If you are looking for the best things to do in Transylvania, you cannot miss Bran Castle and the legend of Dracula! Check out Bran Castle’s history, photos, strange facts, what it’s like inside, and the best time to visit Transylvania.
Best Things To Do In Transylvania: Bran Castle And The Legend Of Dracula
Bran Castle, located in Transylvania, Romania, is, so they say, one of the world’s most haunted castles. Ghost hunters from around the world travel to this medieval stone fortress each year to try their luck at spotting the paranormal.
The castle is even more famous for another bit of folklore as it served as the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle due to its historical link with the notoriously bloodthirsty ruler, Vlad “the Impaler” Tepes.
In reality, Vlad only visited the castle Bran on a few occasions and didn’t actually live there. Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula, probably based his fictional castle on a local description of Bran Castle, which is as terrific as it is terrifying.
The castle is built into the side of a precipitous mountain high above sea level. Indeed, the cliff itself actually forms some of the castle’s interior walls. Bran castle is located 25 miles southwest of the cosmopolitan city of Brasov. in the Carpathian Mountains, on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia.
The estate is 22 acres, and the castle has 57 rooms, not including a secret passageway that leads to its watchtower.
My Trip To Bran Castle
I visited there in November 2021. I had been to Transylvania before but never to Dracula’s Castle and had always wanted to go.
The castle is truly jaw-dropping and was well worth the drive from Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It really is like something out of a fairytale (or a horror story). You climb the steep hill up the steps to gain entrance, and from there, you start to absorb its history and the roots of this amazing legend.
The castle has been renovated in different styles over the years. Its most recent owner, Queen Marie, created the neo-gothic style of decoration, which you will find in the contemporary castle today.
A whole tourist town has grown up in the mountain resort next to the castle, and you can stay in a hotel like Club Vila Bran for about £50 a night upwards.
The Story Of Count Dracula
As we all know, Dracula is a fictitious character believed to be based on the real-life Vlad Tepes, a feared and brutal ruler of the area in the 15th century. The name Dracula actually derives from the Crusader order of the Dragon, with which both the real Vlad and his father were associated.
Vlad Dracula was one of the most famous rulers of Wallachia, the region adjacent to Transylvania at the time. He repelled invaders to the country as he was a fierce enemy of the Ottoman Empire, which had taken over much of Eastern Europe. Known as a fearsome soldier, Vlad was also savage with his subjects.
In Romania, Drac means “devil,” which contributed to Vlad’s infamous reputation and the fact that he favored impalement as a means of execution.
He impaled a forest of twenty thousand men, women, and children on one horrible occasion to strike fear into the invaders’ hearts. It worked. Transylvania was a remote and rural country steeped in superstition. Locals had strong beliefs in creatures of the night and evil spirits, some of whom liked to drink blood…
Where Did The Idea Of Vampires Come From?
When Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, a connection was made for the first time between Vlad Dracula and vampirism. And so Count Dracula came into existence. Stoker’s Dracula became one of the most representative images of Romanian folklore and a global superstar!
The rest of the Dracula myth derives from the legends and popular beliefs in ghosts and vampires prevalent throughout Transylvania. Romania is certainly a country steeped in superstition and strange beliefs; I felt it myself while there.
It is said that the undead souls of villagers, victims of its brutal medieval past, haunt the castle at night.
The newish exhibition, which you can see on the top floor of Bran castle, explains more about the deeply held suspicions of the Romanian people. The exhibition uses holograms and multi-media to bring the ghouls and ghosties to life. It’s definitely worth a visit.
It also has a section dedicated to the myriad of Dracula films spawned by the gruesome legend. My guide said his favorite was the black and white 1922 film Nosferatu. I have seen Nosferatu shown in a stately home with real bats flying around, and it is super scary. Here is my write-up about Nosferatu: Nosferatu -Whitley Bay Film Festival.
Bran Castle
The castle has a huge and complex history. As an implacable fortress built actually into the limestone cliffs, it marked the border between the former provinces of Moldova, Transylvania, and Walachia. These three areas were finally united into the modern Romania we have today.
Queen Marie of Romania, a granddaughter of our very own Queen Victoria, was responsible for that unification. The castle was gifted to her by the people of Brasov in 1920.
