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History of Bran Castle. Why not miss a visit?
Bran Castle is a fascinating building and has a tumultuous history spanning almost eight centuries. The location of the fortress in the Bran Pass, between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului mountains, has determined its strategic importance from the very beginning and has offered the spectacular landscapes that surround it and blend so harmoniously.
The legends of Bran, the most famous of which are associated with Count Dracula and Vlad Țepeș, its history full of events and important historical personalities, but especially the beauty of the castle and its surroundings, make it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Romania, with over 500,000 visitors annually.
Beyond visiting the castle itself, here you can enjoy music festivals, folk fairs, exhibitions, various workshops, and activities for children and parents.
Thus, whether you are looking for a destination full of history and mystery or simply wish to escape your daily routine, Bran Castle invites you on a fascinating journey through its rich past and beautiful landscapes.
But before you visit, let’s tell you a little about this special tourist attraction!
Brief history of Bran Castle
The story of Bran Castle begins in 1211 when King Andrew II of Hungary gave the Barsa Country to the Teutonic Knights. The monarch’s aim was that once established in the area, members of the German order, both monastic and military, would defend its border from attacks by the Cumaeans and Pechenegs.
The king’s wish was granted, but only in part and for a short time. In 1226, the Teutons finished building their fortress at the border point of Bran (a name derived from the Slavic word for gate), but after only a few months they had to flee the region.
In 1377, Louis I of Anjou gave the citizens of Kronstadt – now Brasov – the right to build a castle in Bran. The order of the Hungarian king, also known as Louis the Great, requires the Saxons to take part in the work.
In 1388, the Brașov finished building Bran Castle, then called Turciu in Romanian, Törcsvár in Hungarian and Dietrichstein or Törzburg in German. The fortress’s location on the top of the highest cliff in the area gives it a major strategic role in the anti-Ottoman defenses, and its location on the Transylvanian border also makes it a customs post. The small town begins to develop and prosper. The function of Bran Castle becomes so important that only the monarch of Hungary can assign it.
In 1407, King Sigismund of Luxembourg gave the castle to his ally Mircea the Elder, the ruler of the Romanian Country, to serve as a refuge from the Turks. In 1419, after the death of the prince, the monarch transferred the castle to the princes of Transylvania.
In 1441, the Transylvanian Prince Iancu de Hunedoara defeated the Turks in the Battle of Bran. The victory strengthened the strategic importance of Bran and increased the privileges of both the Brașov and the Saxons from the border area who took part in the battle.
In 1460, Vlad Țepeș, Prince of Wallachia, allies himself with the King of Hungary, Matei Corvin, who wants to lead an anti-Ottoman campaign. The Wallachian ruler leads and wins several battles against the Turks with his army, but when he is overwhelmed by the numbers of Mohammed II’s soldiers and asks for the Hungarian king’s support, he is betrayed. Matthias Corvinus not only refuses his promised help but even arrests him. The royal decision was influenced by the Saxon merchants of Transylvania, who didn’t want war with the Turks and supported Radu The Handsome, Vlad’s brother, whom the Sultan wanted on the throne of Wallachia. The citizens of Brasov had not forgotten that in 1459 Vlad Țepeș attacked their town, killing hundreds of inhabitants in revenge for supporting his rival and because of the increasing customs duties demanded in Bran.
On the first day of 1498, taking advantage of the fact that Hungary was impoverished by the wars, the Saxons of Brasov bought from King Vladislav II Jagello the right to use Bran Castle for 10 years. In exchange for a thousand florins, they take over not only the administration of the estate but also the customs.
For more than a century and a half, the citizens of Brasov obtained an extension of the agreement from the princes of Transylvania. On 25 April 1651, they achieved the ultimate victory: they succeeded in buying the castle. With the contract signed by Prince Gheorghe Rackoczi II, Bran Castle became the property of Brasov.
In 1886, the people of Brasov succeeded in convincing Austria-Hungary to support the rebuilding of the fortress, which had been seriously damaged in the 1848 Revolution and the Russo-Turkish War. Bran Castle was repaired, but its role had already become insignificant not only for the imperial administration but also for the Brasov authorities, who in 1888 gave it to the forestry department.
After the Union of 1918, Transylvania became part of Greater Romania. On 1 December 1920, as a tribute to their new sovereign, the people of Brasov gave Bran Castle to Queen Maria.
Today, Bran Castle serves as a museum and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is known not only for its architectural beauty and surrounding mountain scenery but also for its association with the legend of Dracula.
Architecture and design

The architecture of Bran Castle is typical of a medieval fortress. The location, the plans of the fortress, and the structure of the facades facing the valley were designed for defense: the position on top of the cliff (about 60 meters above the ground) made it difficult for the enemy to reach the castle. The thick walls were designed to withstand cannon attacks, and the small windows positioned well above the ground protected those inside from projectiles, while the firing ports on the top levels covered all areas in case of attack. The integrated circular plan towers were meant to offer multiple firing directions to areas at risk and greater visibility.
Upon entering the castle’s inner courtyard, the fortress-like appearance is softened: it seems to come straight out of a fairy tale. Successive transformations can be seen in the wide, arched vaults, the exposed timber-framed balcony, and the elegant loggias with carved wooden railings. The numerous roofs with various shapes and heights give an idea of how different the levels of the rooms and passages inside are.
After the communist regime took over Bran Castle, the remaining representative parts of the sovereign were removed. In the post-revolutionary period, the Romanian State added to the museum’s patrimony, but in 2009 all the pieces were moved to the Medieval Customs House before the Bran Castle was returned to its rightful owners.
