Bran Castle (Bran Castle (German: Törzburg; German: Törzburg; Hungarian: TörcsvárHungarian: Törcsvár) is located ) is located in the central part of Romania, in the central part of Romania,

on the border between on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia Transylvania and Wallachia

regions, about 30 km south from regions, about 30 km south from the city of Brasov, in the village the city of Brasov, in the village of Bran. The medieval castle of of Bran. The medieval castle of Bran is one of the most popular Bran is one of the most popular castles not only in Romania but castles not only in Romania but

also in the Eastern European also in the Eastern European region.region.

Bran Castle is situated between Bran Castle is situated between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains,

right where you enter Rucar-Bran right where you enter Rucar-Bran Pass. Pass.

The first documentary attestation of The first documentary attestation of Bran Castle is the letter written in Bran Castle is the letter written in 1377 by the Hungarian Ludovic I 1377 by the Hungarian Ludovic I D'Anjou, giving the inhabitants of D'Anjou, giving the inhabitants of

Brasov some privileges.Brasov some privileges.

Bran Castle was built by the Saxons of Brasov Bran Castle was built by the Saxons of Brasov in 1377 under King Louis I of Hungary. The in 1377 under King Louis I of Hungary. The fortress was built to overlook and guard the fortress was built to overlook and guard the Bran pass; and it was part of the defensive Bran pass; and it was part of the defensive

system of Transylvania’s southern borderlands. system of Transylvania’s southern borderlands.

The Fortress had an essential role in protecting The Fortress had an essential role in protecting the Hungarian king from the Ottomans and the Hungarian king from the Ottomans and Tartars' invasion, coming from Wallachia Tartars' invasion, coming from Wallachia

through Rucar Pass. That's the reason why the through Rucar Pass. That's the reason why the inhabitants of Brasov built the Castle on their inhabitants of Brasov built the Castle on their

own work and expenses.own work and expenses.

Between 1407 and 1419, the fortress was owned by Between 1407 and 1419, the fortress was owned by Wallachian Voivodes: king Sigismund gave up the Wallachian Voivodes: king Sigismund gave up the leadership of Bran Fortress in favor of Mircea cel leadership of Bran Fortress in favor of Mircea cel

Batran. Iancu de Hunedoara fortified Transylvania's Batran. Iancu de Hunedoara fortified Transylvania's borders and also the towers of the Bran Castle. He borders and also the towers of the Bran Castle. He

made sure the rights of the peasants were made sure the rights of the peasants were respected by the boyars who ruled the fortress. respected by the boyars who ruled the fortress. However, there were frequent fights between However, there were frequent fights between

merchants and boyars.merchants and boyars.The boyars. had the right to collect fees from The boyars. had the right to collect fees from

visitors and peasants. The fortress had an extra visitors and peasants. The fortress had an extra income from: selling cheese, milk and muttons and income from: selling cheese, milk and muttons and

from manufacturing wood. from manufacturing wood. Few years later, the Hungarian king got back the Few years later, the Hungarian king got back the

fortress fortress In 1498 the fortress passed under the merchant's In 1498 the fortress passed under the merchant's

possession and it was used mainly for treading. You possession and it was used mainly for treading. You should also know that it was a time when in charge should also know that it was a time when in charge

of the leadership was a judge called "Judele of the leadership was a judge called "Judele Brasovului". Brasovului".

In 1920, the Brasov Town In 1920, the Brasov Town council donated Bran Castle to council donated Bran Castle to

Queen Maria of Great Queen Maria of Great Romania, who lived there with Romania, who lived there with

the royal family till 1947. the royal family till 1947. During 1920-1930 other During 1920-1930 other

changes have been made. The changes have been made. The fire holes turned into fire holes turned into

windows, the well into the windows, the well into the elevator's room and the stoves elevator's room and the stoves

into fireplaces. There have into fireplaces. There have been added towers to the been added towers to the

stairs and it was built in wood stairs and it was built in wood the fourth floor.the fourth floor.

This, my castle, is the house where the four winds This, my castle, is the house where the four winds meet. But its walls are four feet thick.meet. But its walls are four feet thick.

