Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle)

Is it worth it to visit?

When people think Bran Castle, they typically think Dracula’s Castle. It possesses very unique architecture in an eerie forested part of Transylvania. But many do not know the actual history of Bran Castle. I’ve got to be honest, we didn’t either. Our only knowledge of this castle was watching the 1930’s classic Dracula (which we watched right before coming here to prepare for the castle tour).

So, here’s the actual history of Bran Castle: in 1212, a wooden castle version was built here by the Teutonic Order (catholic institution), but it was later destroyed in 1242 by the Monguls.

In 1377, Louis I of Hungary issued a stone castle to be constructed here, thus more of what you see today. It was used as a fortress from 1438-1442 against the Ottoman Empire (man, we’ve been hearing a lot about them on all our recent travels…). Bran Castle was essentially built exclusively for German colonists living in Transylvania. Since Transylvania originally belonged to Hungary, the castle was taken over by Hungarian kings throughout the years. It wasn’t until King Vladislas II did not repay his loans on the castle that it was gained by Braşov (city nearby), which had militaristic roles up until the 18th century.

In 1920, Hungary lost Transylvania, so the Romanian royal family began making use of the castle. It became the favourite retreat for Queen Marie of Romania. She ended up extending the castle and providing the renovations of what you will see on your tour here. The castle was later inherited to her daughter, Princess Ileana, who used the castle as a hospital to wounded soldiers during WWII. In 1948, the royal family was kicked out by the Communist regime, who took over the castle and let it rot.

Long story short, the castle was repossessed by Dominic von Habsburg, the son of Princess Ileana. After some legal battles, the Habsburg family opened up the castle to the public in 2009, and the castle sees nearly a million visitors each year.

Vlad the Impaler, one of Bram Stoker’s inspirations for Dracula, never actually set foot in Bran Castle. We were a little disappointed to hear that part was just a myth. It is believed that the Wallachian ruler walked past the castle several times, as he would have walked through the passageway between the two areas. However, he had no significant role in Bran Castle.

Looking back on it, I was surprised that Bran Castle is not even mentioned at all in Dracula. Bran Castle is actually more tourist-driven than anything else. The idea of Dracula, as all the local Romanians told us, was popularised mainly by Hollywood’s depiction of the character. That was what made Dracula famous, not Bran Castle.

Despite having no relation to Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, Bran Castle is still very popular among the tourists (I guess we’re part of that group too). The day we showed up, Easter Sunday, it was a madhouse. We could barely walk through the castle without getting walked on or pushed. I wouldn’t say it was the best experience. We were told that weekends are extremely busy, no matter what time of year. We figured with it being early April (and on a major holiday), we would have no problem. We were very wrong. Although the castle was super cool, it was definitely touristy. There was a section of Dracula and his wives along with other “spooky” rooms. It felt very put on, and many people recounted not enjoying it as much for that reason.

What I personally liked was the walk up the castle and seeing the unique architecture. I’ve seen a lot of castles throughout Europe, but this one is probably my favourite for external architecture. I also liked the village outside of the castle. There were some cute shops and cafes where we could enjoy some food and drinks.

Overall, I’d say it’s worth it to go to Bran Castle once in your life. We enjoyed the castle and the village, just maybe not the hoards of people or the touristy vibes we got out of the castle. It’s still a magical place and you will enjoy your time there!

Hours:

Winter (1 Oct – 31 March): 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Tuesdays – Sundays); 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. (Mondays)

Summer (1 April – 30 September): 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Tuesdays – Sundays); 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m. (Mondays)

Average Cost: 55 Lei