The gorgeous furniture and decorations you will now see inside the castle come from the personal collections of the descendants of the royal family who now own the property.
The legend of Bran Castle
Vlad Tepes’s father was Vlad II, the youngest son of Mircea the Elder. Before he became the second, Vlad strived to obtain the throne of Wallachia, but he could not have it without the consent of the Sultan of Turkey or the King of Hungary. He refuses to submit to Ottoman rule and wins the support of Sigismund of Luxembourg, who in 1431 gives him the insignia of the Order of the Dragon. From the image on the emblem, the people nicknamed him Dracul, who was ruler of the Romanian Country between 1436-1442 and 1443-1447.
Vlad Țepeș inherited his reputation as a devilish character and created his fame. He had the habit of impaling his enemies and leaving for passersby to tell stories and spread the word. That’s how he gets the name of the King and begins to be surrounded by bloody legends.
The legend of Count Dracula was invented by the novelist Bram Stoker. In his famous book Dracula (1897) the story takes place in Transylvania, in the heart of the Carpathians, and the protagonist is a vampire who feeds on people’s blood and turns them into creatures like himself. The novel inspired numerous plays, films, stories, and legends which in turn created an entire industry of costumes, accessories, souvenirs, etc.
How do you get to Bran Castle?
To reach Bran Castle, you can use the following routes:
- By car:
From Bucharest to Bran Castle, it’s 160 kilometers on the DN1/E60 route.
From Brasov to Bran Castle, it’s 30 kilometers on the DN73/E574 route.
- By train:
The nearest CFR station is in Brasov. From Brasov to Bran, you could take the bus or a taxi.
- By bus:
At Brașov Bus Station No.2, there are regular routes between Brasov and Bran-Moeciu. Buses depart every 30 minutes during the week and hourly on weekends. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes.
Bran Castle has the following visiting schedule:
1 April – 30 September:
- Tuesday – Sunday 09:00-18:00;
- Monday: 14:00-18:00.
1 October – 31 March:
- Tuesday – Sunday: 09:00-16:00;
- Mondays: 12:00-16:00.
What can you see in Bran Castle?

The „tunnel of time” or secret passage is one of the great surprises that awaits during a visit to Bran Castle. Here’s its story:
Since the construction of the castle, a narrow, 7-meter-deep water tank was dug into the rock in the inner courtyard to store water supplies. In the 17th century the water tank was deepened to 59 meters and became a fountain. Queen Mary used the fountain to install the lift needed for the comfort of the royal family and her distinguished guests. Thanks to the lift, the sovereign could enjoy her stay at her beloved Bran until the last year of her life, when her powers began to wane.
During the communist period, Bran Castle was taken over by the state. Little maintenance work was carried out and the overloaded lift broke down. The galleries that served it were blocked up and forgotten for 70 years.
The current owners have transformed the medieval fountain and the Queen’s lift gallery into a unique multimedia project. The execution of the work and production of all materials (including the perfumes and music) are 100% Romanian.
The new STONE elevator, specially produced for Bran Castle by the company Elmas from Brasov, won the “Project of the Year 2019” award at the Elevator World global competition.
On the castle’s website you can see what other experiences await you there. We recommend you to discover the history of the Transylvanian fears, where you will learn about the customs of Bran and better understand how Dracula came to be.
Who does Bran Castle belong to?
Queen Mary gave the castle to her daughter, Princess Ileana, who shared her love for Bran.
The Princess of Romania and Archduchess of Austria inherited her mother’s devotion to the people: during World War II, she established a hospital in Bran where she worked tirelessly, not only as a nurse but also as an administrator, finding solutions to the problems of hunger, lack of medicines and supplies.
In 1961, suffering the loss of many loved ones, Princess Ileana became a nun and took the name Mother Alexandra. A few months later she passed away in the Orthodox monastery she founded in America.
On 8 May 2009, the Romanian State returned Bran Castle to the three surviving children of Princess Ileana: Dominic, Elisabeta, and Maria Magdalena. Today, Dominic Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, is the owner of the castle.
The connection between Bran Castle and Queen Maria of Romania
The Queen fell in love with the castle during her first visit here in 1896. In 1920, she decided to purchase the castle and transform it into a residence and refuge.
Afterward, Bran Castle underwent a series of renovations and improvements under her direct guidance. She embellished the place with artworks, precious furniture, and elegant interior decorations. She also decided to extend the gardens and added pavilions and terraces to create a more pleasant and comfortable environment.
Queen Mary used Bran Castle as a summer residence and spent a lot of time here throughout her life. She organized political meetings, cultural events, and lavish parties in the castle.
Through her passion and commitment, the Queen made Bran Castle into an emblematic place and helped popularize it among tourists and lovers of culture and history.
You should not miss the opportunity to visit Bran Castle! This place will give you an unforgettable experience, full of mystery and history. With impressive architecture and a gorgeous location in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains, the castle will enchant its charming landscapes and different stories.
Frequently asked questions and answers:
Q: Why is Bran Castle so popular?
Bran Castle is so popular because of its fascinating history, impressive architecture, and, above all, its connection to the legends of Dracula.
Q: How many tourists visit Bran Castle annually?
The number of tourists may vary depending on the season and external factors, but it is estimated that the number would reach somewhere over 500,000 visitors per year.
Source: rolandia.eu, infoghidromania.com, historia.ro