Dracula’s Castle – a magical and legendary place
Did you know that Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle is estimated at 150 million euros? It is considered to be the second most expensive castle in the world, according to Forbes magazine. Therefore, no one can disagree that the castle is one tourist attraction in Romania that one can’t miss, especially one day tour trips from Bucharest or Brasov.
An imposing stony construction, Bran Castle is strategically positioned on a rock in the middle of the forest, just as Count Dracula’s fortress is being described so vividly by Francis Ford Coppola in the famous 1992 screening of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”.
Bran Castle was never Dracula’s home
Although Bran Castle has absolutely nothing to do nor with Prince Vlad the Impaler, neither with the most famous vampire in the world, it became known worldwide as the birth place of Count Dracula – a mystical bloody character who lived in Transylvania. It all started in 1897, when the Irish writer Bram Stoker published a book about the story of Count Dracula, and the castle described by the author is a striking resemblance to Bran Castle. The truth is that Stoker never visited Bran or Romania. He simply saw a picture of the fortress and let his imagination guide him when he wrote his book. His fascinating story, however, radically changed the image of Romania. Many foreign tourists see this beautiful small country as Dracula’s homeland – a centuries-old vampire, a Transylvanian count, owner of a castle built somewhere on a high cliff, from where he watches over the poor helpless people of Transylvania.
When going on a tour to Bran Castle you will find out that Vlad Tepes was cruel and ferocious with his enemies, therefore he was often described as a ferocious being who feeds on human blood. Offensive or not, Dracula’s image became a country brand, and a huge tourist attraction.
Some real facts about Bran Castle
Bran Castle was built on a rock, more than 640 years ago, as a “passing” fortress, with a strategic and military purpose. Its name means “door” or “gateway” in Slavic language. Over time it underwent many transformations.
Bran Castle was owned by Sigismund of Luxembourg, Mircea the Elder, Iancu of Hunedoara and Queen Mary of Romania. In fact, Bran became a castle in 1920, when it was donated by the Brasov City Council to Queen Mary of Romania, as a sign of gratitude for her contribution to the achievement of the Great Union on December 1. After the exile of the royal family in 1948, the castle was abandoned and devastated until 1956 when it was reopened for visits, as a museum.
Nowadays, the four storey museum exhibits collections of furniture, costumes, weapons and armor. The Bran Domain also includes the Royal Park with its two lakes, the Tea House, the Administrator’s House and the Princess Ileana House.
The interior architecture of the castle is impressive, with its plastered walls, brick floor, wooden ceilings and stone vaults in an exciting combination. The windows are dug into the thick walls built of rock and boulders.
Tours to Bran Castle from Brasov or Bucharest
Brans Castle is a historical and architectural monument, one of the main tourist attractions of Transylvania, being located in the Rucar-Bran Corridor, between Bucegi Mountains and Piatra Craiului Mountains, at only 30 kilometers away from Brasov and nearly 200 km away from Bucharest. You can easily enjoy a day trip here from either Brasov or Bucharest.
Itinerary
1.Departure
Your tour starts at your hotel in Bucharest or at any other adress you provide us, at 08:00 AM or 09:00 AM. Keep in mind that
Bucharest hotel pickups commence prior to this time.
2. Visit to Bran Castle
One of the most imposing historical monuments of Romania is in Bran-Rucar Pass. Built on a cliff, Bran Castle, mostly known as Draculas’s Castle, houses the Bran Museum, a museum that spans its four floors.
3. Lunch stop
We will stop at a restaurant in the center of Sinaia city where you can taste our local delicious food.
4. End of tour
Your tour ends where it started, at your hotel in Bucharest or in the center area of the city at an accessible parking spot