She also redecorated the Bran castle inside into what now resembles a rather chic gothic-themed boutique hotel. In 2016, a competition run by Airbnb had the winners staying in the castle overnight on Halloween and sleeping in adjacent ‘luxurious, velvet-trimmed coffins in the Count’s crypt!’
The castle has a curiously ancient and yet modern feel at the same time. I found it fascinating and quite a thrilling place to visit. The positive experience was helped by my excellent guide, Charlie. I booked Charlie, who was from the local area, through Viatour. It was only about £33 for the whole day and was well worth the cost.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Transylvania?
I traveled in late Autumn, and November is a great time to go as it is pretty quiet. The castle gets absolutely packed in the summer. Winters in Romania are long and cold; summers are short and can be very hot. Therefore, autumn seems to be the best time to visit Transylvania.
More recently, a COVID-19 vaccination center was set up on the grounds with free entry to the castle as the incentive for getting jabbed! Romania has a low level of vaccination, and people are inherently suspicious of the government, a real throwback to communist times, which many still remember clearly. Or maybe it’s the fear of the fangs…
Brasov And Nearby Places To Visit
Brasov is, in fact, the communist name for this cosmopolitan Romanian city. Its name appears in huge letters at the top of the mountain which surrounds the town. It’s rather like the Hollywood sign in LA, except it’s in Transylvania.
I also visited the famous and ornate Peles castle. Peles Castle was the incredibly luxurious home of Romanian royalty and is situated on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia.
On the way, we called in at the ancient monastery of Sinaia on the way up the winding hill.
The church represents the Orthodox religion and has quite a beautiful interior. Brasov is quite a wealthy city with beautiful old buildings in the German style. The architecture is colorful and elegant, with the more stark utilitarian buildings from communist times being on the outskirts of the city center.
At this time of year, the huge Christmas tree is up in the square, and the lovely civic buildings are lit up by late afternoon. I had some lovely Romanian food, which is very meat and cheese-based. A delicious apple strudel with homemade ice cream was a sweet highlight. Romanian wine is also very good; it’s not widely available outside the country as they don’t export much of it.
On the whole, Romania is an inexpensive country with public transport incredibly cheap, something I always note in comparison to ours in the UK.
Getting To Transylvania
The nearest airport to Bran Castle is Bucharest, the capital of Romania. I flew to Bucharest on Ryanair from Edinburgh Airport in the UK for just £12 in November 2021.
Summer prices are higher, and you must arrange private transport from Bucharest to Bran Castle or Brasov. This costs around £20 and can also be booked through Viatour.
You can take a cheaper train, but the journey takes four hours instead of less than two.
Several US cities fly direct to Bucharest.
Strange Bran Castle Facts
- In 2014, Bran Castle was listed for sale for $135,000,000. Despite numerous attempts to find a buyer, it has never secured a successful bid.
- Around 560,000 tourists visit Bran Castle every year.
- Halloween parties are regularly organized in the castle by adventure companies. Rather you than me!
- Airbnb ran a competition for two lucky winners to actually stay the night in Bran Castle in a velvet-lined coffin on Halloween! Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker and passionate advocate of his great grand uncle’s novel, opened the castle for one night only!
Transylvania is a must-see destination if you like legends, scary stories, and supernatural tales. Eastern Europe is a place with a dark past of poverty and oppression, but its people are friendly and open. They love to tell you the stories of terror and supernatural beings passed down through the generations. This is a country most haunted in every sense of the word…
If you would like to explore more beautiful fortresses, check out these top 10 most beautiful castles in Romania.
About The Author Of “Best Things To Do In Transylvania: Bran Castle And The Legend Of Dracula”
Elaine Wilson is a travel writer based in the North of England in the UK. Most of her career was spent in marketing and teaching, but she has now been travel blogging since 2012. It all started after a trip to volunteer at an animal rescue sanctuary in Western Australia and has snowballed from there.
Eccentric England is a website for independent travelers who enjoy different destinations while being mindful of sustainability. The emphasis is on unique stays and new experiences. Adventures in countries around the world are documented, as well as ones closer to home in the UK. Travel is the only thing that you buy that makes you richer!
Follow Elaine on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
I hope you enjoyed reading about Elaine’s adventure at Bran Castle as much as I did. I am a big fan of vampire stories, and visiting Bran Castle is on the top of my bucket list.
Before you go, you may also want to check out these travel packing tips that will help you maximize space in your suitcase on your next trip.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo
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