Bran Castle

Bran Castle
Romanian: Castelul Bran German: Törzburg Hungarian: Törcsvár
Bran Castle
Location within Romania
Alternative names	Dracula's Castle
General information
Type	Fortress
Architectural style	Medieval
Location	Bran, near Braşov, Romania
Address	Str. G-ral Traian Mosoiu, nr.24, Bran
Country	Romania
Coordinates
Elevation	2,500 feet (760 m)
Owner	Archduke Dominic of Austria-Tuscany

Bran Castle (Romanian: Castelul Bran; German: Törzburg; Hungarian: Törcsvár), situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on DN73. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad III, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos, the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, 2,033 metres (6,670 ft) high, located in the Transylvanian Călimani Alps near the former border with Moldavia.

The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.^[1] Tourists can see the interior individually or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open-air museum park exhibiting traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, barns, etc.) from across the country.^[2]

History

In 1212, Hungarian Kings but due to King Vladislas II's failure to repay loans, the city of Brasov gained possession of the fortress in 1533. Bran played a militarily strategic role up to the mid-18th century.^[3]

In 1920, the castle became a royal residence within the Kingdom of Romania. It became the favorite home and retreat of Queen Marie. The castle was inherited by her daughter Princess Ileana who ran a hospital there in World War II: it was later seized by the communist regime with the expulsion of the royal family in 1948.^[2]

In 2005, the Romanian government passed a special law allowing restitution claims on properties illegally expropriated, such as Bran, and thus a year later the castle was awarded ownership to Dominic von Habsburg, the son and heir of Princess Ileana.^[4][5]

In September 2007, an investigation committee of the Romanian Parliament stated that the retrocession of the castle to Archduke Dominic was illegal, as it broke the Romanian law on property and succession.^[6] However, in October 2007 the Constitutional Court of Romania rejected the parliament's petition on the matter. In addition, an investigation commission of the Romanian government issued a decision in December 2007 reaffirming the validity and legality of the restitution procedures used and confirming that the restitution was made in full compliance with the law.^[7][8]

On 18 May 2009, the Bran Castle administration was transferred from the government to the administration of Archduke Dominic and his sisters Maria-Magdalena Holzhausen and Elisabeth Sandhofer. On 1 June 2009, the Habsburgs opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum of the country and disclosed with Bran Village a joint strategic concept to maintain their domination in the Romanian tourist circuit and to safeguard the economic base in the region.

Photographs

• 

  The castle in 2012.

• 

  Off the beaten path.

• 

  View from the main walkway.

• 

  View from the upstairs balcony.

• 

  View of the courtyard.

• 

  View from inside.

• 

  Secret passage inside the castle, connecting the first and third floors.

• 

  Cross in the castle gardens.

See also

• Poenari Castle
• Corvin Castle
• Castles in Romania
• Tourism in Romania

References

External links

• Official Site of Castle Bran

Tourist attractions in Brașov County Old towns Brașov Râșnov Castles Bran Sükösd-Bethlen Citadels Brașov Brașovia Făgăraș Râșnov Rupea Museums County Museum of History Churches / monasteries Biserica Neagră (Black Church) Șinca Veche Rupestral Monastery Canyons Seven Ladders Canyon Caves Bats' Cave Bear's Lair Fundata The Ice Cave Uluce