Bran’sBran’s Castle Castle HistoryHistory

of Romaniaof Romania

Music : Wolfgang Amadeus Music : Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMozart

Bran is a town nestled in a mountain pass Bran is a town nestled in a mountain pass between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului ranges between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului ranges and during the 15th and 16th centuries was an and during the 15th and 16th centuries was an

important frontier town on the main road leading important frontier town on the main road leading from Transylvania into Wallachia.from Transylvania into Wallachia.

Today Bran with its luxury villas and private Today Bran with its luxury villas and private cottages, surrounded by wooded hills, open cottages, surrounded by wooded hills, open

pastures, rivers, and high mountains,  would live pastures, rivers, and high mountains,  would live up to anyone's expectation.up to anyone's expectation.

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Situated only 28km southwest of Brasov, the Situated only 28km southwest of Brasov, the Bran Castle is one of the most popular tourist Bran Castle is one of the most popular tourist site in Romania. The castle is perched atop a site in Romania. The castle is perched atop a 60m peak in the centre of Bran village. The 60m peak in the centre of Bran village. The Bran mountain pass was the main route into Bran mountain pass was the main route into

Wallachia from Transylvania.Wallachia from Transylvania.

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Commonly known as Commonly known as Dracula's Castle, the Dracula's Castle, the

Bran Castle was Bran Castle was originally a originally a

stronghold built by stronghold built by the Knights of the Knights of

Teutonic Order in Teutonic Order in 1212. The first 1212. The first documentary documentary

attestation of the attestation of the Bran Castle is the Bran Castle is the

act issued on act issued on November 19, 1377, November 19, 1377, giving the Saxons of giving the Saxons of Kronstadt (Brasov) Kronstadt (Brasov)

the privilage to the privilage to build the Citadel. build the Citadel.

The building started The building started in 1378 as a defense in 1378 as a defense

against Turks and against Turks and later became a later became a

customs post on the customs post on the pass between pass between

Transylvania and Transylvania and Wallachia.Wallachia.

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Fifteenth century Fifteenth century Wallachian prince Wallachian prince

Vlad Tepes is Vlad Tepes is credited with credited with

being Dracula, the being Dracula, the vampire-count vampire-count featured in the featured in the classic horror classic horror story Dracula story Dracula

(1897) written by (1897) written by novelist Bram novelist Bram

Stroker. Stroker. Romanians make Romanians make

no association no association between the between the

vampire and the vampire and the historical figure of historical figure of

prince Vlad III, prince Vlad III, known in his known in his

homeland as Vlad homeland as Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Tepes (Vlad the

Impaler), prince of Impaler), prince of Wallachia three Wallachia three times, in 1448, times, in 1448, 1456-1462 and 1456-1462 and

1475.1475.

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Vlad achieved renown Vlad achieved renown beyond Wallachia's beyond Wallachia's

borders as a successful borders as a successful fighter against the fighter against the

Turks and a ruthless Turks and a ruthless ruler. Notorious for his ruler. Notorious for his

brutal punishment brutal punishment methods, he gained methods, he gained

the name Tepes the name Tepes (impaler) after his (impaler) after his favourite form of favourite form of

punishing his enemies punishing his enemies - impaling on a wooden - impaling on a wooden

stake. His method of stake. His method of law enforcement was law enforcement was simple: all crimes and simple: all crimes and individuals offending individuals offending him were punished by him were punished by death.The offenders death.The offenders would have to die in would have to die in agony. Impaling was agony. Impaling was not unique in Europe. not unique in Europe.

Tepes first cousin, Tepes first cousin, Stephen the Great, is Stephen the Great, is said to have impaled said to have impaled

over 2300 Turkish over 2300 Turkish prisoners in 1473.prisoners in 1473.

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Vlad Tepes was born Vlad Tepes was born in this three-storey in this three-storey

house at Piata house at Piata Muzeului 6, in the city Muzeului 6, in the city

of Sighisoara of Sighisoara (Schassburg) in 1431. (Schassburg) in 1431. Abroad, he's better Abroad, he's better known as Dracula, known as Dracula,

which can be which can be translated as "Son of translated as "Son of the Devil", or more the Devil", or more

accurately as "Son of accurately as "Son of the Dragon" - the Dragon" -

referring to his father referring to his father Vlad Dracul, whom Vlad Dracul, whom

the Holy Roman the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Emperor Sigismund of

Hungary made a Hungary made a knight of the Order of knight of the Order of

the Dragon in 1431 the Dragon in 1431 for his support in the for his support in the

struggle against struggle against Turks. Nowadays, Turks. Nowadays, Vlad's birthplace, Vlad's birthplace, complete with its complete with its

original river stone original river stone floor, contains a beer floor, contains a beer bar and restaurant.bar and restaurant.

