Bran Castle

For the castle in Llangollen, Wales, seeCastell Dinas Brân.

"Törzburg" and "Törcsvár" redirect here. For the commune that bears those names in German and Hungarian, seeBran, Brașov.

Bran Castle
Romanian:Castelul Bran German:(Die) Törzburg Hungarian:Törcsvár
Bran Castle
Location within Romania
Alternative names	Dracula's Castle
General information
Type	Fortress
Architectural style	Medieval
Location	Bran,nearBrașov, Transylvania
Address	Str. G-ral Traian Mosoiu, nr.24, Bran
Country	Romania
Coordinates	45°30′54″N25°22′02″E
Elevation	2,500 feet (760 m)
Owner	Archduke Dominic of Austria-Tuscany

Bran Castle

Bran Castle(Romanian:Castelul Bran;German:Schloss BranorDie Törzburg;Hungarian:Törcsvári kastély) is acastleinBran,25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest ofBrașov.The castle was built bySaxonsin 1377 who were given the privilege byLouis I of Hungary.It is a national monument and landmark inTransylvania.Thefortressis on the Transylvanian side of the historical border withWallachia,on roadDN73.

Commonly known outside Transylvania asDracula's Castle,it is marketed as the home ofthe title characterinBram Stoker'sDracula.There is no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations withVlad the Impaler,voivodeof Wallachia, who shares his name with Dracula.Stoker's description of Dracula's crumbling fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle.

The castle is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected byQueen Marie.Tourists can see the interior on their own or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a smallopen-air museumexhibiting traditional Romanianpeasantstructures (cottages, barns, water-driven machinery, etc.) from the Bran region.

History

Wooden castle of the German Order

In 1212, theTeutonic Orderbuilt the wooden castle ofDietrichsteinas a fortified position in theBurzenlandat the entrance to amountain passthrough which traders had travelled for more than a millennium.This castle was destroyed by theMongols in 1242.

The castle's original name, Dietrichstein orlapis Theodericiin Latin, lit. "Dietrich's Stone", seems to have been derived from theComthur(Commander)and regionalPreceptor,frater Theodericus,mentioned in a 1212 document.This Dietrich is the probable builder of the castle.A 1509 document confirms that the Törzburg county had once belonged to Commander Dietrich of the Teutonic Order.

Stone castle of the Kronstadt Saxons

The first documented mention of Bran Castle is the act issued byLouis I of Hungaryon 19 November 1377, giving theSaxonsofKronstadt (modern Brașov)the privilege to build the stone castle at their own expense and labour force; the settlement of Bran began to develop nearby. In 1438–1442, the castle was used in defense against theOttoman Empire,and later became a customs post on the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. Although many castles of the time belonged to members of the nobility, it has been established that Bran Castle was built almost exclusively for fortification and protection of German colonists in Transylvania.It is believed the castle was briefly held byMircea the Elderof Wallachia (r. 1386–95, 1397–1418) during whose period the customs point was established. The Wallachian ruler Vlad Țepeș (Vlad the Impaler; 1448–1476) does not seem to have had a significant role in the history of the fortress, although he passed several times through the Bran Gorge. At some point, Bran Castle belonged to theHungarian kings,but due to the failure ofKing Vladislas II(r. 1471–1516) to repay loans, the city of Brașov regained possession of the fortress in 1533.

In1530,Moise of Wallachia,VoivodeofWallachia,sent an army to capture the castle, but theSzékelysoldiers led by the castle lord Dénes defended the building, thereby forcing the Wallachian army to retreat.

Bran played a militarily strategic role up to the mid-18th century.

Royal residence and aftermath

With the 1920Treaty of Trianon,HungarylostTransylvania,and the castle became a royal residence within theKingdom of Romaniaafter being given to the royal house by the Saxons of Kronstadt-Braşov, who had no more use for it and no interest in financing the time-damaged property. It became the favorite home and retreat ofMarie of Romania,who ordered its extensive renovation conducted by the Czech architectKarel Zdeněk Líman.The castle was inherited by her daughterPrincess Ileanawho ran a hospital there in World War II. It was later seized by thecommunist regimewith the expulsion of the royal family in 1948.

In 2005 the Romanian government passed a law allowing restitution claims on properties illegally expropriated, such as Bran, and thus a year later ownership of the castle was awarded toArchduke Dominic of Austria,a son of Princess Ileana.

On 18 May 2006, after a period of legal proceedings, the castle was legally returned to the children of Princess Ileana. However, through the Ministry of Culture, the Romanian state was also to administer it for the next three years.

In September 2007 an investigation committee of the Romanian Parliament stated that the retrocession of the castle to Archduke Dominic was illegal, as it broke the Romanian law on property and succession.However, in October 2007 theConstitutional Court of Romaniarejected the parliament's petition on the matter. In addition, an investigation commission of the Romanian government issued a decision in December 2007 reaffirming the validity and legality of the restitution procedures used and confirming that the restitution was made in full compliance with the law.

On 18 May 2009 administration of Bran Castle was transferred from the government to Archduke Dominic and his sisters, Archduchess Maria Magdalena and Archduchess Elisabeth. On 1 June 2009, the Habsburgs opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum in the country and presented a joint strategic concept in collaboration with Bran village to maintain their prominent role in the Romanian tourist circuit and to safeguard the economic base in the region.

"Dracula's Castle"

Though many myths have been connected to him in connection with the Dracula myth, most historians agree that Vlad III Dracula, also known asVlad the Impaler,never set foot in Castle Bran, which was neither a friendly place for him to visit nor under his rule. It was once believed that he was imprisoned there after he was captured by the Hungarians in 1462, but historians now conclude that he was imprisoned in a fortress in Budapest.

Connection to Bram Stoker'sDracula

Bran Castle is not mentioned inthe novelDracula,and the novel's description of the castle does not match Bran Castle. The claimed connection between the castle and the Dracula legend is tourism-driven.

During Stoker's research on the region of Transylvania, he came across accounts of the atrocities committed by Vlad III, and used the Dracula name after reading on the subject; but his inspiration for Dracula was not solely based on the historical figure. It is largely due to American cinema that Vlad III is considered the inspiration for the Dracula character.

Other mentions in popular culture

Most ofLaurie R. King's novelCastle Shade(2022), part of her series about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, is set in and near Bran Castle in 1925.

Image gallery

• 
  The castle in 2012
• 
  Southern front from the foot of the cliff
• 
  The easternshield wall,view from the main walkway
• 
  View towardsPiatra Craiuluifrom an upstairs balcony
• 
  The courtyard, looking west
• 
  Western tower, seen from inside
• 
  Secret passageconnecting the first and third floors
• 
  19th-century stone cross placed in the park

See also

• Castles in Romania
  • Poenari Castle,an authenticVlad the Impalercastle ruin
  • Peleș Castle
  • Corvin Castle
• Tourism in Romania
• Seven Wonders of Romania

External links

• Official website
• Bran Castle Tour
• History and photos of Bran Castle(in Polish)
• Aerial view of the Bran Castle
• Bran Castle: Not Really Dracula’s Castle, But Still Worth It