The mysterious and beautiful castle of Count Dracula is a medieval gem that remains in present-day Romania. Being a tourist attraction, due to the imposing fortress with which it is maintained, the real name of the castle is Bran Castle, and this served as inspiration for the author, Bram Stoker, when writing his famous novel, «Count Dracula».
Abraham «Bram» Stoker was born in November 1847 in the city of Dublin, Ireland. His literary life is remembered for the portraits of terror and horror that he magically portrayed in stories and novels. His most iconic work turned out to be that of a fearsome Count who drank the blood of his victims in order to live.
The real atmosphere that enlivens Stoker’s novel is located a short distance from the capital of Transylvania, Brasov. Recognized as a national monument, Bran Castle represents one of the high points in tourist activity. In addition to the extraordinary architecture with which it was built, Stoker’s novel has catapulted it as a jewel for intrepid adventurers, eager to be close to the inspiration of the famous Count Dracula.
Bran Castle stands on the border of Romania and Transylvania. Part of its original structure fell victim to the attack of the Tartar hordes, so the king, Louis I of Hungary, ordered the reconstruction of the affected areas in 1377, in order to protect the Wallachian region and strengthen its activity. commercial.
Once Bran Castle was part of Romania’s sovereignty, the architectural gem became part of the official residence, so, Queen Marie of Romania began the redecoration of the medieval fortress, with some of its most valuable objects. Being fond of local history and the arts of design gave Bran Castle exponential value.
From the hand of the royal architect, Karel Liman, Queen Marie ordered the recovery of the medieval structure, always preserving the military fortress style. Facilitating access with new stairs, in addition to providing the castle with electricity and running water, Queen Marie even ordered the construction of an elevator that was destined for the imposing garden of Bran.
The interior of the castle was decorated with Italian Renaissance furniture, as well as objects of great historical value for Romania, playing at being a comfortable and rustic environment at the same time. As an added part, Bran Castle has annexes of great aesthetic beauty such as guest houses, called «The Little House of Princess Yleana».
A Forbes publication valued Bran Castle at $140 million, this thanks to the income of tourist attraction that it generates worldwide. The current owners, the Von Habsburg family, work in collaboration with the authorities in order to keep Bran Castle open, while dazzling its curious visitors with mystery and beauty.