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Bran Castle is Bran Castle is famous for its famous for its

association with association with the Dracula the Dracula

legend. The 15th legend. The 15th century century

Wallachian prince Wallachian prince upon whom the upon whom the novelist Bram novelist Bram

Stroker is Stroker is (incorrectly) (incorrectly)

supposed to have supposed to have his bloodthirsty his bloodthirsty

vampire vampire connected to the connected to the Bran Castle. In Bran Castle. In truth, Dracula truth, Dracula

may have may have attacked and attacked and

briefly captured briefly captured the castle in 1460, the castle in 1460, during one of his during one of his raids on Burzen raids on Burzen

Land.Land.****************************************

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Is also believed Is also believed that Vlad Tepes that Vlad Tepes

sought refuge for sought refuge for a few days in a few days in Bran on his Bran on his

“flight” from the “flight” from the Turks in 1462 Turks in 1462 following their following their attack on the attack on the

Poienari fortress Poienari fortress in Arges Valley. in Arges Valley. Legend has it Legend has it

that his wife flung that his wife flung herself out of the herself out of the

window of the window of the Poenari castle to Poenari castle to

avoid being avoid being cuptured by the cuptured by the Turks and Vlad Turks and Vlad

himself escaped himself escaped over the over the

mountains on mountains on horseback, horseback, fooling his fooling his

pursuers by pursuers by affixing affixing

horseshoes that horseshoes that left the left the

impression of cow impression of cow prints.prints.

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His first major act of revenge wasHis first major act of revenge was aimed at the boyars aimed at the boyars of Targoviste for the killings of his father and brother of Targoviste for the killings of his father and brother

Mircea, and for their disloyalty to the Wallachian Mircea, and for their disloyalty to the Wallachian throne. On Easter Day in 1459, Dracula invited the throne. On Easter Day in 1459, Dracula invited the

boyars and their families to dine at his palace; guards boyars and their families to dine at his palace; guards then entered and seized them, impaling many then entered and seized them, impaling many

forthwith while the remainder were marched off to forthwith while the remainder were marched off to work on his castle at Poeinari. This is the real Dracula work on his castle at Poeinari. This is the real Dracula castle. Situated on an abruptly rising rock north of the castle. Situated on an abruptly rising rock north of the

village, Poienari can be reached by climbing 1400 village, Poienari can be reached by climbing 1400 steps from the hydroelectric power station  4km north steps from the hydroelectric power station  4km north on the road from the village Arefu. The castle is small, on the road from the village Arefu. The castle is small,

one third having collapsed down the montainside in one third having collapsed down the montainside in 1888. The prism shaped tower remains was Dracula's 1888. The prism shaped tower remains was Dracula's

residencial quarters.residencial quarters.

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Bran Castle's inneryardBran Castle's inneryard

The Entrance The Entrance to Bran Castleto Bran Castle

The original The original gate tower gate tower

was round. In was round. In 1625 the gate 1625 the gate

tower was tower was rebuild in the rebuild in the rectangular rectangular form. The form. The

ancient gate ancient gate was blocked was blocked with beams. with beams. The only way The only way of reaching of reaching

the entrance the entrance was by was by

climbing up a climbing up a ladder.ladder.

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From 1920 the castle became a royal From 1920 the castle became a royal residence until the expulsion of the royal residence until the expulsion of the royal

family in 1948. family in 1948. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On December 1st, 1920, the Brasov Town On December 1st, 1920, the Brasov Town Council donated the Bran Castle to Queen Council donated the Bran Castle to Queen

Marie of Romania.Marie of Romania.Being restored  according to the plans of the Being restored  according to the plans of the

Royal Court's architect, Carel Liman, the Royal Court's architect, Carel Liman, the castle lost the appearance of stronghold, castle lost the appearance of stronghold,

being turned into a beautiful royal summer being turned into a beautiful royal summer residence.residence.

