When you hear the word "Transylvania", one of the things that comes to mind is the Dracula. And when you think about Dracula, the legend of where Dracula resides comes to the fore - Bran Castle near Brasov. It is one of the most stunning castles in Romania and is heavily marketed to tourists as being ‘Dracula’s Castle.’
I did this as a day trip from Brasov, which is well connected to Bran by buses running every half an hour from Autogara 2. As you walk towards the castle, you will notice plenty of signs mentioning Dracula. It seems the entire village has jumped onto the marketing bandwagon, more tourists = more money!
Famous and renowned for its association with the myth surrounding Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula, Bran Castle exudes Gothic charm. The stories and the surroundings definitely add to the mystique. Those with an interest in history or even just those who can appreciate some exquisite architecture and breath-taking views will find this castle a delight.
More than being spooky or scary, the items on display make me feel I am in a royal residence of the middle ages. Perhaps, a sign of the times - advertising and the actual product is not always the same thing. The castle has an abundance of weaponry, furniture and armor dating back to earlier centuries. With 57 rooms in total, Bran Castle is vast, and there are lots of hidden corners and secrets lurking within. The architecture here is well-worth exploring and it has such an authentic medieval feel that you feel truly transported back to the Middle Ages. Forgetting Dracula, it is actually a nice castle with a good deal of history behind it.
It was built between 1377 & 1382 by the inhabitants of Brasov at their expense, in exchange for customs privileges. As the castle marked the customs point between Transylvania & Wallachia till the 19th century, it served as the entrance point for traders and a transit point between the East & West. After 1918, Transylvania became part of Greater Romania and the Brasov city council symbolically offered the castle to Queen Marie.
It also served as a defense post against foreign invaders as its geographical position ensured the surveillance of Bran gorge. What was different about Bran Castle in comparison to other castles is that it was exclusively used as a fortification, and functioned as protection for German colonists in Transylvania. The main mission was to block any enemy invasion at the gates of the fortress until help would arrive from Rasnov & Brasov.
As regards to its association with Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, it is fascinating to note that the author never actually visited Transylvania and instead, relied heavily on his research and imagination. In his book, the character Dracula is a Transylvanian Count with a castle located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below. This character is often confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler). There are exhibits which show his torture methods against Ottomans and law breakers - some of them are too gruesome to even imagine !
Even Vlad never lived in Bran - in fact, he was brought here as a prisoner by Ottomans for 2 days. Even the name “Dracula”, far from being a frightening term, derives from the Crusader Order of the Dragon, with which both Vlad Tepes and his father had been associated. In Romania, Vlad is a revered national hero. The rest of the Dracula myth derives from the legends and popular beliefs in ghosts and vampires prevalent throughout Transylvania. Talk about Marketing and killing the golden goose, Bran has done it so successfully!
Once you get out of the castle, you can check the souvenir stores and a local village museum to cap off your visit.
The entire tour of the castle takes around 2-3 hours max. So, I combined it with a visit to Rasnov citadel on the same day. As the buses run every half an hour from Bran to Rasnov & Brasov, it is very easy to plan this trip.
Bran Castle is one of Romania’s most important landmarks. For me, the Dracula part is overdone but discounting that, there is much to experience and explore. A must visit on any visit to Transylvania!
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