At time when Castles of Loire Valley hardly started to rise, at times when Alcaz Castle from Toledo, in Spain, almost was finished, in 1377, the King Ludovic I de Anjou, began the construction of Bran Castle, to fortify the one of the kingdom gates against Ottoman Empire danger.

In 1382 The castle already was finished.

Ten years late, the castle has belonged to the voivode of Romanian country, Mircea cel Batran. After his death, the castle has belonged to princes of Transylvania.
Vlad Tepes, well-known as Dracula (The Devil), made this castle his residence.

Bran Castle, Castlevania - inside patio:

Bran Castle was used by Dracula Voivode as fortified citadel on the fight with Turks.

Under its walls there were tough fights againsts the Turks, which were defended.

The castle was a princely prison, too.
At the end of XIX century, the castle was abandonment. In 1920 the castle was lived by Royal Family of Romania, which made some changes.
Nowadays, the castle is a splendid Museum of Medieval Art. The visitor is impressed by massiveness of building.

Bran Castle, well known as Dracula's Castle

Dracula was the Wallachia (Medieval Romania) king. His hystorical name was Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler). Vlad was born in Sighisoara, Transylvania province. He was very cruel, especially with thiefs and country enemies (at that time the Turks). The only radical low applied was dead trough splinter. The condamned was introduced in the tip of a tall sliver (3 meters), vertically fixed on the ground. The death was produced by the loose of the blood.
Vampires?
Dracula Vampire Legend is very controversial these days. Numerous historical facts prove Dracula was the first well-known vampire in Transylvania.

Legendary name, royal name, name which guide you to the beautiful medieval castles from Romania. Words like: Legend, Dark Prince, haunted castles, Royal estates should be enough for attracting visitors, to incite the interest of Legend lovers, lovers of the beauties and, why not, kings and queens stories lovers…
At Bran Castle in Transylvania you will find all of these.