Bran Castle

As you can understand from the name, the Bran Castle is in Bran (Romania) and if you wonder why you should visit this castle, then I can tell you why: this is the famous castle of Count Dracula, the place where a myth was born. I don't start to write down the history of neither the castle nor Vlad Tepeš aka Count Dracula, as you can read it and experience it once you are there better. Moreover I guess everyone has his or her own interpretation of the legend already.

Bran is very close to Brasov, though the transportation to the castle isn't that good. If you have a car, then there is no problem but if you don't I guess the best choice is to take a taxi. It costs around 35 EUR (150 lei). Our taxi by surprise was a Škoda because in 99% of the taxi cars there you will enter into a Dacia. Oh and be aware that this fare (35 EUR) is for both ways and taxi driver gives you around 1. 5 hours to visit the castle while he is waiting there. At least in our case it was like that. Otherwise if you take two different taxis, it can be more expensive. Actually I have to tell that the best way to travel not only in Brasov but all over in Romania is by taxi because compared to western Europe or even to Hungary, it is really cheap.

In the town you can find something like a traditional market selling Romanian food, souvenirs, ice cream and of course everything connected to Dracula or to the castle. Evidently the town's main (if not only) income is from tourism. This can be seen by the number of pensions in the town or the crowd on the way to the castle.

The tickets for entering the castle are 6 EUR for adults and 2. 4 EUR for students, quite reasonable prices I would say. There is a very nice courtyard with a well in the middle. On the top of the castle you can enjoy a panoramic view of the neighborhood.

Before my visit to the castle, the only connection I could do was about Count Dracula and vampires but after visiting it, I learned much more about the history of castle and Romania itself. Inside you can find interesting information not only about the bloody prince Vlad Tepeš from whom the character of Count Dracula was inspired in Stoker's book, but also about the rulers of the castle since it was built.

The rooms are different in purpose. Some of them show "original" furniture of old times of the life of the castle, most of those belong to the time when the castle was owned by the last King of Romania and his family; while others serve rather as a museum. Afterwards you can learn that during communism the castle had been confiscated and it had been a state property but in recent years the castle was returned to the king successors who are now the actual managers of this touristic site.

When we visited the castle, in one of the rooms was even an exhibition of children's drawings and you were asked to vote for the drawing you liked the most.

Let me share with you finally one of my favourite in the castle! These were actually the painted timber beams (and floors) which look really awesome and well preserved!

You don't have to a be a fan of Dracula or vampires to enjoy the visit of the castle. It is one of the main attraction of the area (maybe even of Romania... ) and it is worth a visit if you are passing nearby for sure! Once you are there, I warmly advise you to make a visit to Brasov too! The two places together can be very very nice destinations for a long weekend trip!

Because the steps led us in July this year in Bran-Moeciu area for the first time after several years, the first objective that I decided to visit this region's symbol was the Bran Castle. I passed earlier in addition to this goal, but I've never stepped off the threshold. Therefore, the time has come to comprehend the mysteries of this castle. The castle is located about 30 km from Brasov, Bran, near the road that connects the ties of Brașov and Bistriţa, the road route 73.

In respect of objective history, the first documentary to Bran Castle dates back to 1377, on 19 November of that year was the King of Hungary, Louis I of Anjou, to build a strategic fortress, fortification that dominates through its position in the trade road of bran. The fortress was built on a rock in narrowest of Măgura Hill Fortress. As regards the duration of the construction is noted that time was very short compared to the technical means at that time, at the death of Louis I of Anjou, in 1382, the fortress being finished.

Once built, the fortress became the property of the Hungarian Royal Crown and following a rapprochement on the antiotoman between Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary and Wallachia, ruler Mircea cel batran, passing fortress held by the Romanian ruler; the first document confirming this fact is dated 1412. After the death of Mircea, Saxon merchants complain that King Sigismund pârcălabii mountaineers do not comply with established customs privileges, which leads the Sigismund to re-enter the city. Follows a turbulent period, marked by abuses of the Bran of castelanilor traders that used up Bran.

Our visit to Bran Castle was consumed in one day on Saturday, we are properly equipped with pen, jot down, photographic apparatus and with great curiosity. Having arrived by car, we walked a bit more through the neighborhood, whereas it was very crowded and unsuccessful to find a free parking place. Finally, I solved the problem at one of the nearby car parks (3. 5 lei per hour; we paid for two hours) and we headed towards the entrance to the courtyard of the Castle.

I entered the cobbled driveway, being always on the lookout point by the imposing silhouette of the Castle, which appear and disappear among the branches of the trees in the courtyard. All of a sudden noise remains somewhere in our wake and visitors, with small, high, ascends to that were silently. Almost did not notice the small building overrun by vegetation of our building on the right shore of Lake at the base of the Castle-this is tea house, built of wood, at the request of Queen Maria. The Queen wanted Cyclops to organize receptions, and the dishes here were brought from the kitchen of the castle with the help of a funicular.

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Step by step we feel smaller under the shade of semețului castle that appears to require an extension of the cliff which serves as a pedestal. Good going into the emergency room of the Castle and track data on information panels. We find here a collage of images and information about the castle that you visit, as well as reproductions and photographs with the Queen Mary or Princess Ileana. Upon arriving in the lobby on the first floor, we learn that during the interwar period, on this floor, the apartment has been arranged to Queen Marie of Romania. Photographing a rustic sideboard and a travel piece fitted with wheels, then we are heading towards a transition Room.

We go further to the Castelanilor Room. Here we find a list with all Bran Castle, but as elsewhere, and two pieces of beautifully carved wood: a mass in the late Renaissance style and an italian buffet. Enter the great Salon of the Queen Mary, we admired a chess game table, a few chairs, and a library. Slowly, behold, I have come to us from the secret Staircase, a passage with stone steps connecting between the first floor and 3rd floor.

After a well-deserved break, I ended up in the Prince Nicholas of Romania. During the interwar period, the floor IV, was arranged an apartment for Prince Nicholas, space in which I found a neo-Baroque italian buffet, a neo-Renaissance dining table, and a shiny new showcase in which I could admire a few daggers from the private collection of Archduke Dominic Habsburg-Lothringen. An informative panel displays several images of Prince Nicholas of Romania, along with a brief biographical overview. We learn that Prince Nicholas was the fourth child of King Ferdinand I of Romania and Queen Maria of Romania, who was born in 1903 and died in 1977 and was interred at Lausanne.

Move The Prince Nicholas and arrive in a room containing several pieces of furniture, brought together under the name of Mihai Chicoș Donation. The furniture here was donated by the engineer James Chicoș in 2011, exposed pieces belonging to his grandfather, Stephen Chicoș, who was part of the Royal family's Entourage. The donation was made in homage to Queen Marie of Romania. Going further, reach in the game lobby, a room equipped for guests during the interwar period.

Move The Prince Nicholas and arrive in a room containing several pieces of furniture, brought together under the name of Mihai Chicoș Donation. The furniture here was donated by the engineer James Chicoș in 2011, exposed pieces belonging to his grandfather, Stephen Chicoș, who was part of the Royal family's Entourage. The donation was made in homage to Queen Marie of Romania. Going further, reach in the game lobby, a room equipped for guests during the interwar period.

In closing, I recommend visiting Bran Castle and the location where Queen Mary rested for 28 years.

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