Bran Castle, home of Dracula or …?

Bran Castle is situated near Bran and is approximately 30 km from Brasov. It is a national monument in Romania. The castle is commonly known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’, there is, however, no evidence that the author of the 1897 horror novel Dracula, the Irish writer Bram Stoker, knew anything about this castle. Dracula is actually a mixture of fiction and some real historical events, legendarily related to the reign of Vald Ţepes – Dracula, of mentions of some chroniclers of those times. The truth about Vlad Ţepes (1456-1462; 1476), prince of Ţara Românească, is known from numerous works of Romanian and foreign historians.

Convinced that only a harsh reign from the inside could install order in the country and organize successfully its defense from external dangers, Vlad Ţepes applied a domineering reign, imposing to its subjects honesty and diligence as virtues. Dishonesty – like theft –, laziness and craftiness were severely punished by impalement. In this period of time other harsh punishments, such as burning at the stake or hanging, very also very common. 

So, even if you may not find any creepy vampires among the old walls of the castle, it is still worth visiting for its unique beauty and for the museum it houses. You can also see art and furniture collected by Queen Marie on display, that can be visited individually or by a guided tour.