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

residence after the residence after the one in Balcic. one in Balcic.

Stella Maris Chapel Stella Maris Chapel in Bran is a replica of in Bran is a replica of

the royal chapel in the royal chapel in Balcic. The chapel Balcic. The chapel

was painted in 1927 was painted in 1927 by Arthur Verona.by Arthur Verona.As requested in As requested in

Queen Marie's will, Queen Marie's will, after her death, her after her death, her heart was placed in heart was placed in a gold casket and a gold casket and buried in Balcic, buried in Balcic, later moved to a later moved to a

grotto by the Bran grotto by the Bran castle; is now castle; is now

safeguarded in safeguarded in Bucharest's National Bucharest's National

History Museum.History Museum.Queen Marie is Queen Marie is

buried in Curtea de buried in Curtea de Arges.Arges.

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The fountain in the inneryard conceals a The fountain in the inneryard conceals a labyrinth of secret underground passages.labyrinth of secret underground passages.The tunnel opened onto the park grounds The tunnel opened onto the park grounds where the famous gardner Patula planted where the famous gardner Patula planted

bushes brought from Balcic, dahlias and roses bushes brought from Balcic, dahlias and roses being the Queen Marie's favorites flowersbeing the Queen Marie's favorites flowers

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Queen Marie's bedroomQueen Marie's bedroom

Queen Marie's bedroomQueen Marie's bedroom

The Council Hall The Council Hall Queen Marie (1875-1938) had a tremendous Queen Marie (1875-1938) had a tremendous influence on the development of Romanian influence on the development of Romanian

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

Romania and encouraged national art Romania and encouraged national art movements and peasant crafts. Her writing, movements and peasant crafts. Her writing, include novels and collections of fairy tales, include novels and collections of fairy tales,

as well a her autobiographies (1934 and as well a her autobiographies (1934 and 1935).1935).

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The Dining RoomThe Dining Room Queen Marie was born on October 29, 1875 in Queen Marie was born on October 29, 1875 in

Kent, England. Her mother, Grand Duchess Kent, England. Her mother, Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, was the only Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, was the only surviving daughter of Czar Alexander II of surviving daughter of Czar Alexander II of

Russia, and her father, Alfred, Duke of Russia, and her father, Alfred, Duke of Edingburg, was the second son of Queen Edingburg, was the second son of Queen

Victoria.Victoria.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Queen Marie's LibraryQueen Marie's Library In 1893, Marie married the heir to the In 1893, Marie married the heir to the

Romanian throne Ferdinand. Romanian throne Ferdinand. In 1914, Marie became Queen of the In 1914, Marie became Queen of the

Romanians.Romanians.She and Ferdinand had 6 children, 3 boys and She and Ferdinand had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls (Carol, Elisabeth, Marie, Nicolas, Ileana 3 girls (Carol, Elisabeth, Marie, Nicolas, Ileana and Mircea). The youngest one, Mircea would and Mircea). The youngest one, Mircea would die at age 4, but the rest of her children did die at age 4, but the rest of her children did

live on.live on.

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Queen Marie's Music RoomQueen Marie's Music Room

Queen Marie's Music RoomQueen Marie's Music Room

The Hunting Trophies HallThe Hunting Trophies Hall

Biedermeir living room (19th Biedermeir living room (19th century)century)

Passage at the first floor Passage at the first floor From the Bran Castle, walk south along Str. From the Bran Castle, walk south along Str.

Principala past the center of the village to the Principala past the center of the village to the Ancient Customs House Museum, the former Ancient Customs House Museum, the former vama, displays archaeological treasures as vama, displays archaeological treasures as

well as many photographs of the castle. well as many photographs of the castle. Across from the Customs House are the Across from the Customs House are the remains of the old defensive wall which remains of the old defensive wall which devided Transylvania from Wallachia.devided Transylvania from Wallachia.

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Bran Castle's courtyardBran Castle's courtyard

Bran Castle's courtyardBran Castle's courtyard

On 1st October 1950, the Bran On 1st October 1950, the Bran Castle was declared a Castle was declared a

historical monument. Today it historical monument. Today it functions as a very attractive functions as a very attractive

museum of medieval arts.museum of medieval arts.************************************************************************************************************************

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Arrangement by: Arrangement by: Ileana GodeanuIleana Godeanu