoker while writing Dracula, actually stayed here a few times while passing through Bran between 1448 and 1476.

The castle, which actually belonged to the Hungarian Kingdom, moved to the city of Braşov in 1533 with some debt and fee issues.

The castle was a militarily important point until the 20th century, then in 1920 it became the "White House" of the Kingdom of Romania. After the communist regime seized the castle in 1947 and overthrew the monarchy, it became a museum in 1957.

Finally, in 2009, the castle was returned to its original owner, Princess Ilenaa's son and heir Dominic von Habsburg, with new extradition laws.

So how did this beautiful royal mansion become the stronghold of the bloodthirsty vampire Count Dracula?

Irish writer Bram Stoker's immortal character, Count Dracula, lives in a castle perched on a high hill in a valley through which rivers flow in Transylvania. Bran Castle also matches the imaginary castle in the book.

In addition, Count Dracula himself became very close with the Wallachian King Vlad Tepes (Voivode with the Impaler), also known as Vlad Dracul, who was famous for his cruelty and bloody tortures.

In fact, Bram Stoker has never been to Romania. Published in 1897, the book has become the most famous horror classic of all time.