Castle Report: Dracula's Transylvanian Castle?

I’m continuing my Romanian castle series that can only be introduced as Dracula’s castle of Transylvania…or should I say Dracula’s “supposed” castle of Transylvania. Most people attribute Bran’s Castle as the home of Vlad Dracula but there is so much more to the story than just that.

Ready for the truth? Bran Castle was not actually the castle used for the inspiration of Stoker’s Dracula. In fact, Stoker never stepped foot in the castle, however his description of the castle was so similar to Bran Castle that people just assumed it was the one he used. On top of that, Dracula was said to often be confused with Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) but unlike Dracula, Vlad Tepes wasn’t a fictional character but instead a Walachian Prince whose actual castle, now in ruins, was located in the Principality of Wallachia just outside of Transylvania. So, now that you know the truth, lets hop in to my incredible trip to this amazing castle.

The drive to and around the castle was just the beginning of this memorable experience. Lush forest surrounds the area which was a great way to start off the trip and welcome us to the castle.

When we first entered Bran, it was very obvious that Dracula was not the true inhabitant of the castle. Actually there were very few people who lived at the castle, but one of the people who I found most interesting was Regina (Queen) Maria.

She was granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain who married into Romanian royalty and the people of Romania came to adore her. She quickly integrated into their society and even wore popular traditional Romanian dresses (one of her favorites was on display). During the Great War, she served as a military nurse and even went into the trenches with the soldiers. The city of Bran was offered to her in 1920 as a thank you for her efforts in uniting the country. Her royal crown and scepter are also on display in one of the rooms. She is really the one who influenced the castle as it appears today, mixing both German and Spanish influence all throughout the castle, so I felt it was important to talk about her first.

Now to the beginning: Bran was built in 1211 by the order Teutonic knights (a German Catholic order) who also built other fortresses to help guard against the Cumans (Turkic nomadic people). You can still see elements of defense (the castle is literally built on a hill of stones) and windows with weapons pushing through. There is a display of what the Teutonic knights wore which made them appear larger than life, literally.

The inside is modest and humble for a castle dwelling. You almost get a “homey” feel from the moment you enter. Many of the furnishings are original and were used by Queen Maria and her family members. In her bedroom you see favorite pieces that show her likes of mixing Oriental, Art Nouveau, and Romanian folk art.

Of course, there are also very beautiful and ornate furniture pieces – most hand carved with precise detail. Pictured below is a beautifully-detailed buffet and a patch of the original castle wall directly above it.

There are some unexpected surprises as well throughout the castle like secret staircases and floors that can only be reached by mobile ladders. It brought a little piece of intrigue to the castle which was fun. Do you think you would build secret staircases in your castle?

Of course, there are those people who are really fixated with the whole Count Dracula thing so of course, there are items around the castle that would be of interest.

From Dracula to the beloved Regina Maria, this castle has moved through many different stories and stages throughout its history. If you are ever in the area, make sure this castle makes your list. And I can’t complain about the little souvenir I brought home from the castle to remember my trip there.

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