Bran, with or without a stage name
Tourists that come to see the castle from Bram Stocker’s novel in Bran will find Dracula everywhere (although his castle is somewhere else): on the walls, on the souvenirs, in the taverns. Tourists look for that medieval feel, but they can’t seem to find it any longer. Sadly, the medieval scenery is paved with Balkan commerce and kitsch.
At the gates of Bran fortress, which used to belong to the Romanian Royal Family. Today it is best known for its stage name: Dracula’s home.
Why was the Dracula’s father named Vlad Dracul (in Romanian, the devil)? Because of his evilness? Not at all. According to Neagu Djuvara, the story went down this way: “In the cathedral of the great city of Nürnberg, king Sigmund proclaimed Vlad as prince of Wallachia (southern part of today’s Romania) and names him Knight of the Dragon Order. It was a great honor to be a part of the Order.
When he became a king of Wallachia in 1437, Vlad proudly put out coins with the Order’s emblem: a dragon and a cross. And, because “draco” is Latin for dragon, king Vlad was renamed “Dracul” or “Draculea”. Because the Order’s name is hereditary, his sons Vlad Tepes (Dracula) and Radu cel Frumos (Radu the Beautiful) were also summoned to join it. This is how Vlad Tepes became known as prince Dracula. Strange story, eh?”
The citadel built on the rock in 1212, at the border of Magura and Dealul Cetatii (Castle’s Hill), belonged to the Teutonic knights. It was built by Dietrich, the Order’s tax collector, which also named the rock. We couldn’t find any evidence of this beautiful story. Built originally in wood, it was replaced by the Saxons with a stone citadel, built in 1377 under the rule of king Ludovic. At the end of the 15th century king Vladislav sold it to the people of Brasov together with the surrounding land.
Bran Castle (in Slavic – brana = gate) was first mentioned November 19, 1377 in a letter from the Hungarian king Ludovic I d’Anjou to the people of Brasov. The king absolved them of tribute, set low custom taxes, because the people of Brasov built this castle with their own strength, providing this new area with money, craftsmen and supplies.
The management of Bran Castle was entrusted to a local, who had jurisdictional attributions, and the permanent garrison was composed out of archers and warriors. Between 1419-1424, the citadel is in the possession of Sigmund, who offers it to Mircea cel Batran, to honor their agreement to protect each other against the Turks. Brasov tradesmen got possession of it in the 17th century.
Starting with 1920, for 27 years, the royal family owns the castle. It is transformed from a fortress into a summer residence with all it needed: walking paths, lake, fountains, and a Tea House. In 1938, princess Ileana inherited the castle and the domain from her mother, queen Maria, and reined here until 1948. Despite all this, history stood still in this place, stopping its clock in the grand gothic room on the first floor, just like queen Maria's heart, which was placed in a silver box decorated with 307 jewels and hidden by princess Ileana in a rock next to the wooden church in the castle's courtyard. A stone mausoleum was built at the foot of the castle in order to protect queen Maria’s heart.
Queen Maria in the Guard Room
Bran Castle was – together with Balcic Castle – queen’s favorite residence. She managed to transform an unwelcoming fortress into a comfortable home. In Bran museum, you can see collections of ceramics, furniture, weapons and armors.
Keys, iron, bronze from the 15th and 16th century; Saxon case – 17th century
The imposing fortress still has some original Gothic elements.
Silver votive light from 1697, done by Georg May; Brass cross from a Russian workshop, silver votive light, partially in gold
The room with Gothic art – in the inter war period, Queen Maria called this room “the Yellow Saloon”
During renovation work in between the World Wars, a hidden ladder was found, that lead from the first to the third floor. Lighted from above, this tunnel resembles a catacomb.
The music room
The fortress was built in military purposes, commercial ones and to protect the vital passage between Transylvania and Wallachia.
View from the castle
King Ferdinand’s dormitory – baroque style furniture
Fourth floor was built in the inter war period. Prince Nicolae’s old room was arranged in 1997 into “the Saloon of hunter’s trophies”, and in 2006 it had an exposition with the “Nicolae Baciu” donation.
The ceiling girders were painted with ornaments, either vegetal or coat of arms of different cities in 1927’s Transylvania by an Austrian craftsman.
King Ferdinand’s old office became “Toys of Princess Ileana’s children Saloon”. In 2006, the castle was retro ceded to Princess Ileana’s son, American architect Dominic de Habsburg.
The wall has holes for guns. Four of these (two on the ground floor, two on the first floor) are positions horizontally and closed by a wood-rolling shutter.
In courtyard, you will find a village museum in which you can look at traditions and customs of the Rucar-Bran area.