        Queen Marie of RomaniaQueen Marie of Romania

Queen Marie was born on October 29, 1875 in Kent, Queen Marie was born on October 29, 1875 in Kent, England. Her mother, Grand Duchess Marie England. Her mother, Grand Duchess Marie

Alexandrovna of Russia, was the only surviving Alexandrovna of Russia, was the only surviving daughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia, and her father, daughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia, and her father,

Alfred, Duke of Edingburg, was the second son of Alfred, Duke of Edingburg, was the second son of Queen Victoria.Queen Victoria.

For many years at the beginning of the 20th century, it was For many years at the beginning of the 20th century, it was the principal home of Queen Marie, who, despite her British the principal home of Queen Marie, who, despite her British

birth and upbringing, became quite a Romanian patriot. birth and upbringing, became quite a Romanian patriot. Queen Marie (1875-1938) had a tremendous influence on Queen Marie (1875-1938) had a tremendous influence on

the development of Romanian art in the 45 years she spent the development of Romanian art in the 45 years she spent in the country. She was the biggest patron of Art Nouveau in in the country. She was the biggest patron of Art Nouveau in

Romania and encouraged national art movements and Romania and encouraged national art movements and peasant crafts. Her writing, include novels and collections of peasant crafts. Her writing, include novels and collections of fairy tales, as well a her autobiographies (1934 and 1935). fairy tales, as well a her autobiographies (1934 and 1935).

During World War I, Queen Marie volunteered as a Red During World War I, Queen Marie volunteered as a Red Cross nurse to help the sick and wounded Romanian Cross nurse to help the sick and wounded Romanian

soldiers, many of whom were victims of cholera and typhus soldiers, many of whom were victims of cholera and typhus epidemics. She pour her soul into her work; did not wear epidemics. She pour her soul into her work; did not wear gloves when dealing with the sick. She did not choose to gloves when dealing with the sick. She did not choose to

have any protection from those who would harm her when have any protection from those who would harm her when she went into Romanian villages to see how her people livedshe went into Romanian villages to see how her people lived

The castle passed through royal hands for many The castle passed through royal hands for many generations. For many years at the beginning of the generations. For many years at the beginning of the

20th century, it was the principal home of Queen Marie, 20th century, it was the principal home of Queen Marie, who, despite her British birth and upbringing, became who, despite her British birth and upbringing, became

quite a Romanian patriot. The castle is decorated quite a Romanian patriot. The castle is decorated largely with artifacts from her time, including traditional largely with artifacts from her time, including traditional furniture and tapestries that she collected to highlight furniture and tapestries that she collected to highlight

Romanian crafts and skills. It was inherited by her Romanian crafts and skills. It was inherited by her daughter Princess Ileana of Romania, and was later daughter Princess Ileana of Romania, and was later seized by the Communist government of Romania in seized by the Communist government of Romania in

1948. For many years it was tended to erratically, but 1948. For many years it was tended to erratically, but after 1980 restoration and the Romanian Revolution of after 1980 restoration and the Romanian Revolution of 1989, it became a tourist destination. The legal heir of 1989, it became a tourist destination. The legal heir of the castle is the Princess's son Dominic von Habsburg the castle is the Princess's son Dominic von Habsburg and in 2006 the Romanian government returned it to and in 2006 the Romanian government returned it to

him (Habsburg is an architect in New York City ).him (Habsburg is an architect in New York City ).

Since its foundation, Bran Castle was rebuild several Since its foundation, Bran Castle was rebuild several times and remains impressive. Each epoch in Bran times and remains impressive. Each epoch in Bran

castle's history bear the marks of the changes in style. castle's history bear the marks of the changes in style. This is why the Renaissance and the Romantic This is why the Renaissance and the Romantic

elements are blended with the former Gothic style. elements are blended with the former Gothic style. 

Queen Marie held the castle as her Queen Marie held the castle as her second favourite residence after the second favourite residence after the

one in Balcic. one in Balcic. Stella Maris Chapel in Bran is a replica Stella Maris Chapel in Bran is a replica

of the royal chapel in Balcic. The chapel of the royal chapel in Balcic. The chapel was painted in 1927 by Arthur Verona.was painted in 1927 by Arthur Verona.

Bran Castle draw by Bran Castle draw by Princess IleanaPrincess Ileana

Codlea team Codlea team thanks for the old thanks for the old

photos to the photos to the Bran Castle Bran Castle official siteofficial site